Slightly more than 21 percent of middle school students indicated in 2003 that they had tried cigarettes, down from more than 38 percent in 2000. Cigarette use among high schoolers dropped from 63.3 percent to 47.8 percent, according to the survey.

The percentage of teens who drink, use drugs or have sex has also declined, but at a lesser rate, the Hawai'i Youth Risk Behavior Survey found.

The drop in cigarette use is likely the result of efforts to educate teens about the health risks of smoking, as well as the high cost of cigarettes and stricter enforcement of laws banning their sale to minors, officials said.

"What you've seen is a mighty effort to develop a comprehensive tobacco education and control program," said Julian Lipsher, a tobacco prevention supervisor with the state Department of Health.

He noted that smoking is much less of a social norm now than 15 years ago, when smoking was still permitted in airplanes, restaurants and public buildings.

"We've changed a great deal," Lipsher said. "We're on the road to success."

Hawai'i students reported more risky behavior in some areas than their peers nationally. Hawai'i students are less likely to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables and drink three or more servings of milk per day, for example. But overall, the news appears good, officials said.

"Data from both surveys show trends that are more positive than negative at both the high school and middle school levels," said state health director Chiyome Leinaala Fukino. "The reports show that we are making progress in reaching our youth about positive health choices."

Written parental permission was required for students to participate in the surveys, and response were anonymous.

The tobacco survey had response rates of 72.2 percent in middle schools and 56.2 percent in high schools. The risky-behavior survey had response rates of 66 percent and 53 percent, respectively.