Duke Kahanamoku

American swimmer, surfer and actor (1890-1968)

Duke Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890January 22, 1968), was a Hawaiian athlete who is called the inventor of modern surfing.[3] He was also on the United States Olympic team as a swimmer, and won several silver and gold medals.[4]

Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku c. 1912
Personal information
Full nameDuke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku
Nickname(s)"The Duke," "The Big Kahuna"
National team United States
Born(1890-08-24)August 24, 1890
Haleʻākala, Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii
DiedJanuary 22, 1968(1968-01-22) (aged 77)
Honolulu, Hawaii[1]
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1][2]
Weight190 lb (86 kg)[1]
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubWaikiki Beach Boys

Contrary to some misinformation on the internet, Duke is not known as the Big Kahuna. He himself rejected that term, because he knew its meaning. The Big Kahuna is a character in the Gidget story, which is based on a portrayal of Tube Steak Tracy, a famous surfer of the '40s & '50s in Malibu.

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Murphy, Kelly with Hallie Fryd (2013). Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes-From Cleopatra to Camus. USA: Zest Books. p. 109. ISBN 9781936976102.
  2. See, Jen. "5 Things You Didn't Know About Duke Kahanamoku". MensJournal.com. Men's Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  3. Hall, Sandra Kimberly. (2004). Duke: A Great Hawaiian. Honolulu, HI: Bess Press. ISBN 1-57306-230-8.
  4. "Duke Kahanamoku". Surfline.

Other websites change

  Media related to Duke Kahanamoku at Wikimedia Commons