VOLUME 8: NO. 5, A105 SEPTEMBER 2011 Suggested citation for this article: Chung-Do JJ, Davis E, Lee S, Jokura Y, Choy L, Maddock JE. An observational study of physical activity in parks in Asian and Pacific Islander communities in urban Honolulu, Hawaii, 2009. Prev Chronic Dis 2011;8(5):A107. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/ issues/2011/sep/10_0215.htm. Accessed [date]. PEER REVIEWED Abstract Introduction Research on park use among Asians and Pacific Islanders is limited. This study examined use and conditions of 6 urban parks, varying in size, location, and neighborhood income level, in predominantly Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Honolulu, Hawaii. Sociodemographic pre- dictors of park use were also identified. Methods Observations were conducted from June through October 2009. Raters used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities to count the number of people in predesignated zones and to code their physical activity level as sedentary, moderate, or vigorous. Raters coded park conditions on the basis of accessibility and usability, whether equipment and supervision were provided, and whether organized activities were occurring. Differences associated with sex and age of park users and income level of the neighborhood were examined by using χ² and logistic regression. Results Raters observed 6,477 park users, most of whom were men. Approximately 60% of users were sedentary, 26% were engaged in moderate activities, and 14% performed vigorous activities. Women and girls were less active than men and boys. More users were present in the evenings, but morning users were more active. Although park users in low-income neighborhoods were more active than users in high-income neighborhoods, fewer people used the low-income parks. Most parks were accessible and usable but few provided equipment and supervision. Organized activities were rarely observed. Conclusion More efforts should be made to promote parks as a physi- cal activity resource in Asian and Pacific Islander com- munities, particularly for women, girls, and low-income residents. More research should be conducted to identify barriers and facilitators to park use, especially among underrepresented populations. Introduction Although physical inactivity is a major public health issue in the United States, few studies have been conducted with Asian and Pacific Islander populations. Approximately 12 million Asians and Pacific Islanders live in the United States, accounting for approximately 5% of the total US population (1). The low proportion of Asians and Pacific Islanders has resulted in limited research with these pop- ulations, although a lower proportion of Asians and Pacific Islanders (38.6%) are physically active compared with the An Observational Study of Physical Activity in Parks in Asian and Pacific Islander Communities in Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, 2009 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Jane J. Chung-Do, DrPH; Elise Davis, MPH; Stephanie Lee; Yuka Jokura, MPH, CHES; Lehua Choy, MPH; Jay E. Maddock, PhD www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/sep/10_0215.htm • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1 The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.