NO NĀ PUA: Exploring the feasibility of culture‐based social prescribing on firefighters' wellbeing in Hawaiʻi

Abstract Firefighters face an array of stressors due to the demands of their occupation, leading to a high prevalence of mental health challenges. Social prescribing represents a novel approach to healthcare that emphasizes a holistic view of health and wellbeing. This study examined the feasibility of a cultural‐based social prescribing intervention for firefighters on Hawaiʻi Island and aimed to describe how their experience restoring a loko iʻa (Hawaiian fishpond) affected their wellbeing. Using a mixed‐methods design, feasibility was quantitatively measured by examining recruitment, adherence, retention, and exploratory wellbeing outcomes. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted to assess feasibility by examining the key areas of focus for feasibility studies: acceptability, demand, and implementation, and to capture participant‐reported experiences on wellbeing. The results indicated a 90% enrollment rate, 53.3% adherence, and small, non‐significant improvements in exploratory wellbeing outcomes. A total of 24 participants were interviewed and strong feasibility was revealed; however, challenges related to communication, scheduling, clarity, and safety represent opportunities for refinement. Interviews also described firefighters' experiences of spiritual renewal, ancestral connection, relational wellbeing, and increased cultural identity working in the loko iʻa . This study demonstrates the feasibility and promise of socially prescribing culturally grounded interventions for supporting the wellbeing of firefighters on Hawaiʻi Island.