Duke Kahanamoku’s spirit lives on at Honolulu’s ocean sports festival

Duke Kahanamoku was the Michael Phelps of his day. The Hawaiian swimmer who earned the title ambassador of aloha won six Olympic medals between 1912 and 1934. Hawaiians still adore him and celebrate his legacy during a weeklong festival at Waikiki Beach from Aug. 20 to 28 called Duke’s OceanFest.

It started as a one-day celebration in 2002 and has expanded to a nine-day festival that coincides with Kahanamoku’s birthday. The world-class swimmer and father of surfing was born Aug. 24, 1890.

Most of the action during this festival will be in the water at a spot called Queen’s Surf, just steps from Kahanamoku ’s statue along Kalakaua Avenue, the main drag through Waikiki.

The schedule of events includes a one-mile ocean swim (Aug. 21), tandem surfing (Aug. 24) as well as beach volleyball and pro-Am surf competitions (several days). Even man’s best friends take to the water for the Going to the Dogs SurFur Contest on Aug. 25.

And there’s a sunrise ceremony at 7 a.m. Aug. 24 on what would be his 126^th birthday to drape his beach-side statue with leis.

There’s no charge to watch festival events.

Proceeds from OceanFest go to the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, which supports volleyball and water sports in Hawaii.

In his prime in the early 20th century, Duke Kahanamoku was the world’s fastest swimmer. Of his six Olympic medals, three were gold medals.

While promoting surfing and aloha in Southern California and elsewhere, Kahanamoku became a popular figure. His genuine warmth is remembered in a quote now known as “Duke’s Creed.”

“Try meeting or leaving people with aloha,” he said. “You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed. Aloha to you.”

Info: Duke’s OceanFest

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