No state met all the targets.

Hawai'i's best-in-the-nation ranking also was helped by a low percentage of seniors reporting a disability and a small number complaining of "physically unhealthy" days. The state was best in the nation in both categories.

But the state's 65-and-older crowd didn't do as well in the areas of cancer screening and other preventive care measures. The state ranked 49th in older adults getting colonoscopies and 42nd in older women getting mammograms in the past two years.

Grace Wong, 86, counts herself among the state's healthy senior citizens and credits an active lifestyle for helping her stay fit. She enjoys time with family and friends.

"I try to keep active and interact with people," Wong said. "I think our lifestyle is pretty good in Hawai'i. We can do a little more exercise outdoors with the climate we have."

Wong, who lives in the Liliha-Pu'unui area, said she lives alone, runs her own house and maintains her finances. She gets some help from a yardman and a housekeeper but rakes her own yard, takes care of two fishponds and keeps up with the daily chores.

Wong said she cooks for her family once a week. "I have children here. If they want to take me for lunch, I go," she said.

Hawai'i Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said she was pleased by the overall top score. But she said the report doesn't show some health issues specific to the state's diverse minorities. For example, Native Hawaiians and Filipinos show higher rates of some cancers, Fukino said, and that doesn't turn up in this report.

She said the report, based on a phone survey, shows strengths in the state's elderly population, some helped by our climate and healthy surroundings. "We have a clean environment," she said.

Some of the statistics confirm what seems apparent. "As far as not being obese, a lot of the elderly folks are Asian and they're not overweight," Fukino said.

Hawai'i also ended up near the bottom — 48th — of states for seniors eating five or more fruits and vegetables each day.

Fukino said many older folks eat less overall because of a loss of appetite. Others don't want to spend a lot of time selecting and preparing fruits and vegetables.

Some struggle with the price tag for healthier groceries. "Fruits and vegetables, especially fresh ones, cost more here," Fukino said.

Wong believes she eats healthy — usually four servings of fruits and vegetables a day — but that would still put her in the failing category.

Fukino said she was pleased to see an increasing number of people checking their cholesterol. But she cautioned against too-restrictive diets for the elderly such as "banning bacon for your 92-year-old grandma."

At that age, Fukino said, "Let them eat whatever they want to eat. Every day is a gift."

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.