Kahanamoku, Duke, 1890-1968 - Social Networks and Archival Context (original) (raw)

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was born August 24, 1890 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the first of six sons and three daughters of Duke and Julia Kahanamoku. He grew up in carefree Waikiki with the ocean as his playground, doing what he loved – mostly swimming, surfing, canoeing and bodysurfing.

At the age of 21 he won his first Olympic gold medal, then went on to represent the United States in the Olympics for 20 years, winning not only medals but the hearts of people all over the world. He is remembered as a swimmer not just for remarkable speed, but for his grace in the water, his good humor, and his sportsmanship.

Duke is best known for popularizing the sport of surfing. He died on January 22, 1968, at age 77. For his burial at sea, a long motorcade of mourners, accompanied by a 30-man police escort, traveled in procession across town to Waikiki Beach. Reverend Abraham Akaka, the pastor of Kawaiahao Church, performed the service. A group of beach boys sang Hawaiian songs as Kahanamoku's ashes were scattered into the ocean off Waikiki Beach.

Archival Resources

Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the Selective Service System (World War I). 1917 - 1939. Draft Registration Cards. 1917 - 1918. World War I Draft Registration Card for Duke Paoa Kahanamoku National Archives at Atlanta
referencedIn Lucille Lortel papers The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Floyd L. Parks Papers. 1913 - 1965. Photographs. 1917 - 1957. Photograph of Duke Kahanamoku and Johnny Weissmuller at Waikiki, August 1927 Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Ford, J. mss., 1906-1976 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Floyd L. Parks Papers. 1913 - 1965. Photographs. 1917 - 1957. Photograph of Duke Kahanamoku
referencedIn Duke Kahanamoku Fund Committee. Meeting of the Duke Kahanamoku Fund Committee, held March 14th, 1913, at 3:30 p.m. in the office of Mr. W.T. Rawlins / JFS/MT. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hamilton Library
referencedIn San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (Calif.). Historic Documents Dept. William A. Dougan photographs, 1916-1935. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Maritime Research Center, Maritime Library, Maritime Archives

Bibliographic and Digital Archival Resources

Role Title Holding Repository