State places first, city third in health, happiness study

Most people in Hawaii and Honolulu generally feel healthy, happy and have access to basic necessities, according to a new study by Gallup and Healthways, a well-being management company.

In fact, the state and city are among the top-ranked for well-being, the survey found.

Hawaii topped all other states in the 2009 study's well-being index with 70.2 points, while Honolulu's index of 70.8 is third behind Boulder, Colo. (72.5), and Holland, Mich. (71.0), among the top 10 cities overall.

Pollsters conducted more than 350,000 interviews in all states to create the index scores.

The score is an average of six sub-indexes, which examine life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors and access to basic necessities.

Hawaii rose two percentage points over the 2008 survey and topped the nation in three categories: life evaluation, emotional health and physical health.

Kailua Beach sheen not oil or fuel, Coast Guard says

The Coast Guard says the oily sheen on the ocean off Kailua Beach was not a fuel or oil product.

More than 25 people complained to lifeguards Sunday of a slippery substance in the water that tasted like oil, said Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic.

Lifeguards saw a brown and green oily sheen about 150 yards long and 50 yards wide in front of the Kailua Beach Park boat ramp area, he said.

The city notified the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Coast Guard about the substance. Lifeguards found no oily sheen in the ocean yesterday morning, a city spokesman said.