Widespread engagement in spearfishing in Hawaiʻi– A culturally-relevant and accessible physical activity of global significance

Background: Despite the health benefits, physical activity guidelines are not met in many settings globally. Surveillance data from the United States indicates that Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are less active than other racial/ethnic groups. Spearfishing, a culturally relevant practice, may foster physical activity and enhance well-being by promoting social cohesion, food security, and nature connectedness. Spearfishing is a physical activity requiring skilled observation of natural resources and depends on the preservation of natural environments.

Purpose: Estimate the population-level prevalence of lifetime spearfishing engagement in Hawaiʻi and identify associated sociodemographic and health factors.

Methods: In 2019 and 2020, one question about lifetime spearfishing engagement was added to a state surveillance system; data from Hawaiʻi were analyzed with survey weights for 12,737 respondents to yield prevalence ratios(PR) and 95% confidence intervals(95%CI). The outcome measure was spearfishing “often” or “very often” during one’s lifetime.

Results: 10% of Hawaiʻi residents engaged in spearfishing during their lifetimes. Engagement was high across age groups, among men (17%), Native Hawaiians (22%), other Pacific Islanders (16%), and among residents of the rural islands of Lanaʻi (32.7%) and Molokaʻi (28.7%). Compared to their counterparts, those with secondary education or less, who ever smoked cigarettes, had obesity or mobility limitations were more likely to engage in spearfishing. They were also more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than those who did not (PR 1.69 95%CI 1.36-2.09).

Conclusions: There is widespread lifelong commitment to spearfishing in Hawaiʻi. The findings indicate the sport may be accessible to diverse populations and practiced by those with health limitations.

Practical Implications: Supporting culturally-relevant activities, such as spearfishing, is a strength-based approach to encourage meaningful physical activity participation in disadvantaged groups. Lessons from Hawaiʻi are informative to global efforts to promote physical activity and Sustainable Development Goals.

Funding: Hawaiʻi Department of Health