The Aloha State is a great place for living a healthy life, with only one major drawback: Bosses tend to be too bossy.

For the third year in a row, Hawaii led the nation in a major survey of health and well-being. Hawaii topped the 2011 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on a survey of 353,000 Americans nationwide, including 1,086 local residents.

The state’s overall score on the index was 70.2 out of a possible 100. That was down slightly from 71 in 2010.

"Hawaii is an elite well-being state. Compared to the other 49, this is a state that has a lot of things going for it," said Daniel Witters, Gallup’s lead index researcher.

The state ranked No. 1 for emotional health — gauging happiness, stress and depression — at 83.8 out of 100. Hawaii was also No. 1 for healthy behavior — measuring smoking, eating and exercise habits — at 68.9. Nationally the emotional health average was 79, while the healthy behavior index was 63.4.

Those were two of the six categories that made up the overall well-being index along with life evaluation (Hawaii ranked No. 2), physical health (fourth), basic access (fourth) and work environment (44th).

Living in a healthy state has many advantages. "Increased well-being is vital to improving the physical, emotional and financial health of Americans," Witters said. "It is an effective predictor of health care costs, job performance and productivity."

Still, Hawaii has its share of problems, Witters said. One is that 23 percent of the population is obese, not much lower than the 26.1 percent nationally.

"That right there gives you something to work on," he said. "While I think Hawaii is sort of the standard bearer for the nation, I think it also should be trying to set a good example as far as continuing to (strive) to improve."

The state’s single biggest weakness was in the workplace, Witters added.

Nearly all, 93 percent, of Hawaii residents reported they are satisfied with their jobs, but only 51 percent felt like they are partners with their boss, compared with 56 percent nationally.

"Workers in Hawaii are more bossed around then they are in other states," he said. "The biggest area Hawaii should work on is having supervisors that partner with employees rather than boss (them) around."

The survey determined states’ well-being based on 55 core questions, including:

» Do you exercise 30 minutes at least three days a week?

» Have you eaten five servings of fruits and vegetables at least four days in the last week?

» Does your supervisor treat you like partner?

» Do you have heath insurance?

» Are you safe walking at night?

» Is it easy to get affordable fruits and vegetables?