State ranks first, city third in health, happiness study

According to a new study by Gallup and Healthways, a well-being management company, most people in Hawaii and Honolulu generally feel healthy, happy and have access to basic necessities. In fact, the state and city are among the top-ranked for well-being, the survey found.

Hawaii topped all other states in the 2009 study’s well-being index with 70.2 points, while Honolulu’s index of 70.8 is third behind Boulder, Colo. (72.5), and Holland, Mich. (71.0). Hawaii rose two percentage points over the 2008 survey and topped the nation in three categories: life evaluation, emotional health and physical health.

Pollsters conducted more than 350,000 interviews in all states to create the index scores. The score is an average of six sub-indexes, which examine life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors and access to basic necessities.

Hawaii earns a failing grade for keiki dental care

Hawaii received an “F” for its dental health policies for Medicaid children, according to a new study by the Pew Center on the States, which showed that more than half received no dental service in 2007. The Aloha State received the failing grade because state dental policies “fail one in five children.”

Hawaii exceeded just two of eight national benchmarks intended to address the dental health needs of underprivileged children: the percentage of Medicaid-enrolled children who received dental care in 2007 and a policy allowing hygienists to apply sealants without a dental exam.

The state has the lowest fluoridation rate in the country; only residents living on military bases have fluoridated water. In addition, the state lacks organized hygiene programs for schools and has become worse due to the budget crisis, the study found. In addition, layoffs in November 2009 dismantled the Hawaii Dental Health Division’s Dental Hygiene Branch, responsible for implementing preventive strategies statewide.

The state is one of two in the West that received failing grades. Washington, D.C.-based Pew Center on the States says its mission is to work to advance state policies that serve the public interest.