STUDY: Maui County has Best Quality of Life in State

Walk 27 Maui. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Maui was ranked number one in the state for the county with the healthiest outcomes and quality of life in a new County Health Rankings Key Findings Report conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Maui came out on top, ahead of (2) Honolulu; (3) Kauaʻi; (4) Hawaiʻi; and (5) Kalawao County on Molokaʻi in the overall quality of life category, in which the study monitored birth weight, days off because of mental or physical health, and premature death.

In a separate category which monitored 30 health factors, Maui fell behind Honolulu, which was ranked #1, and Kauaʻi, which secured the #2 spot.  The category tracked various factors including  high school graduation, housing problems and health screenings, to name a few.

Maui was second in the state in the health behaviors category which tracked adult smoking, obesity, teen births and physical inactivity.

According to the report, “the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program helps communities identify and implement solutions that make it easier for people to be healthy in their homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.”