State Helps Lead Battle Against Heart Disease
Lt. Governor Aiona and an estimated 2,500 walkers and runners took big steps Saturday toward helping reduce heart disease deaths in Hawai`i.
Lt. Governor Aiona and his daughter, Ka`imilani, 16, run 4.5 miles around Diamond Head at the 15th Annual Heart Walk.
The volunteers logged between one and five miles for an awareness campaign in Waikiki sponsored by the American Heart Association, which has committed more than $3.5 million in the past decade to research improved methods of preventing and treating cardiovascular disease in Hawai‘i.
According to the state Department of Health, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Hawai‘i, where it killed more than 3,100 people in 2005.
For the past few years, Lt. Governor Aiona has been leading the statewide awareness campaign for the American Heart Association. He’s also been the public face of the Healthy Living Initiative, a statewide effort by the Administration to get people to eat healthier and take part in more physical activity.
The initiative is part of a broader statewide effort to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart problems, and other chronic diseases that contribute to greater healthcare costs. Studies suggest that Hawai‘i residents could have saved an estimated $140 million on their hospital bills if they were physically active on a regular basis.
