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Education
Hawaii Wins ‘Race to the Top’ Education Grant
Aug 26th
Governor Linda Lingle today applauded the collaborative efforts of education and community partners that resulted in Hawai‘i being named a Race to the Top grant winner. The U.S. Department of Education made the announcement this morning that Hawai‘i is among 10 states and the District of Columbia in the competition’s second round of grant awards.
Hawai‘i will receive $75 million to implement comprehensive initiatives to reform the state’s public education system to improve student achievement.
“We are extremely pleased and proud that the U.S. Department of Education has approved Hawai‘i’s Race to the Top application,” said Governor Lingle. “With the Race to the Top funding and the support of the U.S. Department of Education, Hawai‘i has a tremendous opportunity to make the systemic changes needed to raise performance in the classroom so students are prepared for college and their careers,” said Governor Lingle.
“Getting to this point would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the Hawai‘i Department of Education – under the leadership of interim Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi – the Board of Education, the community and my Administration,” the Governor said.
“Securing this grant is just a stepping stone. We will now begin the hard work of implementing our education reform plan, which includes a common core curriculum tied to a new on-line state test while tracking student progress and rewarding teachers by linking 50 percent of their evaluation to student achievement. I am especially excited about our pledge to have 100 percent of high school graduates ready for a career and college without the need for post secondary remediation programs,” the Governor added.
Mystery Unraveled: How Asbestos Causes Cancer
Jun 28th
More than 20 million people in the U.S., and many more worldwide, who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen that is resistant to current therapies. Moreover, asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers. For the past 40 years researchers have tried to understand why asbestos causes cancer. More >
Waialua, McKinley, Campbell High Schools Win Robotics Competition
Mar 29th
A three-team alliance made up of student robotics teams from Waialua, McKinley and Campbell High Schools today won the 2010 BAE Systems FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics) in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition and have qualified to compete in the 2010 FIRST Championships that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 15 -17.  In total, seven Hawai‘i teams have qualified for the National Championships.
In today’s final rounds at the University of Hawai‘i MÄnoa Stan Sheriff Center, six teams – competing in alliances of three teams – went head-to-head in a high-energy robotics version of soccer.  The winning red team alliance included Waialua High School, McKinley High School and Campbell High School.  The second-place blue team alliance included Sacred Hearts Academy, Punahou High School and Honoka‘a High School
In addition to Waialua, McKinley and Campbell, three other teams have automatically qualified to advance to the Championships by capturing top awards in this weekend’s competition.  They include:
- Kalani High School, Regional Chairman’s Award
- Kaua‘i Island School, Engineering Inspiration Award
- Ka‘u High School, Rookie All-Star Award
Sacred Hearts Academy also qualified to attend the National Championships based on the team’s performance in last year’s competition season.
Waialua High School’s “The Hawaiian Kids†team had already earned its spot in the Championship earlier this month by winning the San Diego Regional, followed by a win at the Arizona Regional a week later as well as capturing the Arizona Regional’s Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award given to the team that best represents the goals of FIRST robotics.
The Friends of Hawai‘i Robotics on behalf of the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee will sponsor the registration costs for all seven of the qualifying teams to compete in the National Championships.
Nearly 1,000 students from 24 Hawai‘i high school robotics teams and four mainland teams from Alaska, Louisiana and New Jersey participated in the Hawai‘i regional, putting their academic knowledge, innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills and teamwork to the test in a high-energy robotics competition.
Awards Presented Today:
Regional Chairman’s Award – FIRST’s most prestigious award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.  Kalani High School
FIRST Dean’s List Finalist Award – Celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining, FIRSTideals is exemplary.  Sean Cockey, ‘Iolani School and Caitlin Mori, Sacred Hearts Academy
Engineering Inspiration Award – Celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community. Kaua‘i Island School
Coopertition™ Award – Celebrates the team that best demonstrates the ability to help their opponents compete. McKinley High School
Gracious Professionalism™ – Celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and gracious professionalism in the heat of competition, both on and off the playing field.  Farrington High School
Industrial Design Award – Celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively achieves the game challenge. McKinley High School
Industrial Safety Award – Celebrates the team that progresses beyond safety fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards. Sacred Hearts Academy
Judges’ Award – During the course of the competition the judging panel may decide a team’s unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition. Kohala High School
Quality Award – Celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication. ‘Iolani School
Rookie All-Star Award – Celebrates the rookie team exemplifying a young but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology. Ka‘u High School
Team Spirit Award – Celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork. Kaua‘i Island School
Awards Presented on Friday:
Excellence in Design Award – Honors clear and compelling evidence of excellence in design development.  McKinley High School
Imagery Award – Celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team appearance.  Camden County Technical School, Sicklerville, New Jersey
Innovation in Control Award – Celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components to provide unique machine functions.  Waipahu High School
Creativity Award – Celebrates creativity in design, use of component, or strategy of play.  Punahou High School
Engineering Excellence Award – Celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature. Waialua High School
Entrepreneurship Award – Celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing a team that, since inception, has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives. Sacred Hearts Academy
Website Award – Recognizes excellence in student-designed, built, and managed FIRST team websites.  McKinley High School
Regional Woodie Flowers Award – Presented to an outstanding engineer or teacher participating in the robotics competition who best demonstrates excellence in teaching science, math, and creative design.  Glenn Lee, robotics teacher and coach, Waialua High School
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award – Danny Cook of BAE Systems
The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common engineering problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard kit of parts that included motors, batteries, a control system and a mix of automation components – but no instructions.
This year’s challenge, “BREAKAWAY,†is a robotics version of soccer.  Two alliances of three teams compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with bumps, attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in goals using their remote-controlled robot.  Additional bonus points will be earned for each robot suspended in air and not touching the field at the end of the match.
Robotics provides students with a strong educational foundation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and offers them opportunities to solve problems, work as teams and think analytically – skills useful in any career.
Ohana Music Together Comes to Libraries
Mar 18th
Ohana Music Together, an internationally-recognized early childhood music and movement program for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, will be presented at the Hawaii State Library on Tuesday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the Edna Allyn Children’s Room.
Rebecca Andrew, owner and director of Ohana Music Together of Hawaii, will conduct the free program which encourages children to experience music and emphasizes adult involvement.
The Friends of the Library of Hawaii are sponsoring this program which is suitable for ages 4 and younger. All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
In addition, other Oahu libraries are scheduled to host the Ohana Music Together program this month:
- March 22, 10:30 a.m. – Kailua Public Library (239 Kuulei Road; telephone 266-9911)
- March 25, 10:30 a.m. – Kaneohe Public Library (45-829 Kamehameha Highway; telephone 233-5676)
- March 29, 10:30 a.m. – Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library (3225 Salt Lake Boulevard; telephone 831-6831).
Contact the Hawaii State Library two weeks in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.
Hawaii State Library is located at 478 South King Street, corner of Punchbowl and South King Streets. For more information, please call the Library’s Edna Allyn Children’s Room at 586-3510.
Hawaii school robotics programs get boost
Jan 25th
Governor Linda Lingle announced today in her State of the State Address that she has authorized the use of $2,805,200 in federal stimulus funds to enhance robotics education programs in Hawai‘i’s schools. The funds will be provided to the University of Hawai‘i College of Engineering, which will disburse the money to the Friends of Hawai‘i Robotics, a not-for-profit organization formed for the purpose of supporting the Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) and robotics educational programming in the state of Hawai‘i.
The grant money, $1,097,200 this year and $1,708,000 in the next fiscal year, is designed to help foster robotics education and expand students’ learning of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) throughout their schooling, while preparing them for careers in the global economy.
“Robotics education has become an integral part of our efforts to prepare Hawai‘i students for the global economy,†said Governor Lingle. “While we work to develop an innovation economy with high-technology careers based in Hawai‘i, we must also ensure our state’s workforce is ready for the future opportunities. Robotics students will be among those who develop viable solutions to our local, national and global challenges. They will ensure Hawai‘i stays at the forefront of the global economy.â€
The funds will be used to purchase robotics kits and curriculum packages for schools, provide teacher workshops and professional development training as well as cover operating costs of competitive robotics events which occur year-round.
“The robotics programs are truly effective in engaging our youth – our future – in the excitement and wonder of science, technology engineering and math,†said University of Hawai‘i at MÄnoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw. “All of the partners, certainly including highly committed teachers, sponsors, mentors and volunteers, contribute to the success of these programs and such efforts have a positive impact on Hawai‘i’s future. UH-MÄnoa is also definitely excited about having the participants as our students in the future.â€
The Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) was formed last year to bring together the six robotics programs – FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics, Botball, VEX Robotics, Underwater Remote Operating Vehicle and Micro Robotics – which previously operated independently. This is the first time all six of the robotics programs have coordinated their efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.
Over the past 3 years, student participation in robotics education has grown tremendously. Currently, 182 public, charter and private schools have robotics teams in one or more of the six robotics programs, accounting for 47 percent of Hawai‘i’s schools.
Robotics education is a key component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, which seeks to transform Hawai‘i’s economy from one based on land development to one based on the innovative capacity of Hawai‘i‘s residents, especially our youth.
The $2.8 million funding is being made available to the state under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Part B as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was passed by Congress last February. Governors have discretion over how to use Part B funds, which for Hawai‘i total approximately $35 million. Governor Lingle has elected to dedicate all of the Part B funds toward public education, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Punahou, Iolani top LEGO robotics competition
Dec 21st
The FIRST LEGO League 2009 season drew to a close today with an intense competition for the 2009 “Smart Move†Challenge Hawai‘i State Championship. At the Neil S. Blaisdell Arena, 48 teams of students demonstrated their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community.
FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” This year’s competition called for teams of 9 to 14 year-old students to research and present their own creative solutions to one of today’s most relevant topics: gaining efficiency in transportation systems.
The Champions Award was presented to Punahou School’s team, Punabots Blue. ‘Iolani School’s Roboraiders Zoom team was named runner-up.
As the state champion, Punahou School will represent Hawai‘i at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival, to be held in conjunction with the FIRST Championship, April 15-17, 2010 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
Other award winning schools include:
- King Kamuali‘i – Judges Award
- Waimea Canyon Middle – Rising Star Award
- ‘Aina Haina Elementary – Team Spirit Award
- Pauoa Elementary – Core Values Award
- Highlands Intermediate – Gracious Professionalism Award
- Kaunakakai Elementary – Creative Presentation, first place
- Emmanuel Lutheran School – Creative Presentation Award, second place
- ‘Iolani School – Innovative Solution Award, first place; Research Quality Award, second place
- Kapolei Elementary – Innovative Solution Award, second place
- Holomua Elementary – Research Quality Award, first place
- Punahou School (Team Firewall) – Robot Design Award, first place
- Hawai‘i Baptist Academy – Robot Design Award, second place
- Mid Pacific Institute – Team Work Award, first place
- Honolulu Christian Homeschoolers – Team Work Award, second place
- Punahou School (Team Buff n Blue 100) – Robot Performance Award, first place
- Punahou School (Team Firewall) – Robot Performance Award, second place
Student teams programmed their robots to complete “missions,†including how to plan efficient routes and sequences, climb steep ramps, respond to changing conditions, travel along narrow bridges with no guard rails, and endure successful crash tests. Through this research and competitive play, students are exploring the growing questions around how to make transportation more efficient.
The FLL competition is judged in four areas: project presentation; robot performance; technical design and programming of the robot; and teamwork. The highest honor will go to the team that best exemplifies the spirit and values of the program.
In addition to the Championship competition, nearly 200 Junior FIRST LEGO League participants displayed their LEGO models and research projects. Junior FIRST LEGO League is geared toward 6 to 9 year-olds, introducing them to the wonders of science and technology through traditional, open-ended LEGO building with an age-appropriate challenge based on the FIRST LEGO League theme. Hawai‘i currently fields 45 Junior FLL teams.
Participation in the FIRST LEGO League and Junior FIRST LEGO League programs in Hawai‘i has skyrocketed from six to a record 172 teams, in the six years of the programs operation in Hawai‘i.
This weekend’s FLL Hawai‘i State Championship Tournament was sponsored by Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC), Women in Technology, Hawaiian Electric Company, TESORO Corporation, City & County of Honolulu – HTA – CPEP, UH Manoa College of Engineering, Honolulu Community College – Construction Academy, Department of Education and isisHawaii.
FIRST LEGO League is one of six major programs in which Hawai‘i students can participate. The six programs which fall under the umbrella of the Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) include FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics, Botball, VEX Robotics, Underwater Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV), and Micro Robotics.
Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics at an early age and sustaining students’ interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, the six robotics programs which previously operated autonomously joined together to form the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) (www.robotics.hawaii.gov). This is the first time all six of the robotics programs have coordinated their efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.
To learn more about student robotics in Hawai‘i as well as to view highlights and photos of the Hawai‘i FLL State Championship, visit www.hawaiiroc.org.
The following schools and youth organizations will participated in the “Smart Move†Challenge this weekend:
O‘ahu
- Aina Haina Elementary School
- Hawai‘i Baptist Academy
- Highlands Intermediate School
- Holomua Elementary School
- Honolulu Christian Home Schoolers
- ‘Iolani School
- KÄne‘ohe Elementary School
- Kapolei Elementary School
- Kapolei Middle School
- Lehua Elementary School
- Ma‘ema‘e Elementary School
- Makalapa Elementary School
- Mid Pacific Institute
- Mililani Mauka Elementary School
- Moanalua Elementary
- Noelani Elementary School
- Pearl City Elementary School
- Pearl Ridge Elementary School
- Punahou School
- Sacred Hearts Academy
- Salt Lake Elementary School
Maui
- 4-H Maui
- Emmanuel Lutheran School
- ‘Īao School
- Queen Ka‘ahumanu Elementary School
- Seabury Hall
- St. Josephs School
- Moloka‘i
- Kaunakakai Elementary School
LÄna‘i
- LÄna‘i Elementary School
Big Island
- Keaukaha Robotics Program
- Myron B. Thompson Academy, PCS
- Pauoa Elementary
- WaiÄkea Elementary
- Waiakeawaena Elementary
- West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy, PCS
Kaua‘i
- King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School
- KÅloa Elementary School
- Waimea Canyon Middle School
ABOUT FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With the support of many of the world’s most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds.
FLL is an international program for 9 to 14 year-old children (10 to 16 outside the U.S. and Canada) created in a partnership between FIRST and The LEGO Group in 1998 based on their common belief that fun and learning go hand-in-hand, and that an inspired mind can accomplish anything. Each September, FIRST LEGO League announces the annual challenge to teams, engaging them in authentic scientific research and hands-on robotics design. Using LEGO MINDSTORMS technologies and LEGO play materials, children work alongside adult mentors to design, build, and program robots to complete missions based on real-world challenges. After eight intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments.
ABOUT THE LEGO GROUP
LEGO Systems Inc. (LSI) is the Americas (North America and Latin America) division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held firm based in Billund, Denmark. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities through high-quality, creatively educational play materials, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: “Only the best is good enough.”
UH hosts Physics & Astronomy Open House Nov. 21
Nov 11th
The University of Hawai‘i at MÄnoa will hold a Physics and Astronomy Open House from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 21. Eleven sites—including Watanabe Hall, Krauss Annex and the Physical Science Building—will feature physics and astronomy research and applications presented by Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty and students.
The public is invited to attend the 2009 open house, which will also draw high school teachers and their students. There will be physics demonstrations, and presentations on density and buoyancy, nanophysics, anti-matter, free electron laser, cosmic ray physics, astronomy, astrobiology, geo-neutrinos, the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) project, and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
The welcome and overview will take place in the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics Auditorium at 8:30 a.m., with sites open from 9:00-11:00 a.m. for group visits, and 11:00 to noon for informal visits.
“This is an opportunity to learn what is happening in physics and astronomy in Hawaii and elsewhere,†said Michael Jones, an Associate Physicist in the UH MÄnoa Department of Physics and Astronomy. “Attendees have found previous open house events to be interesting and enjoyable.â€
A full schedule is available online in the News & Events section on the bottom of the Physics & Astronomy website at www.phys.hawaii.edu.
Robotics pairs fun with education at Maui County Fair
Sep 14th
The Maui County Fair is proud to again present the RoboTech Maui Expo as part of the Fair’s festivities on Saturday October 3, 2009 in the Baldwin High School Gymnasium. This year, the Expo will feature competitions, exhibits, workshops and more that will highlight this amazing new world of science, recognize our children who are involved, and introduce others to the incredible world of Robotics.
The public is invited to watch teams of middle and high school students challenge each other in the VEX Robotics Competition, as well as fourth and fifth grade students compete in the AIA Maui Lego Building Competition.
For a more hands on experience with robots, Maui students grades 3-8 and their parents can build a robot together using a toothbrush at the BrushBot Robotics Student and Parent Workshop. Preregistration is required and enrollment is limited. To register, email name of student, grade level and school as well as name of accompanying parent, phone number and email address to Art Kimura at art@higp.hawaii.edu or call 808-934-7261.
Winning projects from the Maui Science and Engineering Fair will also be displayed throughout the day at the Expo.
For the RoboTech Maui Expo’s complete schedule visit mauicountyfair.com or call Sherri Grimes at 280-6889.
The 87th Maui County Fair will be “Your Invitation to Fun” and held Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4. The highly anticipated annual event brings the entire community together to enjoy an alcohol-free, smoke-free and drug-free family-oriented educational event with plenty of entertainment, delicious local food, and fun! This year especially, the Fair gives the people of Maui County a well-deserved break from the current economic times and provides priceless quality time for family and friends. The Maui County Fair is the primary source of funding for many of Maui’s nonprofit and community organizations. It relies entirely on corporate or local business sponsorships, local donations, and volunteers for support. Corporate Sponsorship packets are also available online for download.
For information about the Maui County Fair contact Managing Director Sherri Grimes at 280-6889 or visit mauicountyfair.com or twitter.com/mauicountyfair on the web.
UH MÄnoa campus unveils new solar energy testbed
Aug 31st
Saunders Hall on the UH MÄnoa campus served as the demonstration site today for a new renewable energy testbed featuring innovative “micro-inverter†technology.
The “Kumu Kit†solar panel system was donated by Hawaii Energy Connection, LLC to UH MÄnoa for installation on the roof of Saunders Hall, home to the Sustainable Saunders Initiative—a collaborative effort among faculty and students to pursue workplace sustainability. Other donations and logistical assistance were made possible from Emphase Energy and the UH MÄnoa Sustainability Council. The small residential-sized system, which went live on August 14, will provide an opportunity for students to study the potential of solar energy and test different technologies for turning sunlight into electricity.
“This is a small demonstration and testing site that is vital to move UH to the forefront of research and education in these fields,†said Professor David Nixon, UH MÄnoa associate professor in the College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center, and director of the Sustainable Saunders Initiative. “Our vision is to make Saunders Hall the embodiment of sustainability on the MÄnoa campus, and renewable energy generation is an important component.â€
The first project for the testbed will evaluate micro-inverter technology that improves the efficiency of solar power arrays. The micro-inverters communicate real-time power production data from each solar panel to a central web site that archives historical data.
“We’re particularly excited about the micro-inverters, a new approach to translating the DC power from solar panels into AC power that increases efficiency of the system by 10-15 percent,†said Jeremy Kowalczyk, physics graduate student and Energy Team leader for Sustainable Saunders.
Hawaii is blessed with abundant solar and wind resources that can be harvested to generate electricity. UH MÄnoa has set goals of generating 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, and achieving energy independence by 2050.
Steve Godmere and Chris DeBone, owners of the Hawai‘i Energy Connection partnership, noted that this is a great opportunity to contribute to the University’s educational and research efforts in sustainability. “Micro-inverters are an important innovation in turning sun power into electricity-they’re less expensive, more convenient, and more efficient than traditional power inverters.â€
The Public Policy Center, its UH partners, and the Sustainable Saunders students will be assessing the performance and cost structure of the PV array with its micro-inverters, along with installation possibilities and barriers. For more information, visit: www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu/solaronsaunders.html.
The University of Hawai`i at MÄnoa serves approximately 20,000 students pursuing 225 different degrees. Coming from every Hawaiian island, every state in the nation, and more than 100 countries, UH MÄnoa students matriculate in an enriching environment for the global exchange of ideas. For more information, visit http://manoa.hawaii.edu.
Hawaii ‘Kids Count’ statistics mixed
Jul 29th
Hawaii ranks number 18 nationally in a new state-by-state study on the well-being of America’s children. The 2009 Kids Count Data Book reveals that since 2000, Hawaii improved on six of the 10 measures affecting child well-being. Yet on four other measures, conditions worsened for Hawaii’s kids.
The 20th annual Data Book also contains the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s essay that takes stock of the country’s progress in keeping track of children’s well-being.
This year’s Data Book is complemented by the expanded Kids Count Data Center that contains hundreds of measures of child well-being covering national, state, county, and city information. To access information for Hawaii go to datacenter.kidscount.org/hi.
Hawaii ranks in the top 10 on four of 10 indicators.
Hawaii ranked among the ten best states in the nation on four of 10 indicators of child well-being. Hawaii ranked 2nd on the percent of children in poverty, 3rd on the percent of teens who are high school dropouts, and 10th on both infant mortality rate and the percent of children in single-parent families.
Teen birth rate increases for the first time since 2000.
Between 2000 and 2005, the teen birth rate in Hawaii decreased from 46 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 to 36 births per 1,000. However, Hawaii’s teen birth rate climbed back to 41 per 1,000 in 2006, a 14 percent increase from 2005. In 2006, there were 1,619 births to teens ages 15 to 19 in Hawaii.
Percent of teens ages 16-19 who are high school dropouts remains low.
Hawaii ranked number 3 nationally in the percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds who were high school dropouts in 2007. The percentage of teens ages 16 to 19 in Hawaii who were high school dropouts decreased from five percent in 2000 to four percent in 2007. Nationally, seven percent of teens ages 16 to 19 were dropouts in 2007.
Percent of children in poverty remains low.
With only 10 percent of children living in poverty in 2007, Hawaii ranked 2nd among the 50 states. Between 2000 and 2007, the percentage of children in Hawaii who were poor decreased from 13 percent to 10 percent. Hawaii’s child poverty rate was well below the national average of 18 percent in 2007.
