Lifetime Participation in Physical Activity for Women in Hawaiʻi, USA: The Importance of Activities of Culture and Regional Relevance
1
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, United States
2
Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, United States
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1463
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Globally, studies of physical activity (PA) report low participation among women, especially those of low socioeconomic status. Early-life engagement is an important determinant of long-term PA. This study investigates lifetime engagement in culturally and regionally relevant PA (CRRPA) with the expectation that these practices are powerful for public health promotion, particularly for women.
METHODS:
In 2022, a cross-sectional analysis of survey data on CRRPA was conducted among 1044 English-speaking adults across Hawaiʻi, recruited through an online panel or random-digit dialing. Because of their Indigenous origins and importance to Hawaiʻi, the focal CRRPA were hula dancing, outrigger canoe paddling, spearfishing and surfing. Lifetime participation in each CRRPA was self-reported and dichotomized. Analyses focused on engagement in any of the four CRRPA among women (n=670) by sociodemographic variables and specific activities by age cohort.
RESULTS:
70% of women reported lifetime engagement in at least one of the CRRPA. Engagement was highest among Native Hawaiian women (89.1%) with a +38.1% difference compared to White women. Lower socioeconomic status women reported more engagement (e.g., the difference between women with household incomes of $USD 15-25,000 compared to >$125,000 was +33.6%). For all CRRPA, early-life engagement was lowest for older cohorts (45+ at survey). Engagement was ~10-20% lower in early adulthood compared to childhood for hula at all current ages, but this pattern was only observed for paddling and surfing among those <45 at survey. For spearfishing, engagement was similar during childhood and young adulthood for all age cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS:
High lifetime engagement in CRRPA among women, especially those reported elsewhere to have low PA levels (e.g., Native Hawaiians, low socioeconomic status), presents an opportunity for strengths-based PA promotion. Notable drops in engagement between childhood and young adulthood among survey respondents may indicate an opportune time to promote CRRPA to sustain it over the life-course.
Globally, studies of physical activity (PA) report low participation among women, especially those of low socioeconomic status. Early-life engagement is an important determinant of long-term PA. This study investigates lifetime engagement in culturally and regionally relevant PA (CRRPA) with the expectation that these practices are powerful for public health promotion, particularly for women.
METHODS:
In 2022, a cross-sectional analysis of survey data on CRRPA was conducted among 1044 English-speaking adults across Hawaiʻi, recruited through an online panel or random-digit dialing. Because of their Indigenous origins and importance to Hawaiʻi, the focal CRRPA were hula dancing, outrigger canoe paddling, spearfishing and surfing. Lifetime participation in each CRRPA was self-reported and dichotomized. Analyses focused on engagement in any of the four CRRPA among women (n=670) by sociodemographic variables and specific activities by age cohort.
RESULTS:
70% of women reported lifetime engagement in at least one of the CRRPA. Engagement was highest among Native Hawaiian women (89.1%) with a +38.1% difference compared to White women. Lower socioeconomic status women reported more engagement (e.g., the difference between women with household incomes of $USD 15-25,000 compared to >$125,000 was +33.6%). For all CRRPA, early-life engagement was lowest for older cohorts (45+ at survey). Engagement was ~10-20% lower in early adulthood compared to childhood for hula at all current ages, but this pattern was only observed for paddling and surfing among those <45 at survey. For spearfishing, engagement was similar during childhood and young adulthood for all age cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS:
High lifetime engagement in CRRPA among women, especially those reported elsewhere to have low PA levels (e.g., Native Hawaiians, low socioeconomic status), presents an opportunity for strengths-based PA promotion. Notable drops in engagement between childhood and young adulthood among survey respondents may indicate an opportune time to promote CRRPA to sustain it over the life-course.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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