Hawaii climbs to second among healthiest states

Hawaii climbed to second from third as one of the healthiest states in the nation, according to an annual report, "2008 America's Health Rankings: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities," conducted by the United Health Foundation.

Hawaii was second only to Vermont, which was ranked the healthiest state in the nation for the second year in the row. Louisiana was ranked as the least healthy state. Hawaii was third in last year's report, behind Vermont and Minnesota, and 10th in 2003.

Factors that moved Hawaii into second included a drop in the incidence of infectious disease from 21.5 to 15.6 cases per 100,000, increased immunization for children between 19 months and 35 months to 87.8 percent from 80.1 percent, a decline in the percentage of children in poverty since 1990 from 20.7 percent to 11.6 percent, and a drop in the prevalence of smoking from 27.6 percent to 17 percent since 1990.

Dr. Chiyome Fukino, director of the state Department of Health, attributed the decrease in smoking to the multimillion-dollar tobacco settlement used toward tobacco cessation services and programs. People are more informed about the dangerous effects of smoking, she said.

One challenge Hawaii faces, according to the report, is a high prevalence of binge drinking at 18.1 percent of the population. When teens reach 18, some consider drinking a rite of passage, Fukino said. And, while the obesity rate in the state is low at 21.7 percent of the population, the issue remains a concern, especially with Hawaii's high rate of diabetes, she said.

Other factors contributing to Hawaii's high rank as one of the healthiest states in the nation: a low rate of preventable hospitalization; low death rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease; air quality; and the low rate of residents without health insurance.