Comparison of Health Education and Physical Activity Practice in Four Regions of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare four distinct Hawaiian districts on the island of Oahu regarding their efforts in presenting quality health education and physical activity. The ethnic groups represented in this study included Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian and Caucasian. Questionnaires based on the Action for Healthy Kids Healthy Schools Summit Survey were sent to 168 schools on Oahu. The return response of the surveys was 79% with 132 schools either returning the survey or being interviewed by a follow-up phone call. Statistical analysis utilizing ANOVA identified any significant differences among the districts, school levels, and ethnic groups. Further analysis using Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference Post Hoc Test indicated specific differences after significant ANOVA was found. Based on data collected in this study, it would appear that fewer than half of the schools were in the process of making health and physical education culturally sensitive, and that state health education standards were mostly being implemented at the middle and high school level. Elementary schools that were “in progress” for implementing health standards and adopting physical education standards should be given assistance from the district level. Additional assistance should also be given to elementary schools that were “in progress” for testing health topics and providing uniform assessment in physical education. Hawaiian schools on Oahu were contributing to the physical activity of students by offering physical education classes, however, this could be greatly improved by inclusion of daily physical education taught by certified instructors at all levels especially elementary.