Hawaii nonprofit news in brief

Despite bad economy, Hawaii adds 1,800 health-care jobs

According to the most recent data available from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii’s health-care industry has added nearly 1,800 jobs over the past year, making it one of the few resilient employment sectors in the current recession. Approximately 59,700 people were working in health care and social assistance in Hawaii as of January, up from 57,916 a year ago. That is an average of 148 new health-care jobs each month. In the same 12 months, Hawaii’s total work force declined by 17,000 jobs.

Honolulu population grew by 4,509 in 2008

Honolulu saw a net increase of 4,509 residents from July 2007 to July 2008, according to data released in March by the U.S. Census Bureau. The city’s population increased 0.5 percent from 900,525 in 2007 to 905,034 in 2008. Based on population size, Honolulu ranked 55th out of 363 metropolitan statistical areas.

Hawaii named second 'happiest' state in the union

A survey by the Gallup Organization and America’s Health Insurance Plans has determined Hawaii is the second happiest state – second in the nation only to Utah. The study ranked states and congressional districts by residents’ responses to questions related to the economy, work environments, emotional and physical health. Seven of the top ten states for “well-being” are in the West: Utah was first; Wyoming, third; Colorado, fourth; Washington state, seventh; California, ninth; and Arizona, tenth. West Virginia ranked last just ahead of Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio. Among other states, Nevada came in at No. 38, Texas was 21st, Florida 30th, Illinois 31st and New York 35th. The study included responses from 1,000 Americans during January 2009.