Michelle B.
A pinky and thumb extended with the remaining fingers curled down: That’s the “shaka” here in Hawaiʻi. For decades, Hawaii residents have used the “shaka” hand gesture to convey several greetings – hello, goodbye, thank you and aloha.
Where Does the Shaka Come From?
The prevailing story of the shaka’s origin traces back to a Native Hawaiian fisherman named Hāmana Kalili, who lived on Oʻahu’s North Shore in the early 1900s. Kalili lost three fingers in a sugar mill accident. After the mishap, Kalili worked as a guard on a train. Kids who jumped the train for a free ride would curl their middle fingers to mimic Kalili’s injured hand, giving other train-jumpers the all-clear. Hawaii residents 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.
At ActioNet, we embrace the Aloha Spirit with our Corporate Culture – Work Hard, Play Hard and Have Fun! Please check out our Shaka Shaka Video at: https://www.actionet.com/who-we-are/community/celebrating-actionet-style/shaka-shaka/
