TERMS OF USE
By accessing or using this website, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use the website.
USE OF THIS WEBSITE
ShakaFilm.org provides information about SHAKA, A Story of Aloha, including information about the film and its mission, opportunities to watch and support the film, press and media resources, educational information, related programs and initiatives, and ways to connect with ID8 and Global Aloha.
You may use this website for lawful, personal, educational, and informational purposes consistent with these Terms.
You may not use the website to:
- Violate any applicable law or regulation.
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ShakaFilm.org may provide opportunities to make charitable contributions to ID8 in support of SHAKA, A Story of Aloha and related charitable activities.
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FREE-USE MATERIALS
ShakaFilm.org may make certain logos, graphics, photographs, posters, or other media assets available for free or authorized use. The website currently provides a dedicated Free Use collection of SHAKA logos, graphics, posters, and related assets.
Any materials specifically identified as available for free use may be used only in accordance with the instructions, limitations, licenses, or permissions provided with those materials.
The availability of particular assets for free use does not grant permission to use other SHAKA or ID8 intellectual property that has not been expressly made available for such use.
TRADEMARKS
Names, logos, symbols, film titles, program identities, and other marks displayed on this website may be trademarks or service marks owned by ID8 or other parties.
Use of SHAKA, A Story of Aloha, Global Aloha, Project Shaka, or other ID8 names, logos, or marks in connection with products, services, fundraising, advertising, promotions, endorsements, or commercial activities may require prior written authorization.
Nothing on this website grants a license or right to use any trademark merely because it appears on the site.
For information regarding partnerships, licensing, or authorized use of our marks, please contact us.
FILM, STREAMING, SCREENINGS AND MEDIA
ShakaFilm.org provides information about SHAKA, A Story of Aloha, including trailers, media materials, and links to third-party platforms through which the film may be available to watch. The site currently links to services including Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Fandango, YouTube Movies, Google Play, and Kanopy.
Availability of the film may vary by platform, location, and time.
Access to the film through a streaming, rental, purchase, or other service does not grant permission to conduct a public, educational, institutional, nonprofit, or commercial screening.
Public exhibition, educational screenings, community screenings, institutional use, or other presentations may require separate authorization or licensing.
Please contact ID8 regarding screening, exhibition, educational, or other licensing requests where appropriate.
EDUCATIONAL USE
SHAKA and related resources may be used to support education about Hawaiʻi history, culture, values, the Shaka gesture, and the spirit of aloha. The film’s official media materials specifically describe education as an intended use of the film.
Unless otherwise stated with a particular resource, educational materials made available through the website may be used for personal, classroom, or nonprofit educational purposes, subject to any accompanying terms or licenses.
Such materials may not be sold, commercially distributed, or materially modified and represented as official SHAKA, Global Aloha, Project Shaka, or ID8 content without permission.
USER SUBMISSIONS
If you voluntarily submit stories, photographs, videos, testimonials, comments, historical information, ideas, or other materials to us, you represent that you have the right to provide those materials.
Submission of material does not automatically transfer ownership to ID8. However, if you expressly authorize us to publish or share submitted material, you grant ID8 permission to use, reproduce, display, and share that material for the purposes described when it was submitted.
Specific forms, campaigns, programs, or requests for content may include additional terms governing submitted materials.
Please do not submit confidential information or material belonging to another person without authorization.
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ShakaFilm.org uses or links to third-party services that may include payment providers, email services, streaming platforms, YouTube, social networks, film-rating platforms, and other websites or services.
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WEBSITE AVAILABILITY AND ACCURACY
We strive to keep ShakaFilm.org useful, accurate, and available, but we do not guarantee that the website will always be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or completely current.
Film availability, streaming platforms, screenings, events, fundraising information, media resources, programs, and other information may change.
We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the website or its content without notice.
DISCLAIMER
The website and its content are provided for general informational, educational, and promotional purposes.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, ShakaFilm.org and its content are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
Nothing on this website constitutes legal, tax, financial, medical, or other professional advice.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ID8 and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, filmmakers, and representatives will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to your use of, or inability to use, this website or third-party services linked from it.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
INDEMNIFICATION
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless ID8 and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, and representatives from claims, liabilities, damages, and reasonable expenses arising from your unlawful use of the website, your violation of these Terms, or your infringement of another person’s rights.
PRIVACY
Your use of ShakaFilm.org is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains how personal information collected through the website is handled.
CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
We may update these Terms of Use from time to time to reflect changes to the website, film, programs, services, or legal requirements.
The date at the top of this page indicates the most recent revision. Continued use of the website after updated Terms are posted constitutes acceptance of those Terms.
GOVERNING LAW
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Hawaiʻi, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, disputes arising from these Terms or use of this website will be subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate state or federal courts located in Hawaiʻi.
SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
CONTACT US
Questions regarding these Terms of Use 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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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)