Hawaii

Hawaii is fourth this year; it was 10^th in 2003. Hawaii has been among the top ten states for 13 of the 15 years of this index. It is number one for a low prevalence of obesity at 16.4 percent of the population, a low rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease at 251.6 deaths per 100,000 population, a low rate of cancer deaths at 166.0 deaths per 100,000 population and a low total mortality rate at 675.4 deaths per 100,000 population. Other strengths include a low prevalence of smoking, a low violent crime rate, a low rate of uninsured population, strong support for public health and a low premature death rate. Challenges for the state include a low high school graduation rate with 64.8 percent of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years and a moderate incidence of infectious disease at 22.6 cases per 100,000 population. Hawaii is fourth for the combined measures of outcomes and sixth for the combined measures of risk factors, indicating that the state's relative health is likely to remain the same in the near future. Health disparities within the state are among the lowest in the country for premature death rates; however, there is some evidence of disparity in access to adequate prenatal care.

In the past year, the prevalence of smoking declined from 21.0 percent to 17.2 percent of the population, the percentage of children in poverty declined from 15.9 percent to 12.0 percent of persons under age 18 and the high school graduation rate increased from 61.0 percent to 64.8 percent of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years. The number of limited activity days per month increased from 1.2 to 1.9 days in the previous 30 days.

Since 1990, the percentage of children in poverty has decreased from 20.7 percent to 12.0 percent of persons under age 18, access to adequate prenatal care has increased from 65.8 percent to 75.1 percent of pregnant women receiving adequate prenatal care and the high school graduation rate has declined from 84.5 percent to 64.8 percent of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years.

To learn more about health and health initiatives in Hawaii, visit the Hawaii state department of health Web site at: www.state.hi.us/health/

A dash (--) indicates data not available.
* Data sources and/or methdology may not be comparable for this year.