Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition to Honor ‘Dedicated Champions’

By Maui Now Staff

NPAC–Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition of Maui Countyʻs annual meeting on Friday, June 26, will honor individuals who have made a difference in our community.

The meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Nahele Room of the Kahili Golf Clubhouse in Waikapū.

“While our coalitionʻs focus has been on systems, environments and policies, clearly, without the dedicated champions we have in the various sectors—government, private, health–we would not have been able to make the progress we have made during these past seven years,” said Sandra McGuinness, the coalitionʻs coordinator.

Receiving Certificates of Excellence this year will be:

• State Sen. Roz Baker for her health advocacy and policies
• Councilmember Don Guzman for his leadership in support of the Central Maui Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan
• Saman Dias and Lee Chamberlain for their leadership and advocacy in supporting the formation of the Maui chapter of the Hawaiʻi Bicycling League.

A new recognition this year will honor NPACʻs past Built Environment Task Force chair, Chris Hart, who passes  away in 2012. He was a former planning director, owner of Chris Hart & Partners Inc. Landscape Architecture & Planning, a Smart Growth advocate and a mentor to many.

The inaugural Chris Hart Award will be given to Mike Atherton of Waikapū.

Also on the annual meeting agenda are presentations by Maui County Public Works Civil Engineer Kurt Watanabe on the Safe Routes to Schools program; Tina Clothier, executive director of PATH Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaiīʻi, who will share about the bicycle education programs, advocacy, training and other programs of the Hawaiīʻi Island group; and educator Robin Brooks, who will share information about the new gardening program scheduled to be launched in the fall at Kalama Intermediate School in Makawao.

Seating is limited; reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Make reservations by June 16 by calling 264-7895 or sending an email. There is no fee to attend the meeting.