Logline & Synopsis
Logline
Embark on a global quest to discover how the Shaka gesture is the secret to creating and maintaining paradise.
Synopsis
Shaka, A Story of Aloha traces the iconic hand-sign from today’s surf breaks to its century-old roots. It opens at a lively Shaka Contest where surfers debate the gesture’s “right way,” then flashes to Lā‘ie, O‘ahu. There, filmmaker-detective Steve Sue shares a five-year trove of photos, newsreels, and legends with kupuna Aunty Kekela Miller, peeling back time one tale at a time.
The investigation hops from Miss Universe Brook Lee’s pageant wave and Iraq’s “Shaka Battalion,” past politicians, rock stars, Buddhist pilgrims, marble-shooting kids, and Portuguese plantation workers, each earlier than the last. All roads finally lead to Hamana Kalili—North Shore fisherman, sugar-mill worker, and accidental folk hero—who, after losing three fingers, signaled train-hopping youngsters with his distinctive wave. Archival film crowns Hamana the “modern-day king” of Lā‘ie and shows how his post-war Hukilau fishing festivals evolved into the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Framed as a playful whodunit, Sue’s “crime board” strings the clues together until the film returns to the contest stage, now armed with the Shaka’s true spirit: a portable recipe for aloha, anywhere. End-credits launch Project Shaka, a nonprofit spreading that spirit worldwide.
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.”
The film is slated for late 2024 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.”
A Growing 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. See projectshaka.com »
For more, see Filmmaker’s Statement »
Shaka Film is part of the Project Shaka trilogy of Aloha Spirit films
DONATE
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CORP. SPONSORS
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