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 annual United Health Foundation findings have ranked Hawaii among the healthiest states for the past 28 years. Active lifestyle opportunities and an overall sound medical system are among the reasons stated in the study.
Hawaii vacations benefit visitors’ health too.
A vacation in Hawaii may be healthier than any of us thought. While you may not find the fountain of youth in Hawaii, you’ll be heading in the right direction. This is according to a travel study from the Global Commission on Aging released just before Covid.
â–· More of us are choosing to travel for health.
â–· Those who travel have better health and even live longer than those who don’t.
â–· Women who don’t travel often have a higher risk of heart disease than those who travel frequently.
â–· Men who travel do better than their non-traveling counterparts.
â–· People who travel reported that they are happier in their lives than those that don’t.
Nine secrets to a healthy Hawaii vacation.
1. Travel during the off-season. Fewer visitors improve the experience, making it more relaxing. Then too, beaches aren’t so crowded. The best dates are from now until early December and following Spring Break until early June.
2. Enjoy great Hawaii walking. From places including the Ala Wai Canal in Honolulu, the 8-mile-long oceanfront Kauai Path to Maui’s Wailea Beach Walk. Does it get better than that?
3. Get in the water, on the water, or near the water. From an outrigger canoe ride, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and frolicking. These are great ways to burn calories and get in shape on your Hawaii vacation. And just being near the water benefits health too. Negative ions are found in very high concentrations near the ocean. These are said to pass through the skin cells and via our lungs.
4. Hike in Hawaii. Epic hiking of all intensities awaits you. The options are nearly limitless, from Diamond Head to Koko Head on Oahu to 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, Pipiwai trail, and Waimoku Falls at Haleakala National Park.
5. Come prepared. It’s never great to start an intense exercise program on vacation. We’ve seen the results, but it isn’t good. Start before you leave, and make it a fun part of the trip planning process that we find nearly as enjoyable as the trip itself. Don’t ruin your Hawaii vacation or worse. Come prepared, and avoid trouble.
6. Eat well. There are more and more healthy options in Hawaii.
7. Avoid dehydration. Our tradewinds and refreshing ocean temperature give you the impression that you don’t need much water. The truth is that you do.
8. Epic Hawaii sunsets and sunrises. Other health benefits are derived from the natural beauty that is Hawaii.
9. Return happier and healthier than you left.Â
Living in Hawaii | The Good and Bad in terms of health.
Hawaii’s health strengths include:
- Low incidence of multiple chronic ailments
- A low percentage of avoiding medical care due to cost
- A lower rate of obesity
- Fewer smokers
- The low rate of uninsured
- Lack of children in poverty
- Less disparity in health status
- Fewer preventable hospitalizations
- Good public health funding
- Fewer cancer deaths
- Fewer violent crimes
- Quality dentistry
Our challenges are:
- Widespread lack of adequate sleep
- Alcohol abuse
- The low percentage of high school graduates
- High rate of low birth weights
- High rate of salmonella cases
- Low rate of immunizations
You can read the health ratings for Hawaii.
Why Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the U.S.
It isn’t a far stretch to think that what benefits Hawaii visitors on vacation benefits Hawaii residents year-round over a lifetime. With relatively clean air and water, a lack of population density, great year-round weather, and typically less stress, among other things, we concur with these findings.
And so, while every state had some decline in this area during Covid, Hawaii had the least. Throughout the U.S., life expectancy declined by 1.8 years to 77 years. On the other hand, Hawaii had a minor drop in life expectancy of 0.2 to 80.7 years, the country’s highest life expectancy.
These states followed Hawaii in the top position: WA, MN, CA, and MA. Mississippi was the lowest, with 71.9 years. And in every state, women live longer.
I wish I could visit my family in January and February but I may have to wait until 2024. 😰