LT. GOVERNOR URGES ACTION FOR A HEALTHY HAWAI`I

October 2 - Lt. Governor Aiona opened the state's first ever Physical Activity and Nutrition Summit to help showcase best practices and guidelines in healthy living.

"We know that good nutrition and regular physical activity are fundamental to healthy living," said Lt. Governor Aiona. "Our Administration is helping to provide the people of Hawai`i with the tools they need to improve their overall health and wellbeing."

The Lt. Governor emphasized that a healthy Hawai`i is everybody's responsibility, including individuals and employers.

"We need to make the time to ensure physical activity is a regular part of our lives," said Lt. Governor Aiona.

Encouraging individuals to make good decisions about what to eat or how to exercise, the Lt. Governor also called on employers to establish wellness policies that encourage healthy food choices and physical activity.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Health, heart disease remains Hawai`i's leading cause of death, killing more than 2,200 people in 2005.

In August, Lt. Governor Aiona helped unveil the Administration's Hawai`i Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan, which serves as a guide to help residents make choices intended to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases that contribute to greater health care costs. The plan is part of the Department of Health's Healthy Hawai`i Initiative.