- 7August 18, 2023 - August 27, 2023
Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival, held each year in late August on the shores of iconic Waikīkī Beach, where Duke groomed his athletic skills that elevated him into becoming the pioneer of “Waterman”, an Olympic Champion, and the Ambassador of Aloha, celebrates the life and legacy of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.
Duke’s disciplines of Surfing, Swimming, Outrigger Canoeing, Paddleboard Racing, Surfboard Water Polo, Beach Volleyball, along with evolutions of his influence that includes Foiling and Dog’s Surfing are shared throughout the weeklong festival by local, international, and mainland competitors and lifestyle enthusiast.
Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission, in conjunction with the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (“ODKF”), is to provide resources to help enrich the lives of Hawaii’s Scholar Athletes.
Duke has been credited with spreading the sport of surfing to a global audience as well as introducing beach volleyball to the first wave of players in Southern California.
Duke’s notoriety first came to prominence as a short-distance swimmer. In the summer of 1911, at age 20, he broke the American 50-yard record by more than a second, and beat the 100-yard world record by more than four seconds.
In the 1912 Olympics, held in Stockholm, Sweden, the 6’1″ 190-pound Duke used the already-famous “Kahanamoku Kick” to set another world record on his way to a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle; he also won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle relay.
In the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium (World War I forced the cancellation of the 1916 Games), Kahanamoku won gold medals in both the 100-meter freestyle and the 400-meter freestyle relay; in the 1924 Olympics in Paris, the 34-year-old won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle.
Duke was called the “human fish” and the “Bronzed Duke,” and at age 42 Kahanamoku swam sprints as fast as when he was 21.
In 1925, he made what the Honolulu Star-Bulletin described as a “superhuman rescue act,” pulling eight fishermen out of heavy seas at Newport Beach, California
Duke spent the remaining years of his life as an “Ambassador of Good Will” representing all the wonderful attributes the Hawaiian Islands has to offer, as well as shaping the lives of many of Hawaii’s youth.
Duke’s disciplines of Surfing, Swimming, Outrigger Canoeing, Paddleboard Racing, Surfboard Water Polo, Beach Volleyball, along with evolutions of his influence that includes Foiling and Dog’s Surfing are shared throughout the weeklong festival by local, international, and mainland competitors and lifestyle enthusiast.
Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission, in conjunction with the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (“ODKF”), is to provide resources to help enrich the lives of Hawaii’s Scholar Athletes.
THE LEGACY OF DUKE KAHANAMOKU
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was a natural at virtually all water-related activities: Surfing, Bodysurfing, Swimming, Diving, Sailing, and Outrigger Canoe Paddling.Duke has been credited with spreading the sport of surfing to a global audience as well as introducing beach volleyball to the first wave of players in Southern California.
Duke’s notoriety first came to prominence as a short-distance swimmer. In the summer of 1911, at age 20, he broke the American 50-yard record by more than a second, and beat the 100-yard world record by more than four seconds.
In the 1912 Olympics, held in Stockholm, Sweden, the 6’1″ 190-pound Duke used the already-famous “Kahanamoku Kick” to set another world record on his way to a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle; he also won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle relay.
In the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium (World War I forced the cancellation of the 1916 Games), Kahanamoku won gold medals in both the 100-meter freestyle and the 400-meter freestyle relay; in the 1924 Olympics in Paris, the 34-year-old won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle.
Duke was called the “human fish” and the “Bronzed Duke,” and at age 42 Kahanamoku swam sprints as fast as when he was 21.
In 1925, he made what the Honolulu Star-Bulletin described as a “superhuman rescue act,” pulling eight fishermen out of heavy seas at Newport Beach, California
Duke spent the remaining years of his life as an “Ambassador of Good Will” representing all the wonderful attributes the Hawaiian Islands has to offer, as well as shaping the lives of many of Hawaii’s youth.
* Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania ariedel@hawaiitourism.com.au
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