Living in Hawaii is something many visitors have thought about for years. And if you need another reason for a Hawaii vacation, here you go.
The United Health Foundation’s annual findings have ranked Hawaii among the healthiest states for the past 28 years. Active lifestyle opportunities and a healthy overall medical system are among the reasons stated in the study.
Hawaii vacations also benefit visitors’ health.
A vacation to Hawaii can be healthier than any of us thought. While you may not find the fountain of youth in Hawaii, you’ll be headed in the right direction. That’s according to a travel study by the Global Commission on Aging, released just before Covid.
▷ More of us are choosing to travel for health.
▷ Those who travel have better health and even live longer than those who do not travel.
▷ Women who do not travel often have a higher risk of heart disease than those who travel often.
▷ Men who travel do better than their non-traveling counterparts.
▷ People who travel report being happier in their lives than those who don’t.
Nine secrets to a healthy vacation in Hawaii.
1. Travel during the off-season. Fewer visitors improve the experience, making it more relaxing. Also, the beaches are not so crowded. The best dates are from now until early December and after Spring Break until early June.
2. Enjoy the great hike in Hawaii. From places including Honolulu’s Ala Wai Canal, the 8-mile-long oceanfront Kauai Path to Maui’s Wailea Beach Walk. Does it get any better than that?
3. Get in, on, or near water. From canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, surfing and fun. These are great ways to burn calories and get in shape during your Hawaii vacation. And just being near water brings health benefits as well. Negative ions are found in very high concentrations near the ocean. These are said to pass through our skin cells and through our lungs.
4. Walk inside Hawaii. Epic hiking of all intensities awaits you. The options are almost limitless, from Diamond Head to Koko Head on Oahu to the Alakai Swamp, Na Pali Coast and many other great hikes on Kauai. Also Pololu Valley, Waipio Valley and Mauna Loa on the Big Island. Maui offers a wide variety of options, including Iao Valley State Park, the Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls in Haleakala National Park.
5. Come prepared. It’s never a good idea to start an intense exercise program while on vacation. We have seen the results, but it is not good. Start before you leave and make it a fun part of the travel planning process that we find almost as enjoyable as the trip itself. Don’t ruin your Hawaii vacation or worse. Come prepared and stay out of trouble.
6. Eat well. There are more and more healthy options in Hawaii.
7. Avoid dehydration. Our trade winds and refreshing ocean temperature give you the impression that you don’t need much water. The truth is you do.
8. Hawaii’s epic sunsets and sunrises. Other health benefits derive from the natural beauty that is Hawaii.
9. Come back happier and healthier than you left.
Living in Hawaii | The good and the bad when it comes to health.
Hawaii’s health strengths include:
- Low incidence of many chronic diseases
- A low rate of avoiding medical care due to cost
- A lower obesity rate
- Fewer smokers
- Low rate of uninsured
- Absence of children in poverty
- Less inequality in health status
- Fewer preventable hospital admissions
- Good public health financing
- Fewer deaths from cancer
- Less violent crime
- Quality dentistry
Our challenges are:
- Widespread lack of adequate sleep
- Alcohol abuse
- Low percentage of graduates
- High rate of low birth weight
- High rate of salmonella cases
- Low rate of immunizations
You can read health ratings for Hawaii.
Why Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the US
It’s not a stretch to think that what benefits visitors to Hawaii on vacation benefits year-round residents of Hawaii for life. With relatively clean air and water, lack of population density, great weather year-round, and usually less stress, among other things, we agree with these findings.
And so, while every state had a decline in this area during Covid, Hawaii had the least. Across the US, life expectancy fell by 1.8 years to 77 years. Hawaii, on the other hand, saw a slight decrease in life expectancy of 0.2 to 80.7 years, the nation’s highest life expectancy.
These states followed Hawaii in the top spot: WA, MN, CA, and MA. Mississippi was the lowest, at 71.9 years. And in every country, women live longer.
Read the study below and share your thoughts.
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