The word shaka is also used as an interjection expressing approval, which may predate its use for the shaka sign. The shaka has achieved great popularity in Australia, primarily among teenagers on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook. Though the claim that he is the originator of the shaka sign is debatable, he is credited with increasing its popularity and that of Hawaiian Pidgin as well. Espinda, who frequently appeared as an extra in Hawaii Five-O as well as The Brady Bunch episodes shot in Hawaii, used the term and the sign during his television ads in the '60s. The late Lippy Espinda, a used car salesman and Oahu-based entertainer, has also been named as a possible creator of the shaka. Īnother theory relates the origin of the shaka to the Spanish immigrants, who folded their middle fingers and took their thumbs to their lips as a friendly gesture to represent sharing a drink with the natives they met in Hawaii. Kalili was then shifted to guarding the sugar train, and his all-clear wave of thumb and pinkie is said to have evolved into the shaka as children imitated the gesture. Origins A shaka sign foam finger used in Brian Schatz's 2014 election.Īccording to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, prevailing local lore credits the gesture to Hamana Kalili of Laie, who lost the three middle fingers of his right hand while working at the Kahuku Sugar Mill. The shaka sign should not be confused with the sign of the horns, where the index and pinky finger is extended and the thumb holds down the middle two fingers.
Hawaii surfer lingo manual#
The shaka sign is similar to the letter Y in the American manual alphabet in American Sign Language. It consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while holding the three middle fingers curled, and gesturing in salutation while presenting the front or back of the hand the wrist may be rotated back and forth for emphasis.
The shaka sign, sometimes known as "hang loose" or "right on", is a gesture with friendly intent often associated with Hawaii and surf culture. The "shaka" sign is a common greeting in the Hawaiian culture and New Zealand subsequently also used in surfer cultures. Not to be confused with Sign of the horns or ILY sign.
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