Promoting healthy eating and weight loss among Native Hawaiians
Official title: The PILI 'Āina Project
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11082496 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The PILI 'Āina Project is a friendly program designed to help Native Hawaiians improve their health by teaching them about healthy eating and gardening, so they can manage their weight and lower their risk of heart and metabolic diseases.
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, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $597,981 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL168858-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082496 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are overweight or obese Native Hawaiian adults who are at risk for or currently managing cardiometabolic diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Native Hawaiian or those who do not have issues related to diet or cardiometabolic diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The PILI 'Āina Project focuses on addressing the high rates of cardiometabolic diseases among Native Hawaiians by promoting healthier eating habits and weight loss. This initiative combines culturally tailored education with practical support, including home gardening, to encourage traditional dietary practices. Participants will receive three months of education based on proven lifestyle interventions, followed by a six-month program that provides resources for growing their own food. The goal is to empower individuals to manage their health and reduce the risk of diet-related illnesses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced prevalence of diabetes and other diet-related diseases among Native Hawaiians.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in culturally tailored interventions for improving dietary habits and health outcomes in similar populations.
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.