For decades, Hawaii residents have embraced the "shaka" hand gesture as a versatile means of communication, conveying greetings such as hello, goodbye, thank you, and aloha.
Recently, Hawaii's state lawmakers passed a measure to designate the shaka as the official gesture of Hawaii, recognizing its role in promoting aloha, fostering connections, and encouraging righteous living, or "pono."
State Sen. Glenn Wakai, a key advocate for the bill, views the shaka as a representation of Hawaii's inherent goodness, highlighting its importance in preserving the state's unique identity. While acknowledging that the legislation may not have the far-reaching impact of other initiatives such as healthcare or education, Wakai believes it is a meaningful step in capturing Hawaii's essence.
The concept for the bill originated from Steve Sue, a resident of Honolulu who produced a documentary exploring the origins and significance of the shaka. Through his film, "Shaka, A Story of Aloha," Sue delved into the various interpretations and historical contexts of the gesture, which dates back 110 years.
Despite its diverse origin stories, the shaka is widely recognized and used across Hawaii, particularly in the context of surfing, a sport believed to have originated in the state.
The bill's supporters see the designation of the shaka as Hawaii's official gesture as a way to enhance the state's reputation in the surfing world, as well as to boost its economy and global standing.
Critics have argued that the bill represents a trivial pursuit compared to other legislative priorities. However, the bill passed unanimously in both chambers of the state legislature, demonstrating widespread support for recognizing the shaka's cultural significance.
Supporters of the bill, like Sue, believe that the shaka is a powerful symbol of Hawaii that can help spread aloha and showcase the state's values and history to the world.