Kea‘au School Awarded $1,000 in Activity Challenge

Big Island Now file photo.

Kea‘au Elementary School was one of 11 schools in the state to receive a monetary award for successfully participating in Fire Up Your Feet, a national, ongoing program launched in 2013 as part of Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools campaign.

More than 14,500 students, teachers and staff members from 29 participating schools competed to win cash prizes during the semiannual Fire Up Your Feet Fall Activity Challenge, which encourages physical activity and wellness at school.

During October, schools throughout the state logged more than 391,647,547 minutes and 859,058 miles of physical activity—walking, biking, jogging, surfing and more—using the online Fire Up Your Feet Activity Tracker.

Eleven schools on the Big Island, Maui,O‘ahu and Kaua‘i were awarded a total of $7,000, which can be used to fund the purchase of physical activity and sports equipment or support wellness initiatives on campus.

Ha‘ikū Elementary School on Maui, a two-time winner that received $2,500 for its participation in the fall 2015 and spring 2016 challenges, used its funds to hold a community Wellness Day with a color run, dancing, yoga, smoothie making and more.

The following schools received awards for their participation in the Fall 2016 challenge:

• Kea‘au Elementary School, Big Island $1,000
• Kula Elementary School, Maui $1,000
• Kalaheo Elementary School, Kaua‘i $1,000
• Mokapu Elementary School, O‘ahu $1,000
• Central Middle School, O‘ahu $500
• Kainalu Elementary School, O‘ahu $500
• Voyager Public Charter School, O‘ahu $500
• Waialua High and Intermediate School, O‘ahu $500
• Waialae Elementary Public Charter School, O‘ahu $500
• Iliahi Elementary School, O‘ahu $250
• Kalihi Kai Elementary School, O‘ahu $250

“By running outdoors, biking, swimming or doing other fun activities, keiki can win prizes for their school while staying healthy and active,” said Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii Region. “When children learn the importance of physical fitness and nutrition at a young age, they’re more likely to develop lifelong healthy habits that reduce their risk of obesity and chronic diseases.”

Fire Up Your Feet is a national, ongoing program launched in 2013 as part of Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools campaign. Any K–8 public, private or charter school in Hawaii is welcome to participate in activity challenges held in the spring and fall school semesters.

Through the Fire Up Your Feet program, Kaiser Permanente and Safe Routes to School have awarded more than $44,000 to participating schools in Hawai‘i and $520,000 nationwide.

To learn more about Fire Up Your Feet or to sign up for the next challenge, taking place in the spring of 2017, visit fireupyourfeet.org.