A study finds public health may be more supported by spearfishing, culturally significant traditions

Spearfishing, a traditional practice deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, provides more than just food—it plays a crucial role in supporting community health.

A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health highlights the physical and cultural benefits of this activity, offering valuable insights into the practice and how it can be used to promote well-being across the islands.

Published in PLOS One,  the study was led by Lauryn Hansen, a 2023 Master of Public Health graduate and current Grau fellow with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, and Catherine Pirkle, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. The researchers explored how spearfishing supports physical activity, cultural identity, food security, and a strong connection to both nature and community.

Spearfishing in the Pacific is a living tradition rooted in Indigenous knowledge and community values. It was commonly practiced in the Hawaiian Kingdom; spearfishing has been passed down through generations and remains a vital link between people, their heritage, and the environment.

“Our findings highlight just how widely practiced spearfishing is among Indigenous and rural communities in Hawaiʻi,” Hansen said. “Recognizing and supporting activities that celebrate cultural identity allows for public health strategies that align with the values of our communities.”

While spearfishing offers numerous benefits, it remains largely excluded from formal health promotion efforts and public health data collection. The researchers hope to inspire more inclusive strategies that integrate traditional practices as effective tools for supporting health and wellness.

Using data from the 2019 and 2020 Hawaiʻi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, the team found that about 25% of adults in Hawaiʻi had engaged in spearfishing at some point in their lives. Those who had spearfished were also more likely to meet physical activity guidelines compared to those who had not.

“Spearfishing is more than a sport—it’s a way of living,” said Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill, a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Biogenesis Research and avid spear-fisherman. “Especially in Hawaiʻi, where the keiki learn pretty young in their lives, and they take it as more than a hobby, but a way to help their families to bring food home.”

According to Barbano Weingrill, who has been spearfishing for 25 years, the sport requires strength, endurance, and a healthy lifestyle, all of which promote cardiovascular health.

The study’s findings were presented at the International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress in Paris. Related research from the same collaboration has also highlighted the health benefits of hula and outrigger canoe paddling.

By bridging tradition and modern health strategies, the study offers a model for public health programs that are not only effective but also culturally meaningful to the communities they serve.

“We really wanted to make sure that what we’re seeing in day-to-day life here is actually reflected in the science, and people can take those numbers and use them,” Barbano Weingril said.