Shaka, the surf salute Do you know its origin and meaning?

We are used to do the Shaka salute, a symbol of surfing and good vibes. However, did you know what it means?

All of us who practice surfing know that there are a series of rituals that, over time, have been passed down from generation to generation. Things that we know are there, although perhaps we have never asked ourselves why they happen that way.

One of those is the Shaka greeting, a Hawaiian expression that was used for decades in the surfing environment, which is still valid today, not only in that area, but also in many others. That is, we see it as a synonym of beach and fun, but the reality is that it is applied in many other sports and circumstances.

For example, soccer players usually celebrate their goals by making the gesture, as in the case of Brazil’s Neymar. However, we also use the expression ourselves in different areas of life. So, what is the story behind this greeting?

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The origin of the Shaka, the surfing salute

The first thing to clarify is that the origins of this greeting are not very clear. However, the truth is that, as happens with things that we do not have much evidence, there are several hypotheses to explain this phenomenon.

Some of them lie in the fact that it was used to count the number 6 with the hand in the businesses of the Chinese merchants who lived in Polynesia, until it was later introduced in the islands by the Spanish navigators to be able to “drink something”. In other words, a symbol of having a good time on the beach, something that the surfers themselves adopted as a synonym for the joy of being on the waves.

Another possibility leads us to meet a popular Hawaiian waterman, which is known as Hamana Kalili. This person had lost his middle fingers, so his salute was made with the remaining two, so this symbol spread in the community for its peculiarity, as well as a sign of admiration for this man.

The name Shaka, it is said, may come from a popular commercial from the 1960s. Lippy Espinda, a car salesman, used the gesture and uttered the phrase Shaka Bradah! Another important story is that it comes from Shark eye. That is, this popular gesture that involves opening the hand by extending the little finger and thumb represented the head of a shark, which meant a compliment, as the animal is respected in the region.

The importance of Shaka

Be that as it may, the Shaka is the coolest and most relaxed greeting on the planet. It is a true symbol of having a good time, as it expresses joy, satisfaction and a sporty spirit. In fact, its experience is not only in surfing, but it is used in different areas of life, such as politics. Barack Obama, for example, used to wave that way, since he was born in those lands.

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So, to do this surf salute, what you will need to do is to hold your hand in a fist. Next, you need to extend your pinky and thumb in separate directions. After that, the back of the hand should face the recipient of the greeting. The gesture can be complemented with some phrase from your mouth.