The surfer hand sign is made by loosely fisting your hand and extending your pinky finger and thumb outward. The back of your hand should face the person you’re greeting.
The surfer hand signal is a friendly, traditional Hawaiian greeting and a common way for surfers to greet each other. It can also refer to marine life in scuba diving, the number six in Chinese, or an invitation to drink in Russia. Alternatively, it could mean “call me”.
The rest of this article will discuss in detail the meaning behind the surfer signal and the various ways it’s used.
Where the Surfer Sign Originated
The widely-used surfer hand gesture is also called the shaka sign.
The word shaka comes from Japanese, a synonym for Buddha and an expression of approval. Its origins are unclear, but it’s thought that it originally came into use in eastern Oahu after a man (Hamana Kalili
) lost three fingers in a sugar factory accident.
Since he was left only with his pinky finger and thumb, he could no longer work at the sugar factory and started working as a sugar train guard between Kaawa and Sunset Beach. Only his thumb and pinky finger were visible when giving the all-clear hand signal to indicate that the train had no opportunistic jumpers.
Most of the train jumpers were children, and they also started using the shaka sign to indicate that Kalili wasn’t looking and it was safe to jump on the train.
Another Hawaiian legend states that the shaka sign was first used by a surfer who had lost three fingers due to a shark bite. At the same time, many locals believe that it originated from Spanish immigrants to the island who used it as a sign to indicate a willingness to share a drink.
The 1970s saw the shaka sign gaining increasing popularity due to the famous Hawaiian television commercials featuring David “Lippy” Espinda using the shaka sign.
The Shaka Sign Is a Traditional Hawaiian Greeting
Hawaii is famous for its aloha spirit, which symbolizes friendship, kindness, positive affirmation, unity, and a sense of community. The shaka sign expresses this aloha spirit, and it is widely used as a greeting.
Some locals use it instead of saying “hello,” while others throw a shaka sign to express thanks.
However, the shaka sign is far more than just a greeting and transcends cultural, language, and age barriers. Because it embodies the aloha spirit, it shows the shaka sign recipient that you respect them, wish them well, want to understand who they are as a person, and feel that they are important.
Famous people, such as Barack Obama and Honolulu’s mayor, Frank Fasi, have been seen using the shaka sign, which has only increased its popularity.
Today, there is even a surfer sign emoji in most smartphones.
It Means “Hang Loose” or “Hang Ten” in Surfing Circles
The shaka sign was first used in the 1960s in Hawaii by surfers, and its use soon spread to California beaches, where surfing is also popular. Surfers throughout the world now use the shaka gesture as a greeting and a sign of solidarity.
“Hang loose” means being relaxed and encouraging others to be the same, especially in surfing circles.
The original meaning of the term “hang ten” was to hang all one’s toes over the edge of the surfboard, which is a difficult feat to accomplish. The modern version of “hang ten” implies relaxing and not worrying about anything.
The Surfer Sign Has a Different Meaning in Scuba Diving
Scuba divers use hand gestures extensively as they cannot talk while underwater.
The shaka sign is one of many hand signs that they use, and is used to indicate to other scuba divers that they have spotted an oceanic sunfish (or mola mola). The hand gesture is formed in the same way as the surfer sign.
The Shaka Sign Means “Six” in Chinese
In Chinese, the surfer hand sign means “six,” which is very similar to the Chinese symbol for the same number. There is a logical explanation behind this hand gesture as the thumb symbolizes the number five, while the pinky finger means that you need to add one number to five.
The Surfer Hand Gesture Is Also the “Call Me” Sign
The surfer hand sign can also have a telecommunications meaning as the shape of the hands can depict the form of a phone. When making the shaka sign and holding it up against your ear (with your thumb close to your ear and the pinky finger pointing toward the mouth), it means “call me.”
It Is an Invitation for a Drink in Russia
In Russia, the shaka sign has a friendly meaning and invites the hand gesture recipient for a drink. This makes a lot of sense as the shaka sign’s general shape roughly emulates that of a drinking glass, especially when it is extended toward the mouth.
The Shaka Sign and BYU’s Football Team
In 2015, Polynesian-born football coach and former football player Kalani Sitake was hired to coach Brigham Young University’s football team. BYU fans soon started using the shaka sign to show their appreciation for the coach’s work in helping them win games.
The reason behind using the shaka sign is that Brigham Young University is also affectionately called the “Y,” and the surfer gesture resembles a “Y” in American Sign Language.
The university also has a large Mormon following. The use of the sign could be a reference to Hamana Kalili, a Hawaiian Mormon.
Conclusion
The surfer hand gesture (or shaka sign) is used extensively worldwide, and the meaning can vary. It is a friendly greeting in surfing circles and Hawaii since it embodies the aloha spirit. However, it can also refer to the oceanic sunfish in scuba diving.
It depicts the number six in Chinese, or it can mean “call me” for many folks. In Russia, the surfer sign invites the hand gesture recipient for a drink.
Recently Brigham Young University football fans have been using the shaka sign to express appreciation for football coach Kalani Sitake.
