There’s a special kind of data you don’t need a spreadsheet to see — the kind that lives on sidewalks, at crosswalks, and in passing cars. Thirty words in, and we’re already nodding at strangers. Thirty more, and we’re measuring aloha one shaka at a time.
In a world of touchscreens and TikToks, one ancient artform still reigns supreme in Hawaiʻi: the casual wave. Not just any wave, but the sidewalk wave — the cool cousin of the full shaka, the head-nod’s loyal companion, and the unspoken agreement that we’re all in this together… especially when it’s hot, traffic is bad, and your slippers broke halfway to Foodland.
Category 1: The Chin Lift of Recognition
This one’s subtle but deeply local. A brief lift of the chin. No smile required, but optional for bonus points. This is the kind of greeting that says: I see you, and I know you’re from here too.
Category 2: The Two-Finger Steering Wheel Flick
A staple on residential streets. Usually exchanged between uncles in lifted Tacomas or aunties in SUVs, the flick is the aloha version of “Go ahead, I’m not in a rush.” Which is ironic, because it’s usually issued while very much in a rush.
Category 3: The Full Body Shaka Salute
Reserved for beach days, hike trailheads, or long-lost cousins at Costco. This is the all-out, enthusiastic shaka — bonus if done with a reusable bag, surfboard, or plate lunch in the other hand.
The Aloha Algorithm (Just Kidding, But Also Not)
If you really want to measure aloha, forget social media likes. Instead, try the Sidewalk Wave Index:
More waves = more aloha
Less waves = check your vibe, friend
Smile. Say hi. Let someone merge in traffic. These are micro-moments of aloha, and the more we share, the more we grow the kind of community that doesn’t just live here — it thrives here.
So next time you catch someone’s eye, nod, wave, or throw a shaka. Because in Hawaiʻi, aloha isn’t just a feeling — it’s a practiced art. And you? You’re already fluent.
Living Aloha — Hawaii Monthly Staff
hawaiimonthly.com