CHL first annual meeting

HONOLULU. HAWAII.  July 5-10, 2011.  The CHL program celebrated the success of its first annual meeting this past July 10-15. Thank you to all of the CHL team members who traveled from across the US and the Pacific for attending the annual meeting. This meeting facilitated the relationship building of CHL personnel as well as allowed for the CHL program structure to be determined and goals, objectives and values to be refined.

Aside from the discussions and brainstorming, there were other activities incorporated into the meeting such as attending Ka’ala Farms on the West Coast of Oahu for an educational session on traditional Native Hawaiian agricultural practices as well as a community networking session hosted at the East-West Center. The networking session also included a pro bono performance by the band Kolohe Kai. Other notable activities included cultural presentations by each of the teams from American Samoa, Alaska, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Freely Associated States of Micronesia. However, the most memorable part was the healthy and delicious meals and snacks served to us the final day of the Annual Meeting at Kapiolani Community College (KCC).  Thank you to CHL Co-Investigator Ron Takahashi and the Culinary Arts Department at KCC for that wonderful send off.

Many things were accomplished at the First Annual CHL Meeting and although the to-do list was expansive, the CHL team members left motivated and impassioned to develop a program that will sustainably impact the communities across the Pacific to promote healthy living in our children. We look forward to the Second Annual CHL meeting in Honolulu in June of 2012!