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.

The answer appears in a study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., Drs. Haining Yang and Michele Carbone at the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center led a research team that included collaborators at New York University, University of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh, San Raffaele University of Milano, and the Imperial College in London.

These researchers addressed the paradox of how asbestos fibers that kill cells could cause cancer, since a dead cell should not be able to grow and form a tumor. They found that when asbestos kills cells, it does so by inducing a process called “programmed cell necrosis” that leads to the release of a molecule called high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). HMGB1 starts a particular type of inflammatory reaction that causes the release of mutagens and factors that promote tumor growth. The researchers found that patients exposed to asbestos have elevated levels of HMGB1 in their serum. Therefore, they state that it may be possible to target HMGB1 to prevent or treat mesothelioma and identify asbestos-exposed cohorts by simple HMGB1 serological testing.

In the article, the researchers propose that by interfering with the inflammatory reaction caused by asbestos and HMGB1, it may be possible to decrease cancer incidence among cohorts exposed to asbestos and decrease the rate of tumor growth among those already affected by mesothelioma. Drs. Yang and Carbone, the lead authors, state that to test this hypothesis, they are now planning a clinical trial in a remote area in Cappadocia, Turkey, where over 50% of the population dies of malignant mesothelioma. If the results are positive, the approach will be extended to cohorts of asbestos-exposed individuals in the U.S.

This research emphasizes the role of inflammation in causing different types of cancers and provides novel clinical tools to identify exposed individuals and prevent or decrease tumor growth. The researchers question if it will be possible to prevent mesothelioma, like colon cancer, simply by taking aspirin or similar drugs that stop inflammation. They are about to test this hypothesis.

The article is titled “Programmed cell necrosis induced by asbestos in human mesothelial cells causes high-mobility group box 1 protein release and resultant inflammation,” by Haining Yang, Zeyana Rivera, Sandro Jube, Masaki Nasu, Pietro Bertino and Michele Carbone at the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center; Harvey I. Pass and Chandra Goparaju at New York University; Thomas Krausz at the University of Chicago; Michael T. Lotze at the University of Pittsburgh; Guido Franzoso at the Imperial College of London, U.K.; and Marco E. Bianchi at the University of San Raffele Milano, Italy. It will be published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. the week of June 28 2010, and later in print. The study was supported by grants from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

In today’s final rounds at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa 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.

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.

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.”

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 Mānoa 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-Mānoa is also definitely excited about having the participants as our students in the future.”

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).

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
• Kāne‘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

Lāna‘i

• Lāna‘i Elementary School

Big Island

• Keaukaha Robotics Program
• Myron B. Thompson Academy, PCS
• Pauoa Elementary
• Waiākea Elementary
• Waiakeawaena Elementary
• West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy, PCS

Kaua‘i

• King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School
• Kōloa 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.”

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 Mānoa Department of Physics and Astronomy. “Attendees have found previous open house events to be interesting and enjoyable.”

A full schedule is available online in the News & Events section on the bottom of the Physics & Astronomy website at www.phys.hawaii.edu.

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.

The “Kumu Kit” solar panel system was donated by Hawaii Energy Connection, LLC to UH Mānoa 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 Mānoa 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 Mānoa 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 Mānoa campus, and renewable energy generation is an important component.”

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 Mānoa 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.”

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 Mānoa 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 Mānoa students matriculate in an enriching environment for the global exchange of ideas. For more information, visit http://manoa.hawaii.edu.

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.