August 24th is Duke Kahanamoku Day
Duke who? Yeah, I think we went to a Dukes restaurant on vacation once, right?
Duke Kahanamoku, an exceptional man and person, is inspiring to remember. Duke went confidently against the grain of the larger world in the positive manner he believed in, and he made the world a richer place in doing so. He did what he loved, and shared what he loved with the world.
Duke Kahanamoku was born August 24, 1890, a full blooded Hawaiian, but he was a common Hawaiian by birth. So why will you find statues of him at various places around the world? It was the things Duke did and the way he interacted with people that made his name ring true, for he carried an inherent air of nobility. Duke was royalty of his own making, by his character and action.
Duke's creed
Try meeting or leaving people with aloha, you’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed. Aloha to you.
-- Duke Paoa Kahanamoku
Growing up around the beaches of Waikiki, Duke spent countless hours in the ocean surfing, swimming and paddling canoe, the things he loved, and he was probably as comfortable in and under the ocean as most people are at a grassy park.
It was swimming that brought Duke to world attention, and Duke that brought the spirit of aloha and surfing to the attention of the world.
One day when Duke was stroking through one of his daily swims in the ocean off Diamond Head, at age 20, an observer clocked his 100 yard time and realized he was swimming at world class pace. The observer convinced Duke and his friends to form a club and enter Hawaii's first sanctioned swim meet, to be held in Honolulu Harbor. Swimming across the harbor in his first official race, Duke broke the world record for the 100 yard freestyle by more than 4 seconds.
The swimming world refused to believe the phenomenal times reported for this unknown swimmer, suggesting the harbor venue must have given him some advantage. Duke proved them wrong the following year at the Stockholm Olympics where he won the gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle and set a new world record. Duke had developed his swimming style out in the ocean, outside the competitive swimming world, learning casually from any visiting competitive swimmers he met at Waikiki.
Competitive swimming provided a avenue for Duke to connect the world outside Hawai'i with Hawai'i, and Duke became an unofficial ambassador for Hawai'i, surfing, and aloha for decades. Duke traveled to the East and West coasts of the continental US, and to Australia, giving public demonstrations of surfing, and lighting the fuse for the explosion of the sport and lifestyle beyond Hawai'i.
For the millions beyond Hawai'i who surf, it's likely because Duke led the way.
A few things about Duke
- Participated in the Olympics from age 22 through 42, winning 3 gold medals, 2 silver, and a bronze over 20 years
- Rode a monster wave at Waikiki for over a mile on a 16' finless board, a legendary ride never equaled
- An incomparable ocean waterman, he rescued drowning men, fought a 10' eel, and filled his life with many more heroics now lost in time
- Introduced the world to surfing, swimming, and Aloha
Learn more about Duke
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Great People
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