"There's brown rice. There's whole wheat bread now, not just the white buttered rolls," said sophomore Lauren Watanabe.

Hawaii's public schools are fighting a war on childhood obesity. The battle plan has a title -- Wellness Guidelines. The targets are sodas and snacks.

"The fight is on and we have confidence in our school system and in our children," said state health director Chiyome Fukino.

The state Health and Education departments are getting rid of campus treats high in sugar like cookies, candies, and chips. It's a statewide move.

"It's not about abolishing everything that we've been used to snacking on," Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said at a press conference to announce the initiative.

By 2011, school vending machines must replace soft drinks with water, milk and juice drinks.

The Wellness Guidelines also call for more exercise not just during physical education but during recess, too.

"So how do we steer them to more activity rather than just sitting around? I think that is really easily done," state schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto said.

Hawaii is following a federal law. Kalani High School is almost there.

"My cafeteria has a vending machine that is all water," said Brenda Nagasawa, Kalani's food services manager.

It will cost the state more to put healthier choices on the menu at public schools. But if it helps kids become fit for life, the end will justify the means.

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