In February of 2010, PATH launched a new initiative called HO’ALA – Hawaii’s Opportunity for Active Living Advancement funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Active Living Research Program. Ho’āla means “to waken” and the powerful word has inspired an exciting school-community partnership focused on improving the health of our keiki and our communities.
The HO’ALA project aims to reduce childhood obesity by making it easy, fun and safe to get daily exercise by walking or bicycling to school. The project provides funding and technical assistance to 13 schools across the Hawaii Island to help address their traffic safety issues and improve conditions for walking and bicycling to and from school.
HOALA Project Team
| PATH Peoples Advocacy for Trails HawaiiLaura Dierenfield, Executive DirectorMarcia Prose, East Hawaii Program Leader | University of Hawaii, ManoaDr. Katie M. Heinrich, PhDDaniel Alexander, Graduate Research Assistance, Department of Urban and Regional Planning |
The HOALA Team wishes to sincerely thank the County of Hawaii Departments of Public Works, Planning, Data Systems for their invaluable assistance with this project.