Comprehensive, high-quality health education plays a critical role in shaping a healthy young generation, both physically and mentally. In Hawaii, this education not only equips students with health knowledge but also helps them develop essential skills to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to success in academics, careers, and life.
Health literacy is a vital component in fostering students’ holistic development across social, emotional, mental, physical, and cognitive aspects. A health-literate individual understands how to seek out, evaluate, and use information and services to make informed decisions for themselves and the community. This contributes to enhanced resilience, well-being, strong relationships, and the prevention of illness, injury, and premature death.
Health Education Standards in Hawaii
Hawaii’s health education program is designed based on the latest scientific research, focusing on:
- Supporting holistic health: Emphasizing the social, emotional, mental, physical, and cognitive growth of students.
- Skill development: Promoting health literacy skills aligned with the National Health Education Standards.
- Knowledge building: Offering accurate and relevant information about high-priority risk topics.
- Family and community engagement: Encouraging partnerships between families and communities to support health education.
- Meeting individual needs: Providing interactive learning experiences tailored to students’ unique needs and interests.
- Fostering positive attitudes: Creating a safe, inclusive learning environment that encourages students to adopt healthy behaviors.
The National Health Education Standards in Hawaiʻi (PDF) aim to develop students’ health literacy skills at a proficient level across grade levels:
- Standard 1: Understanding Concepts — Students will grasp concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
- Standard 2: Analyzing Influence — Students will analyze the impact of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
- Standard 3: Accessing Information, Products, and Services — Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information, products, and services.
- Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication — Students will use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and reduce health risks.
- Standard 5: Decision Making — Students will demonstrate decision-making skills to improve health.
- Standard 6: Goal Setting — Students will exhibit goal-setting skills to enhance health.
- Standard 7: Self-Management — Students will practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.
- Standard 8: Advocacy — Students will advocate for personal, family, and community health.
Close-up of a Kalo Leaf
Kalo, or taro, is a significant staple crop in Hawaiian culture that symbolizes health and life.
Priority Topics in Health Education
Health education in Hawaii prioritizes not only delivering information but also empowering students with skills to tackle critical health challenges. Key focus areas include:
- Mental and emotional health: Teaching students to recognize and manage emotions, build self-esteem, and develop problem-solving skills.
- Healthy eating and physical activity: Providing knowledge about nutrition, encouraging healthy food choices, and promoting regular physical activity.
- Personal health and hygiene: Covering topics such as personal hygiene, oral health, and disease prevention.
- Safety (preventing unintentional injuries): Raising awareness about potential risks and teaching ways to avoid accidents and injuries.
- Violence prevention: Educating students to recognize and prevent violence, as well as conflict-resolution skills.
- Tobacco prevention: Offering information about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine products to encourage smoke-free choices.
- Alcohol and drug abuse prevention: Educating about the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs to help students avoid substance abuse.
- Sexual health and responsibility: Providing accurate information about sexual health to enable responsible decision-making and prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Note: Health education in preschool is adapted to the Hawaiʻi Early Learning and Development Standards (HELDS).
Health Education Course Requirements
Health education is an essential part of Hawaii’s curriculum:
- Elementary school: Health education is mandatory at all grade levels.
- Middle/intermediate school: Schools are required to offer courses that align with state health education standards.
- High school: Students must complete a health education course to graduate.
- Elective courses: Various specialized health courses are available as electives in high school.
Wellness Guidelines for Health Education
Comprehensive health education provides a foundation for students to build healthy relationships and make lifelong healthy decisions. The wellness guidelines support quality health education in Hawaiʻi.
The wellness guidelines are organized around three key components covered in the directives, including nutrition education and emphasizing culturally relevant methods and ʻāina-based learning approaches:
- Health education class content focuses on knowledge and skills to support healthy eating and aligns with HIDOE health education standards.
- Health education is provided for elementary students at least 45 minutes per week and for secondary students at least 200 minutes per week.
- Nutrition education includes culturally relevant, ʻāina-based, and hands-on activities such as food preparation, tasting, farm visits, and school garden projects.
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
Comprehensive sexual health education is crucial for preventing teenage pregnancies and curbing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. This program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Parents have the right to opt their children out of activities involving sensitive topics. In such cases, alternative learning activities will be provided.
The Future of Health Education in Hawaii
Health education is an evolving field, and Hawaii remains committed to enhancing its health education programs to meet the needs of 21st-century students. By equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for informed health-related decision-making, Hawaii is investing in a healthier and more prosperous future for all.