Friday, May 14, 2021
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Trailblazers: Duke Kahanamoku
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Archives
Though many today may know him as “The Father of Modern Surfing” or “The Big Kahuna,” Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku revolutionized the sport of swimming in the early 1900s.
Perhaps most well-known for developing the flutter kick—which largely replaced the scissors kick—Kahanamoku was, for several years, considered a sprinting force and perhaps the greatest freestyle swimmer in the world. Not only was he the first Native Hawaiian swimmer to win Olympic gold in 1912, but he did it in style, equaling the world record in his qualifying heat.
Kahanamoku would then go on to become the first swimmer to win the Olympic 100-meter freestyle twice in a row when he repeated the feat in 1920* and broke his own world record in the final. That year, Kahanamoku was also joined on the podium by two other Hawaiians in the 100m freestyle: Pua Kealoha, who won silver and Bill Harris, who won bronze. Kahanamoku and Kealoha would also help the U.S. team win gold in the 4x200m freestyle and Kahanamoku served as an alternate on the water polo team as well.
Following the 1920 Games, he continued to popularize the sport of swimming, as well as surfing.
During the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, Kahanamoku just missed out on a three-peat of his 100m freestyle title by taking silver, though he was able share the podium with his brother, Samuel, who finished in third.
Kahanamoku would win five Olympic medals (three gold, two silver) throughout his swimming career. Following the 1924 Olympic Games, he moved to California where he starred in several Hollywood films and also worked as a lifeguard at Newport Beach. During the summer of 1925, he famously rescued eight fishermen from a sinking boat on his surfboard, going back and forth between the shore and the capsized vessel. At the age of 42, he even served as a substitute for the water polo team at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Kahanamoku would later return to Hawaii where he served as Sheriff of Honolulu until 1961. He passed away in 1968 has been inducted into the Olympic, Swimming and Surfing Halls of Fame.
*The 1916 Olympic Games were canceled due to the outbreak of World War I.
Though many today may know him as “The Father of Modern Surfing” or “The Big Kahuna,” Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku revolutionized the sport of swimming in the early 1900s.
Perhaps most well-known for developing the flutter kick—which largely replaced the scissors kick—Kahanamoku was, for several years, considered a sprinting force and perhaps the greatest freestyle swimmer in the world. Not only was he the first Native Hawaiian swimmer to win Olympic gold in 1912, but he did it in style, equaling the world record in his qualifying heat.
Kahanamoku would then go on to become the first swimmer to win the Olympic 100-meter freestyle twice in a row when he repeated the feat in 1920* and broke his own world record in the final. That year, Kahanamoku was also joined on the podium by two other Hawaiians in the 100m freestyle: Pua Kealoha, who won silver and Bill Harris, who won bronze. Kahanamoku and Kealoha would also help the U.S. team win gold in the 4x200m freestyle and Kahanamoku served as an alternate on the water polo team as well.
Following the 1920 Games, he continued to popularize the sport of swimming, as well as surfing.
During the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, Kahanamoku just missed out on a three-peat of his 100m freestyle title by taking silver, though he was able share the podium with his brother, Samuel, who finished in third.
Kahanamoku would win five Olympic medals (three gold, two silver) throughout his swimming career. Following the 1924 Olympic Games, he moved to California where he starred in several Hollywood films and also worked as a lifeguard at Newport Beach. During the summer of 1925, he famously rescued eight fishermen from a sinking boat on his surfboard, going back and forth between the shore and the capsized vessel. At the age of 42, he even served as a substitute for the water polo team at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Kahanamoku would later return to Hawaii where he served as Sheriff of Honolulu until 1961. He passed away in 1968 has been inducted into the Olympic, Swimming and Surfing Halls of Fame.
*The 1916 Olympic Games were canceled due to the outbreak of World War I.