PILI ‘Āina: Gardened foods, culturally rooted health for Native Hawaiian adults
Official title: The PILI 'Āina Project
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11551356 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community program helps overweight Native Hawaiian adults eat healthier, lose weight, and lower heart-disease risk through culturally tailored education and at-home gardening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $109,550 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL168858-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11551356 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Overweight/obese Native Hawaiian adults (21+ years old) living in Hawaii who identify with Native Hawaiian culture and are willing to participate in lifestyle education and home gardening components.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot participate in group education or home gardening, or who have medical conditions requiring specialized care beyond the program may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a history of Native Hawaiian culture and current health disparities by offering 3 months of culturally tailored dietary and lifestyle guidance modeled after the Diabetes Prevention Program, plus a 6-month household component with home garden materials and training. It aims to improve self-management of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, while reducing risk factors for new diet-related illnesses. Participants will receive education, support, and resources that connect traditional practices with modern healthy eating at home.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could achieve better weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar control, lowering their risk of cardiometabolic disease.
How similar studies have gone: A pilot of PILI ‘Āina achieved high retention and promising cardiometabolic outcomes, supporting a larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ing, Claire Townsend — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Ing, Claire Townsend
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.