256770 Energy expenditure in hula, the traditional dance of Native Hawaiians

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Tricia Usagawa, MS , Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI
Mele Look, MBA , Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI
Mapuana de Silva , Halau Mohala 'Ilima, Kailua, HI
Joseph Keawe’aimoku Kaholokula, PhD , Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI
Todd Seto , University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI
  
Background: Physical activity (PA) is an essential treatment component for cardiometabolic diseases of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Energy expenditure from PA is scientifically determined through the physiological measurement of metabolic equivalents (METs). METs have been calculated for diverse activities and used by health professionals to prescribe PA. Most cultural PA have not been evaluated but can be important in treatment of cardiometabolic disease of ethnic minorities such as Native Hawaiians. Hula, the traditional dance of Native Hawaiians, the indigenous people of Hawai‘i, is commonly practiced by men and women of all ages. To our knowledge, this is the first scientific evaluation of energy expenditure of hula.

Method: Nineteen competitive hula dancers performed two dance sets of low and high intensity hula. Oxygen consumption, METs, heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, and energy expenditure (kcal/min) were measured with a portable indirect calorimetry device. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables, and one-way ANOVA was conducted to determine differences.

Results: The average MET values for low and high intensity hula were calculated. For low intensity, the average METs was 5.7 and for high intensity, the average METs was 7.5. There was a significant difference between intensities; however there was no significant difference between genders for low or high intensity.

Conclusions: The energy expenditure of both low and high intensity hula met the recommended guidelines for moderate and vigorous intensity PA, respectively. This study demonstrates hula can be utilized as a prescribed PA and is scalable based on skill, fitness, and ability.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how, by established physiological measurements, the indigenous Hawaiian dance form of hula is a suitable activity for aerobic exercise. 2. Demonstrate that hula can be appropriately prescribed as an aerobic activity for men and women of all ages, and a wide range of physical abilities.

Keywords: Culture, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a research assistant in the Department, working with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in the management of chronic diseases that disproportionately affect these populations for over 3 years. I am also a Doctoral student in Public Health at the University of Hawaii. My research interests are physical activity for adolescents and obesity prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4280.0: Indigenous Approaches to Prevention and Wellness Across Generations – Utilizing Our Strengths to Improve Our Future