New research from the University of Hawaiʻi suggests hula may be a good way to get the heart pumping.
A study on the prevalence of hula found a quarter of the state’s residents have danced hula or still dance hula.
Those numbers were higher among Native Hawaiians with 65% of Hawaiian women and 31% of Hawaiian men having participated in hula.
Lead scientist and professor Tetine Sentell of UH’s Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health says researchers often overlook cultural practices in measuring physical activity.
"Hula is such a good example. It's such an important cultural practice with high physical activity demands, and depending on the type of hula, researchers found that the metabolic equivalent can be similar to fast running or a basketball game," Sentell said.
Many in Hawaiʻi participate in cultural practices that bring meaning, value, stronger relationships and better well-being, she says.
"So what we believe is if we help to build more practices and policies to support these, we really have so many opportunities to engage people in physical activity that really means something for not only their physical health but also their mental well-being, spiritual well-being, in ways that we believe could really resonate with communities in Hawaiʻi and build health equity," Sentell told HPR.
Sentell says this research may also encourage insurance companies to make the cost of hula activities reimbursable, much like a gym membership.
She says a similar study is being compiled on the cultural practice of outrigger canoe paddling.
According to national guidelines, only one in four adults in Hawaiʻi gets the recommended amount of physical activity.
