In this year’s round of America’s Health Rankings, Hawaii emerged as the overall top state, based on assessment of a total of 35 core health-related behaviors, community and environment issues, policy, clinical care and various outcomes. Among Hawaii’s strongest measures: preventable hospitalizations (No. 1), and low prevalence of obesity (No. 2).

On a national scale, the 29th annual United Health Foundation report found that obesity is more common than ever. For the first time, more than 30 percent of the adult population was found to be obese, up 5 percent from the previous year. Of concern in the islands is that obesity rates among youth have increased in recent years.

Churches step up to help homeless

It’s heartening to see Oahu churches continuing efforts to make even small dents in our homelessness problem. On the Windward side, congregations at Kailua’s Daybreak Church and Kaneohe’s Parker United Methodist Church are now working in tandem with the Institute for Human Services to host monthly fairs featuring hot meals and ample access to social services. Also in Kaneohe, the Honolulu-based First Assembly of God Pentecostal church, recently opened a set of 12 dome shelters to serve the homeless.

The visibility of the homeless varies by neighborhood, but overall, Hawaii is still tagged as having the nation’s highest homeless rate per capita.