The National Digest

Report: Poor Kids Have Less Access To Sports In Hawaii

A lack of programs throughout the state contributes to inability to participate in high-quality sports experiences for many kids.

Youth access to sports participation in Hawaii mirrors the state’s income inequality, with lack of transportation, quality facilities and organized leagues serving as major barriers to play, according to a new report from the Aspen Institute titled “State of Play Hawaii.”

The 45-page report by the Washington, D.C.-based education and policy studies think tank, which was commissioned by the Queen Lili’uokalani Trust, is a snapshot of the landscape of youth sports in the Aloha State between December 2018 and June 2019.

The report highlights a number of interesting findings — that despite its island location, Hawaii sees many children who cannot swim due to too few programs offering swim lessons, making this now “a marker of poverty.”

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