1. Elise Davis, MPH, Jane Chung-Do, MPH, & Jay Maddock, Ph.D. University of Hawai`i, Department of Public Health Sciences & Epidemiology Lack of physical activity (PA) is linked to health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Public parks provide spaces for people to be physically active. Parks serve some individuals as the most common place for physical activity. In previous studies women are less likely to use parks. Residence in an area of low social economic status has been associated with lower physical activity levels. Research on park usage and physical activity levels in parks among Asian/ Pacific Islander communities is limited. Background Objective Results Methodology Discussion Funding provided by the Hawai`i Department of Health through the Tobacco Settlement Special Fund. A special thanks also goes to the Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative Evaluation Team. To compare park utilization and physical activity levels between males and females. To identify factors affecting park utilization and physical activity levels among females. Park users in six urban Honolulu parks were assessed using the System of Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) method. A total of 116 park visits were conducted between July and October 2009. All physical activity ratings were above 94% agreement between raters. Parks were categorized into lower, middle, or upper income categories based upon median income recorded for each respective surrounding census track. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-squared tests. Females were less likely to utilize public parks or be observed being physically active at parks compared to males. Women were more likely to use parks than girls. Females were more likely to utilize parks in the evening, but were most physically active in the morning. Females in lower-income neighborhoods are less likely to utilize public parks compared to females of higher income neighborhoods. However, females in lower-income neighborhoods are most likely to engage in vigorous physical activity and least likely to engage in sedentary activity. Improving park conditions and perceptions of safety around parks may increase park usage, especially by females in in low-income neighborhoods. Further research must be completed to plan appropriate interventions to increase park use and physical activity in Asian/Pacific Islander communities. For more information, please contact Elise Davis: eldavis@hawaii.edu Acknowledgements Results Park usage, physical activity, and social economic status: a study on the behaviors of females in Honolulu parks n males + females = 6,477 park users n females = 2,338 park users Table 1. Demographic Information of Communities Surrounding Selected Parks in Urban Honolulu PA Levels by Gender PA Levels of Females by Age PA Levels of Females by Time PA Levels of Females by Park Income Level Park Usage by Gender Park Usage of Females by Park Income Level Park Usage of Females by Age Park Usage of Females by Time Source: US Census Bureau for census tracks surrounding the selected parks, 2000 (*Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander)  2 =25.43, p<0.001  2 =68.164, p<0.001  2 =64.560, p<0.001  2 =31.72, p<0.001