Issues:
The island ecosystem introduces challenges to food and nutrition security, the availability and access to appropriate, safe, nutritious food by appropriate means, due to the special food production and transportation challenges of islands. Vegetables and calcium-rich products are lacking, and canned products that are high in fat and salt are imported. Resources are limited to store quantities of fresh foods. Food safety is a concern, causing some cases of acute disease. A typhoon, fuel shortage or other singular event can have devastating impact on food availability. On the other hand, singular policies (affecting food imports, health provision or school requirements, for example) can have broad, important, measurable effects. The environment can also influence behavior, and policy decisions (such as import policies, school policies or social service policies) can also support healthier choices.

Encouraging a healthy lifestyle can benefit Pacific Island economies. Greater production & consumption of fresh, local food would put cash in the pockets of producers and decrease expenditures for imported foods. Many cultural traditions are healthy, can promote cultural pride, and can decrease health costs of problems associated with social collapse (alcoholism, prostitution, etc.). Using a combination of personal, environmental and societal approaches, we can encourage healthier lives. Community based activities and role modeling by community leaders are some possible.