PRIVACY POLICY
Last Updated: September 2, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected and used when you visit ShakaFilm.org, join our email list, submit a form, make a donation or sponsorship contribution, register for a screening or event, or otherwise interact with the film and related programs.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We may collect information you voluntarily provide, including your name, email address, mailing address, telephone number, donation or sponsorship information, event or screening interests, organization information, and information you submit through forms on our website.
We may also receive limited technical information when you visit our website, such as your IP address, browser and device information, pages visited, and referring website.
FORMS
ShakaFilm.org may use Gravity Forms or similar website technologies to manage website forms.
Information you submit may be stored on our website and transmitted to us or to other services necessary to fulfill your request.
Please do not submit sensitive personal information through our forms unless specifically requested.
DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS AND PAYMENTS
ShakaFilm.org may provide opportunities to make charitable donations or sponsorship contributions to ID8 in support of SHAKA, A Story of Aloha and related charitable activities.
Donations and payments may be processed through third-party payment services, including Stripe, PayPal, Venmo, or other payment providers.
These providers may collect payment information necessary to complete your transaction according to their own privacy policies and terms. ID8 does not generally receive or store your complete credit card or bank account information when payments are processed by these providers.
We may retain information about your contribution, including your name, contact information, donation or sponsorship amount, date, recognition preferences, organization information, and transaction record, for donor or sponsor acknowledgment, accounting, tax, communication, and legal purposes.
DONOR AND SPONSOR RECOGNITION
If you choose to be publicly acknowledged as a donor or sponsor, we may display information you authorize us to use, such as your name, organization name, logo, or other recognition information.
If you choose to remain anonymous, we will use reasonable efforts to honor that preference in public donor or sponsor recognition.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS
We may use third-party email service providers, including Mailchimp, to manage email subscriptions and communications.
If you join our mailing list, make a donation, register for an event or screening, submit a form, or otherwise request communications from us, your contact information may be processed through these services.
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link included in our emails.
SCREENINGS, EVENTS AND REGISTRATIONS
If you register for a screening, presentation, educational program, community event, or other SHAKA-related activity, we may collect information such as your name, email address, organization, attendance information, and other details needed to manage the event.
We may use this information to communicate event details, manage registration, respond to questions, and support related follow-up activities.
HOW WE USE INFORMATION
We may use information we collect to:
- Process donations, sponsorships, registrations, and other requests.
- Provide donation receipts, confirmations, and acknowledgments.
- Communicate about SHAKA, screenings, events, educational resources, media, and related opportunities.
- Manage screenings, events, partnerships, sponsorships, donor recognition, and fundraising.
- Respond to inquiries and requests.
- Improve our website, programs, communications, and audience experience.
- Prevent fraud, spam, abuse, and security threats.
- Maintain organizational, financial, and tax records.
- Comply with applicable laws and regulations.
We do not sell your personal information.
COOKIES AND WEBSITE TECHNOLOGIES
ShakaFilm.org and services integrated with our website may use cookies and similar technologies necessary to operate the site, remember preferences, measure website performance, support embedded media, or provide website functionality.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling some cookies may affect certain website features.
VIDEO, STREAMING AND EMBEDDED CONTENT
Our website may include videos, trailers, streaming links, social media content, or other material provided through third-party services such as YouTube, Vimeo, Apple TV, Amazon, and other media or streaming platforms.
Embedded content may behave as though you visited the third-party website directly. These providers may collect information about your device or interaction with their content and may use cookies or similar technologies according to their own privacy policies.
Links from ShakaFilm.org to streaming platforms, social networks, media websites, and other third-party services are also subject to the privacy practices of those services.
HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION
We may share personal information with trusted service providers when necessary to operate our website, process donations or sponsorships, manage forms and registrations, send requested communications, host media, or provide other services.
These providers may include Gravity Forms, payment processors, Mailchimp, website hosting and analytics providers, YouTube, Vimeo, streaming platforms, and other technology or communications services.
We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law, prevent fraud or misuse, protect our legal rights, or protect the safety of our organization or others.
We do not sell or rent our donor or mailing lists.
EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
SHAKA and related educational or community programs may be used by schools, teachers, families, nonprofit organizations, and young people.
However, ShakaFilm.org is not designed to knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without appropriate authorization or consent.
If we learn that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected improperly, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.
DATA SECURITY AND RETENTION
We use reasonable administrative and technical measures designed to protect personal information. However, no website, payment system, or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to meet legitimate administrative, accounting, tax, legal, security, and organizational requirements.
YOUR CHOICES
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link provided in our emails.
You may also contact us to request that we correct or update personal information you have provided or, where appropriate, delete information we maintain about you.
Certain information may need to be retained for financial, tax, legal, security, or administrative purposes.
Depending on where you live, you may have additional privacy rights under applicable law.
THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES AND SERVICES
ShakaFilm.org may contain links to websites and services operated by streaming platforms, media outlets, partner organizations, social networks, and other independent third parties.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or operation of third-party websites or services.
We encourage you to review the applicable privacy policies before providing personal information to those services.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this Privacy Policy as our website, film activities, programs, service providers, technology, or legal requirements change.
The date at the top of this page indicates the most recent revision.
CONTACT US
Questions or requests concerning this Privacy Policy may be directed to:
ID8 / SHAKA, A Story of Aloha
1012 18th Ave., Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96816
ShakaFilm.org/contact
SHAKA, A Story of Aloha is a Global Aloha film.
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Help the world see SHAKA, DONATIONS 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE See Use of Funds » | Donor Wall »
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DONATE
Donations are tax deductible. Donate by Venmo, the credit card form below or manual check. Credit card donors will receive a tax deduction letter. Please consult a financial advisor for tax advice. Make checks payable to "ID8" and mail to 1012 18th Ave. Honolulu, HI, 96816 or by credit card:
CORP. SPONSORS
Sponsorships are tax deductible. Sponsors will receive a tax deduction letter. Please consult a financial advisor for tax advice. Donate by check payable to "ID8" and mail to 1012 18th Ave. Honolulu, HI, 96816 or by credit card:
Join Our Ohana
Shaka Film Media Kit
"Shaka, A Story of Aloha" is an 80-minute feature-length global quest to unravel the mysteries of the Shaka gesture from Japan's temples to Brazil's waves to Hawaii's white sandy beaches. Discover why it ignites pride in train-jumpers, surfers, and everyday adventurers alike, explore its origins and meanings, and learn how it holds the key to creating and preserving paradise.
Media Kit: Download PDF »
Media Contact: Steve Sue, producer/writer | steve[at]id8.org | (808) 220-6449 | @histevesue
Trailer
Logline
Everybody knows the Shaka. But where did it come from, what does it really mean, and how did a simple Hawaiʻi hand gesture conquer the world? What begins as a playful cultural “who dunnit” becomes a 100-year journey through surfers, soldiers, entertainers, politicians, Buddhism, plantation history, and the small community of Laʻie—where the pieces finally come together around a remarkable Hawaiian fisherman named Hamana Kalili. Along the way, the search for the Shaka’s origins reveals something far greater than who started it: the power of aloha and the secret to creating your own paradise.
Plot Summary
Everybody knows the Shaka. But where did it come from, what does it really mean, and how did a simple hand gesture from Hawaiʻi conquer the world?
Filmmaker Steve Sue sets out to solve the mystery, gathering years of research, photographs, archival records, and interviews onto a giant “who dunnit” crime board for Aunty Kela Miller, a Laʻie elder who insists the real story begins in her small North Shore community. What starts as a playful investigation soon becomes a journey spanning more than a century of Hawaiʻi history.
Steve first follows the Shaka through the many people who helped make it famous. Hawaiʻi soldiers use it to build trust in war zones. Television turns it into a statewide symbol. Surfers carry it around the globe. Elvis Presley flashes it before millions. Mayor Frank Fasi adopts it as his political signature, while entertainer and master promoter Lippy Espinda helps popularize the word “Shaka.”
But each answer leads Steve further back in time.
The word itself leads to Japan, where Shaka has for centuries referred to Shakyamuni Buddha, and Buddhist hand gestures carry meanings including the powerful message “fear not.” The physical gesture leads elsewhere—to Laʻie and Hamana Kalili, a revered Hawaiian fisherman and community leader who lost three middle fingers, leaving him with the distinctive hand that generations of Laʻie residents remember as the genesis of their familiar wave.
As Steve uncovers Hamana’s extraordinary life of courage, service, generosity, and leadership, the investigation shifts. The mystery is no longer simply about who created a gesture. It becomes a search for the values that gave the gesture its meaning.
The trail leads to Laʻie’s historic hukilau, where Hamana and an entire community worked together to pull fishing nets from the sea, feed one another, welcome visitors, and transform limited resources into something extraordinary. The hukilau becomes a living metaphor for aloha: everyone has a role, and everyone must pull together.
Returning to his crime board, Steve finally sees the whole picture. Hamana, Laʻie, Buddhism, entertainers, politicians, surfers, soldiers, television, and generations of ordinary people all contributed different pieces to what the world now knows as the Shaka.
The investigation that began with “Who invented the Shaka?” ends with a much bigger discovery.
The Shaka is more than a gesture. It represents connection, service, gratitude, courage, cooperation, and the willingness to fear not and go for it. And the people of Laʻie reveal the film’s ultimate lesson: paradise isn’t simply a beautiful place we’re lucky enough to find.
Paradise is something we create together. Paradise is a choice.
Backstory
Says producer/writer Steve Sue, "Our original goal was to produce a 20-minute short for classroom use but the story turned out to be bigger than anyone could have imagined. In the end, we discovered the Shakaʻs magic and how itʻs the secret to creating and maintaining paradise." He continues, "If you want to know how to throw a truly legit Shaka or how to create paradise in your corner of the world, watch this film."
After an award-winning run through global film festivals and winning the coveted People Choice Award at Hawai'i International Film Festival, the film was up by Byron Allen's Freestyle Media Group. On January 16, 2026, the film became available on wide On Demand streaming distribution services including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, YouTube Movies, Google Movies and some months later on Kanopy. picked distribution, hopefully on streaming channels and possibly in cinemas. It has been in production since 2019 when first-funding and cultural experts were provided by Kamehameha Schools. During production, the COVID Pandemic forced a 2-year hiatus, but the project continued in 2022 with epic shots including the one-time running of an authentic Hukilau expedition that had not run in 60 years and the worldʻs first-ever Shaka Contest.
Through the production, it became clear that there are many origin stories, thus multiple theories are presented in the film, allowing audiences to decide which theory they find most credible. Says Sue, "The titling of the film as 'A Story...' represents only our group's intent to present multiple origin stories, as several origin stories have evidence and testimony available. This leaves room for each audience member to decide for themself which story they favor as well as for other storytellers to present their own versions of the story." Sue continues, "The more important thing for our team is providing a deep understanding of the meaning of it and how it can be used to share aloha and create paradise around the world."
While the film was originally intended as a non-profit education piece, there are now prospects for it to be distributed in public entertainment channels. Says Sue, "There are no investors to the film and none of us as producers own any part of it, so any distribution proceeds will go to our non-profit to support Shaka-based programs that benefit Hawai’i and the world beyond."
The Global Aloha Movement
Even before release of the film, the publicʻs appetite for the story has resulted in several Shaka-based programs, now recognized as Project Shaka, a movement that includes the documentary, a free Shaka Decal program, a Hawai’i State Bill to recognize the Shaka as the official Hawai’i State Gesture (authored by Steve Sue, filed by Senator Glenn Wakai and Representative Sean Quinlan, signed into law by Gov Green, 2024), an official Hawai’i State DMV Shaka License Plate (went live 2024), and curriculum models that teach the values and uses of the Shaka. In turn, Project Shaka is now part of a larger, movement called Global Aloha. See GlobalAloha.org »
For more, see Filmmaker's Statement »
Production Team
The film is produced by ID8 (ide•ate), a Hawai’i 501C3 nonprofit organization. Top-level producers/artists include Exec Producer/Producer/Writer Steve Sue, Executive Producer Bryan Spicer (director/producer Hawaii-Five-O, Magnum PI), Grammy-nominated Music Director Henry Kapono and Director/Editor Alexander Bocchieri. Associate Producers Sean Morris, Jill Kuramoto, Ryan Ozawa, Rob Webb, Rebecca Teresia, Minette Lew-McCabe. Cultural Advisors include Robert “Lono” Ikuwe, Manu Boyd and Hailama Farden.
Poster:
Utilizing Hawai’i Talent
The production team (paid living wages) is built from local talent from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Academy of Creative Media Program. These include native Hawaiian Director Alex Bocchieri, Cinematographer Kristle Backe, Co-Editor Shaun Oliqiano, Assistant Editor Sara Brekke and Coordinator Eve Ordinario. Dozens of additional locals served on the production and post-production teams.
60+ Expert Interviews
Many ask "who's in the film?" Credibility counts as does factual evidence. We've treated this project like a court case, presenting direct testimony. Over a 5-year period, we conducted 60+ interviews including Joel “Baldy" Apuakehau, Charles Bargas, Todd Bradley, Cy Bridges, Renee Cabrinha, Ian Cairnes, Wally Camp, Jack Cione, Kathy Collins, Benjamin Dela Cruz, Frank Delima Jr., David Espinda, Joyce Fasi, Charles Fasi, Mike Foley, Victor Foniomoana, Gen. Kenneth Hara, Karl "Kini Popo" Hebenstreit, Fred Hemmings, Robert "Lono" Ikuwa, Mona Kahawaii, Henry Kapono, John “Keoni” Kauwe III, "Unko" George Kahumoku, Maria Latu, Brook Lee, Jeff Livingston, Vonn Logan, Kekela Miller, Riley Moffat, Jon Nouchi, Vernal Pratt, Harold Pukahi, Laverne Pukahi, Bill Sharp, Bob Sigall, Bryan Suzuki, Lanai Tabura, Willa Tanabe, George Tanabe, Rev. Ryoso Toshima, Peter Townend, Paul Udell, Caroline Vargas, Michael Victorino, Isaiah Walker, Moana Jones Wong.
Media Contact: Email Steve Sue »
Connects
Follow the project or find story assets:
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- Official Websites: https://shakafilm.org
- Instagram: @globalalohaorg
- Facebook: @globalalohaorg
- X: @globalalohaorg
- LinkedIn: @globalalohaorg
- YouTube: @globalalohaorg
- Hashtags: #ShakaFilm #GlobalAloha
- Official Websites: https://shakafilm.org
Intended Uses
COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION: Seeking cinematic, online streaming and broadcast screenings to share the film's message with the world.
EDUCATION: The film is designed to teach modern era Hawai’i history, virtues and values. Curriculum and workshop models are in development.
FAQs
- How did the project get started? Producer/writer Steve Sue had a passing curiosity on the origin of the Shaka and was referred to Aunty Kela Miller of Lā’ie who asked him to capture her first-hand story for future generations.
- How can it be seen? While the film was made for educational use, public demand has resulted in an openness to consider commercial release. Ideally, a distributor will make the film available in late 2024 or Spring 2025.
- Who is in it? The film is a quest by Steve Sue and key interviewee Kekela Miller with scenes featuring 60+ interviewees.
- How long is it? "Shaka, A Story of Aloha" is an 80 minute feature-length film. It is anticipated that educational use will likely feature excerpt scenes used as ice-breaker intros for classroom lessons and exercises on the themes presented in the film.
- What is Project Shaka? The film has birthed a nonprofit movement and acts as an "operating system" for additional nonprofit programs that share aloha through the Shaka. Programs include free Shaka Stickers, Hawai’i DMV Shaka License Plates, a monument-building program, and educational curriculum.
Technical Info
- Type: Documentary
- Shooting Format: UHD 4K, Digital
- Aspect Ratio: 16x9
- Audio Format: Stereo
- Length: 80 minutes
- Original Language: English (US)