Duke Kahanamoku--The Father of Surfing

Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku is singularly credited with popularizing surfing world-wide during the 1920s. Springboarding off his 1912 and 1920 Olympic swimming fame, this record-breaking champion brought his 10' redwood plank with him in his many travels and drew crowds to his performances.

This bust of the Duke used to stand near the old Huntington Beach Pier. The plaque under the bust reads (in part): "Duke Kahanamoku--Olympic swimmer, public servant, good will ambassador of the State of Hawaii...In the early 20s, the Duke surfed under this very pier; some fifty years later, he returned to this community to promote the United States surfboard championships...."

A portrait of the Duke, one of many in the International Surfing Museum. The collection also includes one of the Duke's surfboards and several trophies.

There were actually several Duke hood ornaments made. One was owned by the Doheney family. One, which may be the art proof, is here in the museum. Although the ornament was supposedly made in the likeness of the Duke, it shows him surfing goofy-foot. NOTE: If anyone has more information about this exhibit please contact us

This stamp honors Hawaiian swimmer, surfer and Olympic Games gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku, who was renowned not only for his athletic prowess but also for his grace, humility and good sportsmanship. He is widely considered to be the father of international surfing, and for much of his life he served as a living symbol of hospitality and goodwill to the rest of the world. The portrait on the stamp, an oil painting by Michael J. Deas, is based on a 1918 photograph from the collection of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Visible in the background are depictions of Diamond Head and two surfers riding a wave at Waikiki Beach.