The Blue Zone Concept
The Blue Zones is a study of the world’s longest living peoples and discovering why they are able to enjoy an excellent quality of life well into their 90s and beyond.
“E OLA PONO, E OLA LOA”
Live longer, live better.
Our Story
Please allow me to introduce myself…
My name is Paradis Kawehionalani Reed and I proud to be from Hilo. I graduated from Kamehameha Schools, UH Manoa and UH School of Medicine. I am a practicing ER physician and have been for 14 years. My husband is Mark Reed, an Orthopedic Surgeon, and, while he is not from Hawaii, he is as committed as I am to the island of Hawaii.
For Mark and I, the experience of caring for my mother for the past nine years, in addition to our daily work as physicians, has brought elder care to the forefront of our minds. We have given much thought to how we can contribute to this need and how we can accomplish this in Hilo.
At our age, we are in the sandwich generation, taking care of our children and our parents at the same time. We visit our elderly relatives in Hilo, Waimea, and Oahu and they have been fortunate enough to have their children also caring for them as they age. This is the Hawaii way - multi-generational living.
Unfortunately, this is not always possible for Hawaii’s seniors. Many young people have moved away for work or school and no one is left to help out when it becomes too difficult to mow the grass or get to the grocery store. We have seen the struggle that our seniors endure trying to manage the mundane tasks of life. Ultimately, all their energy is spent on these tasks rather than enjoying their friends, activities and socializing.
We can not only extend life by following these concepts but perhaps, more importantly, the quality of life is vastly improved.
Here, in Hilo, people are already familiar with the Blue Zone concept. It’s in our blood to live the concepts - we just never put a name to it. It is in our nature to produce and eat lots of fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables. Socializing with longtime friends is part of the fabric of our life. Community clubs and churches are the foundation of our town. We have a generous spirit, helping others in need and looking out for each other. However, for most seniors, it requires enormous support to be able to implement the concepts of eating well, being active, having a purpose and being part of a community.
Our dream for Makamae House is to create a special place to live for up to 10 independent seniors where we can take care of all of life’s routine chores and allow our residents to live their best life. Most importantly, we are creating a community where our residents become a family. They will look in on each other. A friendly face and activities in common will bring meaning to their lives.
Because no one should age alone.
With warmest Aloha,
Paradis and Mark Reed
Founders of Makamae House and Makamae Holdings
property features
comfortable cabins
Makamae House consists of ten individual cabins that support independent living within a close-knit, conscious community. All cabins are equipped with a full-size bed and private bathroom as well as expanded cable service, weekly housekeeping, linen service, and trash removal.
communal spaces
Various community gathering spaces allow residents of Makamae House to connect. Exciting dinners are provided by a gourmet, Blue-Zone certified restaurant in Hilo. Our game room is perfect for socializing over cards, mah-jong, reading, or playing guitar.
natural beauty
Our private, gated property is surrounded by lush tropical landscaping, vegetable and herb gardens, and fruit trees. We encourage residents to engage in horticultural therapy, farm to table cooking, and daily walks around the property.
Our Team
paradis reed, md
Co-founder, Makamae House & Makamae Holdings
Dr. Paradis Reed is proud to be from Hilo, Hawaii. She graduated from Kamehameha Schools, UH Manoa, and UH School of Medicine. After attending medical school at UH JABSOM Hawaii, Dr. Reed went on to complete her Emergency Medicine Residency at University of Massachusetts, a very busy Level 1 trauma center.
Dr. Reed has practiced Emergency Medicine for 13 years and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Reed has held attending positions in both Massachusetts and Baltimore, Maryland prior to moving to Seattle and continues to work clinically with Eastside Emergency Physicians, staffing some of Seattle’s demanding Emergency Departments.
Dr. Reed is exceptionally passionate about staying connected to her roots in Hilo, and about the potential of the Blue Zone Model to bring longevity, health, and happiness to the seniors of HIlo and their family members. Dr. Reed pledges to be available and engaged in every way, always treating your family members as she would her own.
mark reed, md
Co-founder, Makamae House & Makamae Holdings
Dr. Mark Reed is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon providing specialty care of all foot and ankle disorders. He treats both adolescents and adults with a special focus on sports-related injuries, including ankle instability, cartilage lesions, and Achilles tendon injuries. He also performs joint replacements and reconstructive surgery for degenerative conditions such as arthritis and tendon dysfunction. In addition, he provides state-of-the-art treatment in the areas of fracture care and sports medicine.
Dr. Reed worked for seven years as a mechanical engineer for a contractor to the Department of Defense before changing careers and enrolling in medical school. As an engineer he designed missile guidance systems and was part of the team that developed the jet engine for the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter.
He earned his medical degree at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. His background in engineering fostered an interest in orthopedics, driving him to an orthopedic surgical residency at the University of Massachusetts. As a chief resident, he was selected as the recipient of the esteemed John J. Monahan award, given to the physician who best embodies patient-centered care.
While he is not from Hawaii, Dr. Reed is strongly committed the island of Hawaii, and specifically to Hilo, his wife’s hometown. Outside of work, Dr. Reed enjoys spending time with his wife and his three sons. He also enjoys golf, tennis, working out, and spending time outdoors.
