Unraveling the Story Behind the Name "Shaka" | Unveiling Hawaii's Cultural Gems The moniker "Shaka" isn't rooted in Hawaiian vocabulary. Rather, it finds its origins with David "Lippy" Espinda, a charismatic used car salesman who punctuated his TV adverts in the 1960s with the iconic gesture and an exuberant cry of "Shaka, brah!" This distinctive hand signal became a prominent feature in Frank Fasi's third bid for the mayoral seat of Honolulu in 1976, adding a unique touch to the campaign."