The infamous shaka hand; renowned for conveying meanings of “hang loose,” “good vibes,” “good surf,” “right on,” and various others. The gesture appears everywhere from pop culture to casual conversation, holding a place in both the local history of Hawai’i and global surf culture. Displaying the shaka hand may convey your easy-going attitude, and positive outlook on life. Almost all surfers have adopted this as a way of communicating, greeting each other, and to advertise friendliness.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- The origin of the Shaka
- Where the name, “Shaka” comes from
- Further history and documentation of Shaka
- How to throw a proper Shaka
The Origin of the Shaka Hand
As locals tell it, the origin of the shaka hand centers around Hamana Kalili of Laie, a sugarcane presser at the Kahuku Sugar Mill. One tragic day, his middle, index, and ring finger were crushed in the rollers, leaving only his thumb and little finger. Kalili later worked as train security for the sugar mill, and as a choir director, becoming instantly recognizable by the missing fingers of his hand.
According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, his primary job was keeping away mischievous kids who would jump the train to ride from town to town. To signal that the coast was clear, kids supposedly began to mimic his fingerless wave. When directing the choir of his local Mormon Church in Laie, his waving hands were recognizable by every member.
“Shaka,” the Name
We've learned the hand wave, now we must learn the name. In the sixties, car salesman and television personality David “Lippy” Espinada popularized the gesture and added the word we all now recognize: shaka. Appearing in car commercials and as an extra of Hawaii Five-O and The Brady Bunch episodes, he often signed off with the iconic gesture and a friendly “Shaka, brah!”
By 1976, when Frank Fasi ran for his third term as mayor of Honolulu, throwing the shaka became an integral part of his campaign. This further solidified the intentions of good vibes and fun times into the meaning of the shaka gesture. From there, throwing shaka has exploded across the world through the rapid growth of surf culture, where it is used to denote good waves and as a positive greeting to friends in the lineup. The combined history of the shaka gesture and name unequivocally represents the complex local record of plantation era Hawai’i and modern history.
A Shaka Documentary
Steve Sue and Alex Bocchieri’s documentary Shaka: A Story of Aloha takes a deep dive through over a hundred years of local Hawaiian and global history about the origins of shaka, popular culture references, the spread of shaka, and other cultural references. It demonstrates both the deep roots that shaka holds in Hawaiian community and around the world, as we all strive to spread our own aloha spirit. The documentary even explores a Shaka Contest, which debates the ‘proper’ way to throw shaka. Surf movies and media have also greatly popularized the shaka, displaying it all over the world wherever surfers are filmed.
Today, the shaka gesture is everywhere around the world: from coast to coast in the United States, and all the way in New Zealand and Australia. Wherever there’s good swell, there’s someone throwing a shaka. The gesture remains a steadfast symbol for aloha spirit and friendly greetings. While there is often debate regarding the ‘true’ origins of the shaka, it has undoubtedly become a symbol of good vibes and fun times.
Throwing the Proper Shaka
So, how do you throw the proper shaka? When in doubt, mimic our iconic SHAKA KAI logo. Tuck in your index, middle, and ring finger against your palm, leaving your thumb and little finger sticking out to the sides. Shake your hand or flick your wrist back and forth to emphasize your shaka. Whether you keep those fingers hangin’ loose or tucked in tight is up to your personal style!
Want to Wear the Shaka?
Our logo carries that same nostalgic and laid-back feeling that the gesture carries. Whether you like it big and bold, or want a more subtle way to rep the shaka hand, our OG Collection has everything you need to convey your easy-going, good-timing spirit.
