For decades, Hawaiians have used the “shaka” hand gesture to convey several greetings: hello, goodbye, thank you, and aloha.
Today, the shaka, which consists of extending the thumb and little finger while curling the others, is fast becoming the official gesture of Hawaii.
State lawmakers passed a measure last week that would recognize Hawaii as the birthplace of the shaka, although there are competing theories about the gesture’s origins. And while different groups in Hawaii interpret the shaka differently, the bill says it has been used statewide to “share aloha, foster bonding, and be pono,” or live righteously.
washingtonpost
