University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Contribution to the Inaugural Hawaiʻi Family & Sports Expo

Executive Summary

The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa demonstrated a significant commitment to community well-being and sustainable development through its active participation in the inaugural Hawaiʻi Family & Sports Expo on July 20. The event, held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall, served as a platform for the university to advance key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, education, and partnerships. Various university departments collaborated to engage the public, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide educational opportunities, reflecting a comprehensive approach to community service.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The university’s involvement directly supported several SDGs, integrating principles of sustainability into community outreach.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The primary focus of the expo was to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. UH Mānoa’s contributions were central to this objective.

• Promotion of Physical Fitness: The Athletics Department, along with student-athletes and coaches, encouraged physical activity through interactive games and clinics.
• Health Education: The Hawaiʻi Concussion Awareness Management Program (HCAMP) provided vital information on sports safety, directly contributing to injury prevention.
• Wellness Advocacy: The Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science engaged with attendees to promote healthy lifestyle practices and the science of human movement.
• Community Engagement: As stated by Athletics Director Matt Elliott, the event showcased the university’s dedication to “promoting healthy lifestyles for all,” a core target of SDG 3.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The event provided a platform for inclusive and equitable quality education and promoted lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• Lifelong Learning: Nathan Murata, Dean of the College of Education, highlighted the mission to “promote wellness and lifelong learning,” which was demonstrated through the interactive and informational booths.
• Academic Program Awareness: The College of Education faculty and staff were present to inform the public about academic programs in kinesiology, linking community health initiatives with formal educational pathways.
• Public Knowledge Sharing: HCAMP and the kinesiology department disseminated specialized knowledge about concussion management and rehabilitation science to a broad public audience.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The expo exemplified a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve sustainable development objectives.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: UH Mānoa partnered with event presenters like the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and sponsors, showcasing a robust public-private partnership model.
• Intra-University Cooperation: The coordinated effort among the Athletics Department, College of Education, HCAMP, and the Mānoa Bookstore demonstrated effective internal collaboration.
• Community Network Building: The university worked alongside local sports leagues, healthcare providers, and community organizations, strengthening the collective capacity to achieve shared health and wellness goals.

Key University Contributions and Activities

Multiple departments from UH Mānoa provided resources and personnel to enrich the expo experience.

1. UH Mānoa Athletics Department: Organized a “tailgating” area featuring meet-and-greets with Rainbow Warrior and Wahine athletes and coaches, along with interactive games.
2. Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science: Offered educational information, prizes, and direct engagement with faculty and staff to discuss academic programs and wellness.
3. Hawaiʻi Concussion Awareness Management Program (HCAMP): Conducted outreach and distributed prizes to raise awareness about concussion prevention and management.
4. Mānoa Bookstore: Provided university-branded merchandise, enhancing the sense of community and institutional pride.

Event Impact and Stakeholder Observations

The collaborative event successfully engaged the community in health and wellness activities, with UH Mānoa’s participation being a notable highlight.

• The expo featured a wide range of activities, including interactive sports clinics, youth athletic zones, and informational booths from various wellness vendors and community organizations.
• UH alumna and event coordinator Emily Morden commended the university’s extensive involvement, noting, “From the athletes and coaches and other departments, they really showed up to promote health and sports.”
• The event effectively connected the university’s academic and athletic missions with the broader community’s interest in fostering a culture of health and fitness, directly aligning with global sustainability targets.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s central theme is the promotion of physical health and wellness through a community sports expo. It repeatedly mentions the event’s aim to “promote fitness and engagement with healthy lifestyle practices,” which directly aligns with ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The involvement of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Education and its Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science connects the event to quality education. The article states the college’s mission is to “promote wellness and lifelong learning,” and the expo served as a platform for the community to “learn more about the academic programs” and engage with faculty, thus promoting education related to healthy lifestyles.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The event itself is a multi-stakeholder collaboration. The article highlights the partnership between a public institution (University of Hawaiʻi), a private media company (Honolulu Star-Advertiser), and civil society/community organizations (“local sports leagues,” “Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi”). This collaboration to achieve a common goal exemplifies the spirit of SDG 17.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
     
     Explanation: The expo’s focus on “celebrating fitness and healthy lifestyles” is a direct preventative measure against non-communicable diseases often linked to inactivity. The participation of the “Hawaiʻi Concussion Awareness Management Program” also contributes to promoting well-being by addressing sports-related health issues.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… sustainable lifestyles… and promotion of a culture of… non-violence.
     
     Explanation: The article mentions that the Kinesiology department was “engaging directly with the community” and that attendees could “learn more about the academic programs.” This represents an effort to provide the community with knowledge and skills for promoting healthy and therefore more sustainable lifestyles, as stated in the College of Education’s mission to “promote wellness and lifelong learning.”

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
     
     Explanation: The article describes the expo as a collaborative effort presented by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (private), sponsored in part by UH Mānoa (public), and involving various “community organizations.” This event is a clear example of a public-private-civil society partnership designed to achieve a shared community objective.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Implied Indicator: The existence and number of community events promoting health. The article focuses on the “inaugural Hawaiʻi Family & Sports Expo,” which itself is an indicator of an initiative to promote health and well-being.
   • Implied Indicator: The number and variety of organizations participating in health promotion. The article mentions the involvement of the UH Athletics Department, Kinesiology department, HCAMP, “healthcare providers,” and “wellness vendors,” indicating a broad base of support for health initiatives.

2. For SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Implied Indicator: The number of community outreach activities by educational institutions focused on sustainable lifestyles. The participation of the “UH Mānoa College of Education” and its Kinesiology department in the expo is a direct example of such an activity.
   • Implied Indicator: The level of community engagement with educational programs. The article notes that attendees could “learn more about the academic programs and meet UH Mānoa College of Education faculty and staff,” implying that the number of interactions could be a measure of progress.

3. For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Indicator: The formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article explicitly describes the partnership between UH Mānoa (public), the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (private), and various community organizations (civil society) to create the expo. The event itself is a tangible indicator of a successful partnership under this target.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hawaii.edu