Fascinating true story behind surfing hand gesture we thought meant ‘hang loose’

For years, the ‘shaka’ hand gesture has been a mainstay of surfer culture, and can be spotted on beaches and boardwalks across the world.

The gesture, which involves making a fist and extending the thumb and pinky-finger, has long been known as the ‘hang loose’ sign amongst surfers.

But outside of its association with catching waves and saying ‘dude’ a lot, the shaka also has a long and storied history amongst native Hawaiians- who are looking to reclaim the gesture by making it their official state symbol.

In Hawaii, the gesture is used in a variety of different ways to convey a range of warmhearted sentiments, from hi and bye to thanks and aloha, among other meanings.

Now local politicians are hoping reclaim the symbol for good, with a pair of bills which would make the shaka the state’s official gesture and recognize Hawaii as its birthplace.

Sen. Glenn Wakai, who introduced the Senate version, said he can’t imagine the measure meeting any opposition and expects it to ‘sail through.’

‌Some say the only requirement is an extended pinky and thumb. Others say shaking the shaka is a no-no.

On paper, the House bill notes that the shaka ‘generally 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.’‌

But In practice, the shaka is far more nuanced.

‌Those from beach or rural communities tend not to shake their shakas. But the practice is common in the capital city of Honolulu.

The shaka carries friendliness and warmth — aloha spirt. Some hold it low when greeting a child, and some like to flash double shakas. It can convey greetings, gratitude or assent, or it can defuse tension. It was particularly useful in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were afraid to shake hands.

According to local folklore, the shaka’s origin traces back to a Native Hawaiian fisherman named Hāmana Kalili, who lived on Oahu’s North Shore in the early 1900s.

Kalili reportedly lost three fingers in a sugar mill accident and later worked as a train guard. Kids looking for a free ride would then jump on the train and mimic his signature hand gesture to other train-jumpers, giving them the all-clear.

Other residents later adopted Kalili’s three-finger-less wave more broadly, according to family lore, and it spread, possibly fueled by the waves of tourists that began arriving after World War II.

Mailani Makaʻīnaʻi, Kalili’s great-great-granddaughter, now wants the bills amended to include his name- something lawmakers reportedly are considering.‌

‘I love the compassion part of it, you know, where, “Oh, okay, he doesn’t have all three fingers. So, I’m going to say hi the way he’s saying hi,”’ Makaʻīnai said. ‘It’s the idea that … I’m like you and you’re like me.’‌

A bronze statue of Kalili, his right arm extended into a shaka, is on display at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.‌

There are various theories about how the term ‘shaka’ became associated with the gesture, with some suggesting that the name came from Japan’s Shaka Buddha.

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