Hawaiʻiʻs beloved shaka is making its way into classrooms with lessons from documentary

Now shaka, the beloved hand gesture for aloha, is making its way into Hawai’i classrooms.

The new shaka curriculum comes on the heels of “Shaka, A Story of Aloha,” winning the Best Documentary Award in the Hawai’i International Film Festival.

The shaka curriculum, authored by former of Hawai’i Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami and graphically designed by Olomana Loomis ISC, features five classroom experiences that leverage clips from the Shaka film.

It is paired with student exercises that explore the concepts of courage, gratitude, forgiveness, shaka origin and compassion in action.

Training for educators on four islands begins next week through a partnership with the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement and Honolulu-based Shaka production nonprofit, ID8.

“While the film explores 110-years of Hawai’i pop-culture history, the real payoff of the film is the discovery of how to connect, nurture, be of service, and be a good sport while achieving excellence,” said “Shaka” producer and writer Steve Sue. “Our goal is to bring to life the deeper meanings of ʻRight On,ʻ ʻHang Looseʻ and ʻEddie Would Goʻ.”

Teacher training begins Nov. 18 in Hilo, Nov. 20 on Maui, Nov. 21 on Kauaʻi, Nov. 23 on O’ahu and Dec. 11 in Kona. Training sessions feature addresses by Sue and Choose Love Movement founder Scarlett Lewis from New Jersey.

Register free at https://bit.ly/shakachooselove

For more information, visit projectshaka.com.