Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Hawaiʻi Island Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition

Collaborating to make the healthy choice the easy choice across Hawaiʻi Island

Hawaii Island
Section Navigation

The Hawaiʻi Island HEAL Coalition is a hui of individuals and organizations working to make their island a healthier place to live, work, and play. Collaboratively, the hui is creating community-led initiatives that enhance:

  • access to healthy locally grown food
  • safe active transportation methods
  • physical activity opportunities
  • school wellness

The coalition’s priority is to create healthier island communities through policy, systems, and environmental changes at all levels.

The Hawaiʻi Island coalition coordinator supports the working group leads in advancing county level policies, programs, and built environment changes supportive of the coalition’s goals. Coalition members may also support statewide legislation related to healthy eating and active living through the HEAL Statewide Coalition. 

We would love to have you join us! To get involved, please reach out directly to the HEAL Coalition coordinator for Hawaiʻi Island, Emma Waters, at emmawaters@hiphi.org.

HEAL Logo

Highlights and 2026 Priorities

  • Continue building coalition membership and visibility through community engagement 
  • Share member updates and community events related to the HEAL coalition
  • Support the Extension Master Food Volunteer pilot program through participation and promotion
  • Promote community knowledge related to healthy eating and active living through outreach
  • Support People for Active Transportation Hawaiʻi’s (PATH’s) first Kona Bicycle Day
  • Plan a Play Streets component for PATH’s second Kona Bicycle Day in the Fall
  • Engage in advocacy efforts to support legislation related to healthy eating and active living
  • Prepare for the 2027 legislative session through relevant working groups
  • A Walk Audit was facilitated in Hilo that brought community members and local professionals together with national expert Mark Fenton to assess current issues and opportunities affecting walkability and bicyclists in the Waiākea Peninsula area
  • Some members of the coalition engaged in policy advocacy for bills such as Universal Free School Meals, Keiki Ride Free, expanded SNAP access, and a Sugar Sweetened Beverage Fee
  • Planning meetings were facilitated for the Trek the Trails event in Hilo
  • Health and wellness resources, guidelines for healthy donations to The Food Basket, and information about the coalition was shared through community engagement and events
  • Coalition members assisted with PATH’s bike education for fourth graders
  • The coalition helped to publicize the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience’s pilot Extension Master Food Volunteer program
  • A Grant-in-Aid (GIA) grant was secured for an educational media campaign for bicycle and pedestrian safety on island
    • A partnership between the HEAL Coalition, People for Active Transportation Hawaiʻi (PATH), and Hilo Bayfront Trails (HBFT) will support program development of this educational campaign
  • Continue building relationships and adding Hawaiʻi County Coalition Members
  • Strategic Priorities:
    • Create a “Healthy Food Backpacks” Program for Island Youth  
    • Plan and seek funding for a long-term “healthy food education fund”
    • Develop and launch an educational media campaign for bicycle and pedestrian safety
    • Implement Complete Streets and Vision Zero in Hawaiʻi County
    • Provide access to Island-wide health and wellness resources 

Hawaiʻi Island Resources

Farmers Markets

Food Hubs (with online farmers markets):

  • Adaptations
    • Subscription-based
    • $25 minimum
    • Pickup locations:
      • Hilo
      • Waimea
      • Kohala Coast
      • Waikoloa
      • Kailua-Kona
      • Kealakekua
      • Ocean View
      • Miloliʻi
  • Hoʻola Farms Farm to Car
    • Pickup locations:
      • Hilo
      • Keaʻau
      • Pepeʻekeo.
  • Kohala Food Hub
    • Pickup locations:
      • North Kohala
      • South Kohala
    • Delivery also offered in North and South Kohala

Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs):

  • Adaptations
    • Pickup locations:
      • Hilo
      • Waimea
      • Kohala Coast
      • Waikoloa
      • Kailua-Kona
      • Kealakekua
      • Ocean View
      • Miloliʻi
  • Da Box CSA
    • Many pickup locations in:
      • Hilo
      • Puna
      • Kaʻū
      • Kona
      • Hāmākua
  • O.K. Farms CSA
    • Pickup location:
      • Hilo
Emma Waters, MA

Emma Waters, MA

Hawaiʻi County Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition Coordinator
emmawaters@hiphi.org

[She/her/hers] Emma joined HIPHI in October 2025 as the Hawai‘i County Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition Coordinator. In this role, she supports the coalition in advancing health-promoting initiatives aligned with the State Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Plan. Her work focuses on increasing access to healthy, locally grown food and promoting a built environment that supports walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation.

Before joining HIPHI, Emma worked with Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi and HOPE Services Hawai‘i, Inc., where she supported community-based health and social service programs. She holds a master’s degree in Teaching Languages and a bachelor’s degree in English. Outside of work, Emma enjoys swimming in the ocean and spending time with friends and ʻohana.

Back To Top