-
In Waikiki, filmmakers behind 'Shaka, A Story of Aloha' gathered to celebrate the film's global release (Rebecca Teresia is second from left).
-
Filmmakers shaka to passing cars in Waikiki to celebrate the release of 'Shaka, A Story of Aloha' (Rebecca Teresia is second from left).
HPU alumna Rebecca Teresia served as associate producer on Shaka, A Story of Aloha, a documentary that follows the shaka gesture, its mystery, its roots, and the way it travels, quietly, from shoreline to city streets to screens around the world. The film will be available to stream starting Jan. 16, 2026, on Apple TV.
Rebecca Teresia (center) with filmmakers of 'Shaka, A Story of Aloha,' in Waikiki.
In Shaka, A Story of Aloha, filmmaker Steve Sue takes audiences on a far-reaching investigation into the shaka’s possible origins and how the gesture became a symbol recognized far beyond Hawai‘i, something as small as a hand sign, carrying an entire feeling. The film is directed by Alexander Bocchieri.
“I am so excited that Shaka, A Story of Aloha is going to be seen worldwide,” said Teresia. “This movie was produced by a non-profit, and that’s what makes it special and powerful. We spent two years hosting private screenings of this film, and after receiving positive feedback from those screenings we were able to really ensure each minute is intentional and essential. We also received a great amount of archival footage. Audience members shared footage with the filmmakers, and we’re grateful that it can live on, both in this documentary and as a resource for future projects about Hawai‘i.”
The film is the first release in the nonprofit Project Shaka film trilogy, a series of educational documentaries shaped by Hawai‘i stories and the spirit of aloha. The second film, The 100th Seeds of Aloha, is currently in production, and the third, ʻONO, Foods of Aloha, will complete the trilogy.
Teresia graduated from HPU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Finnish-born and Hawai‘i-based, she has spent 15 years working across film and television production, and leads her own production company, SISU Media, building projects with the kind of patience that feels familiar here: steady, local, and intentional.
“Coming from Finland, I had no idea what the shaka gesture was originally,” Teresia said. “After spending time in Hawai‘i and learning the importance of the hand gesture, it is extra special to see my family incorporate it into their own daily lives while in Finland. It really is an expression of joy and happiness. Hawai‘i really taught me how to be happy in life.”
Teresia produced Junho, an award-winning film set in South Korea and San
Francisco, and Wake, a Cuban American short film directed by an Emmy nominated Director Avi Youabian. She also worked as the creative director for a news station and other local television productions, including Rescue HI Surf, Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-O.
Teresia’s feature-length film project, tentatively titled Finns in Hawaii, is an action-comedy about four Finnish personalities who win a sponsored trip to Hawai‘i from an energy drink company (Salama) to perform extreme sports activities as part of a viral marketing campaign stunt. Along the way, a Yakuza boss misunderstands their chaotic antics for an elaborate law enforcement sting targeting his money-laundering operation and kidnaps the Finns. The adrenaline junkies are convinced the gangsters trying to kill them are paid actors in an ultimate extreme sports experience.
“I am quite excited for this film,” said Teresia. “I would like to make a Hollywood comedy that brings Finnish culture to the world. A lot of this film includes my own personal experiences in Hawai‘i, and I expect people to enjoy seeing it soon.”
To learn more about Teresia and SISU Media, click here.
