Hawaii is poised to make the ‘shaka’ its official state gesture The bill would also recognize Hawaii as the birthplace of the shaka, which involves extending the thumb and pinkie finger while ...

The shaka is such an integral part of Hawaii life that it’s easy to miss, said Sen. Chris Lee, chair of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Hawaiian native Ryan Ozawa about a pair of bills in the state legislature that would make the shaka an official state gesture.