Examining the role of a community coalition in facilitating policy and environmental changes to promote physical activity: the case of Get Fit Kaua'i.

Community coalitions help to generate policy and environmental changes that address community health problems. This qualitative study examined how one community coalition, Get Fit Kaua'i, catalyzed built environment (BE) policy and infrastructure changes in a rural county in Hawai'i. The purpose was to develop a theory that explained the process by which the community coalition facilitated BE changes to support physical activity.

Insights in Public Health: Initiating Bicycle Sharing in Hawai'i: Lessons Learned from a Small Pilot Bike Share Program.

In 2011, a small pilot bike share program was established in the town core of Kailua, Hawai'i, with funding from the Hawai'i State Department of Health. The Kailua system consisted of two stations with 12 bicycles, and the goal was to secure additional funding to expand the station network in the future. Community feedback consistently indicated support for the bike share program.

An observational study of physical activity in parks in Asian and Pacific Islander communities in urban Honolulu, Hawaii, 2009.

Introduction: Research on park use among Asians and Pacific Islanders is limited. This study examined use and conditions of 6 urban parks, varying in size, location, and neighborhood income level, in predominantly Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Honolulu, Hawaii. Sociodemographic predictors of park use were also identified.

Using a community-based participatory approach to create a resource center for Native Hawaiian elders.

Context: Historically, Native Hawaiian elders have been recognized as the major sources of wisdom and transmitters of knowledge and training to younger generations. Yet, concerns exist today for these elders who experience shorter life expectancies, poorer health and greater disability than elders in other ethnic groups in Hawai;i.

Objective: We describe Hā Kūpuna: National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders, established at the University of Hawaii to address disparate health and improve the access and delivery of services to these elders.

Increasing access to places for physical activity through a joint use agreement: a case study in urban Honolulu.

Background: To increase levels of physical activity (PA), interventions that create or enhance access to places for PA are recommended. Establishing a joint use agreement is one way to increase access to existing PA and recreational facilities. The purpose of this article is to present a case study of In-Motion, a pilot joint use agreement project at one urban high school in Honolulu, Hawaii.

How can the University of Hawai'i meet needs for public health education? Results of a students' needs assessment.

Introduction: A strong public health workforce is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of any community. Currently, the ability of the public health workforce to meet demand is being challenged in Hawai'i and the Pacific. This is due, in part, to the downsizing of the public health program at the University of Hawai'i (UH) in the year 2000.