Walking Moai Sign-Up Event Sunday

Beach Cities residents are invited to attend the Sign-Up event and raffle Sunday at  in Hermosa Beach.

Part of the Blue Zone Project’s Vitality City initiative, the event is part of a community-wide well-being initiative that aims to create happier, healthier and more productive citizens in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, according to organizers.

To date, the has had more than 1,450 participants, according to organizers. The term "Moai” means “meeting for a common purpose” and comes from Japanese Okinawan culture, where at 5 years of age, children are put into groups with four or five other children. These groups, called moai, become lifelong friends, developing into socially connected people who move through life together.

The Moais celebrate milestones together and support each other through challenging times while offering support, friendship and encouragement along the way.

In the same manner, the Blue Zones Project Walking Moai are groups of people who come together to get fit, have fun and be social.

During the sign-up event, residents will be placed into groups based on the speed that they like to walk, time of day they prefer to walk and based on their proximity to others who live or work closely to them.

The sign up event will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Cross By-The-Sea Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach. The event will also include a raffle with various prizes.