Duke Kahanamoku
Encyclopedia
Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968) was a Hawaii
an swimmer, actor, lawman, early beach volleyball
player and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing
. He was a five-time Olympic
medalist in swimming
.
. He was named after his father, Duke Halapu Kahanamoku, who was christened "Duke" by Bernice Pauahi Bishop
in honor of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
, who was visiting Hawaii
at the time of the elder man's birth in 1869. The younger "Duke," as eldest son, inherited the name. His father was a policeman. His mother Julia Paakonia Lonokahikina Paoa was a deeply religious woman with a strong sense of family ancestry.
When Duke's name became a household name due to his swimming feats, many people thought he was of Hawaiian Royalty because of his name. It was assumed by many folks that he actually was a Duke and that it was his royal title. Duke who was a very modest and unassuming man, always got a chuckle of being thought of as royalty and never hesitated to set the record straight about his lineage.
But both his parents were from prominent Hawaiian families; the Kahanamoku and the Paoa clans were considered to be kaukaualiis, lower-ranking chiefs or nobles, who were of service to the aliʻi nui or royalty.
His grandfather Kahanamoku and grandmother Kapiolani Kaoeha were kahu, retainers and trusted advisors of the Kamehamehas
.
His birth place is disputed with many different sources stating Haleakalā
on Maui
or Waikiki
on Oahu
, but according to Kahanamoku himself, he stated he was born at Honolulu at Haleʻākala, the home of Bernice Pauahi Bishop which was later converted into the Arlington Hotel.
He had six brothers and three sisters, including Samuel Kahanamoku
. In 1893, the family moved to Kālia, Waikiki (near the present site of the Hilton Hawaiian Village
), to be closer to his mother's parents and family. Duke grew up with his siblings and 31 Paoa cousins.
Duke attended the Waikiki Grammar School, Kaahumanu School, and the Kamehameha Schools
, although he never graduated because of he had quit school to help support the family.
Growing up on the outskirts of Waikiki, Kahanamoku spent his youth as a bronzed beach boy. It was at Waikiki Beach where he developed his surfing and swimming skills. In his youth, Kahanamoku preferred a traditional surf board, which he called his "papa nui", constructed after the fashion of ancient Hawaiian "olo" boards. Made from the wood of a koa
tree, it was 16 feet (4.8 m) long and weighed 114 pounds (52 kg). The board was without a skeg
, which had yet to be invented. In his later career, he would often use smaller boards, but always preferred those made of wood.
On August 11, 1911, in an amateur swim meet, Kahanamoku was timed at 55.4 seconds in the 100 yard (91 m) freestyle
, beating the existing world record by 4.6 seconds, in the salt water of Honolulu Harbor. He also broke the record in the 220 yd (201 m) and equaled it in the 50 yd (46 m), but the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU), in disbelief, would not recognize these feats until many years later. The AAU initially claimed that the judges must have been using alarm clocks rather than stopwatches, and later claimed that ocean currents aided Kahanamoku.
Kahanamoku easily qualified for the U.S. Olympic swimming team in 1912, breaking the record for the 200 meter freestyle in his trial heat for the 4×200 relay. He went on to win a gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle in the 1912 Olympics
in Stockholm
, and a silver with the relay team. During the 1920 Olympics
in Antwerp, he won gold medals both in the 100 meters (bettering fellow Hawaiian Pua Kealoha
) and in the relay. He finished the 100 meters with a silver medal during the 1924 Olympics
in Paris
, with the gold going to Johnny Weissmuller
and the bronze to Duke's brother, Samuel Kahanamoku
. He also played for the U.S. water polo team at the 1932 Summer Olympics
.
Between Olympic competitions, and after retiring from the Olympics, Kahanamoku traveled internationally to give swimming exhibitions. It was during this period that he popularized the sport of surfing, previously known only in Hawaii, by incorporating surfing exhibitions into these visits as well. His surfing exhibition at Sydney's Freshwater Beach
on December 23, 1914 is widely regarded as a seminal event in the development of surfing in Australia. The board that Kahanamoku built from a piece of pine from a local hardware store is retained by the Freshwater Surf Club. There is a statue of Kahanamoku on the headland at Freshwater. He made surfing popular in mainland America first in 1912 while in Southern California.
During his time living in Southern California
, Kahanamoku performed in Hollywood as a background actor and a character actor in several films. In this way, he made connections with people who could further publicize the sport of surfing. Kahanamoku was involved with the Los Angeles Athletic Club
, acting as lifeguard and competing on both swimming and water polo teams.
While living in Newport Beach, California
on June 14, 1925, Kahanamoku rescued eight men from a fishing vessel that capsized in heavy surf while attempting to enter the city's harbor. 29 fishermen went into the water and 17 perished. Using his surfboard, he was able to make quick trips back and forth to shore to increase the number of sailors rescued. Two other surfers saved four more fishermen. Newport's police chief at the time called Duke's efforts "the most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen."
In 1940, he married Nadine Alexander, who accompanied him when he traveled. Kahanamoku was the first person to be inducted into both the Swimming Hall of Fame and the Surfing Hall of Fame. The Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship
s are named in his honor. He is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
. He served as sheriff of Honolulu, Hawaii
from 1932 to 1961, serving 13 consecutive terms. During this period, he also appeared in a number of television programs and films, such as Mister Roberts (1955).
Kahanamoku was a friend and surfing companion of heiress Doris Duke
, who built a home (now a museum) on Oahu named Shangri-la
.
Hawaii music promoter Kimo Wilder McVay
capitalized on Kahanamoku's popularity by naming his Waikiki showroom "Duke Kahanamoku's", and giving Kahanamoku a piece of the financial action in exchange for the use of his name. It was a major Waikiki showroom in the 1960s and is remembered as the home of Don Ho
& The Aliis from 1964 through 1969.
Kahanamoku's name is also used by Duke's Canoe Club & Barefoot Bar, a beachfront bar and restaurant in the Outrigger Waikiki On The Beach Hotel. There is a chain of restaurants named after him in California
and Hawaii called Duke's. A monument at Waikiki
beach in Honolulu honors his memory. It shows Kahanamoku standing in front of his surfboard with his arms outstretched. Many honor him by placing lei
s on his statue. There is a webcam watching the statue, allowing visitors from around the world to wave to their friends.
On August 24, 2002, which was also the 112th anniversary of the birth of Duke Kahanamoku, a 37c first-class letter rate postage stamp of the United States Postal Service with Duke's picture on, was issued. The First Day Ceremony was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki and was attended by thousands. At this ceremony, attendees could attach the Duke stamp to an envelope and get it canceled with a First Day of Issue postmark. These First Day Covers are very collectable.
defendant in the landmark Supreme Court
case Duncan v. Kahanamoku
. While Kahanamoku was a military police
officer during World War II
, he arrested Duncan for public intoxication. At the time, Hawaii
, not yet a state, was being administered under the Hawaiian Organic Act
which effectively instituted martial law
on the island. Duncan was therefore tried by a military tribunal and appealed to the Supreme Court. In a post hoc ruling, the court ruled that trial by military tribunal was, in this case, unconstitutional.
on January 22, 1968 at the age of 77. For his burial at sea a long motorcade of mourners, accompanied by a 30-man police escort, moved across town to Waikiki Beach. Reverend Abraham Akaka
, the pastor of Kawaiahao Church, performed the service. A group of beach boys sang Hawaiian songs, including "Aloha Oe". His ashes were scattered into the ocean.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an swimmer, actor, lawman, early beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
player and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
. He was a five-time Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medalist in swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
.
Early years
The name "Duke" is not a title, but a given nameGiven name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
. He was named after his father, Duke Halapu Kahanamoku, who was christened "Duke" by Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop , born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was a Hawaiian princess, philanthropist, alii, and direct descendant of the royal House of Kamehameha. She was the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I and last surviving heir...
in honor of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
, who was visiting Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
at the time of the elder man's birth in 1869. The younger "Duke," as eldest son, inherited the name. His father was a policeman. His mother Julia Paakonia Lonokahikina Paoa was a deeply religious woman with a strong sense of family ancestry.
When Duke's name became a household name due to his swimming feats, many people thought he was of Hawaiian Royalty because of his name. It was assumed by many folks that he actually was a Duke and that it was his royal title. Duke who was a very modest and unassuming man, always got a chuckle of being thought of as royalty and never hesitated to set the record straight about his lineage.
But both his parents were from prominent Hawaiian families; the Kahanamoku and the Paoa clans were considered to be kaukaualiis, lower-ranking chiefs or nobles, who were of service to the aliʻi nui or royalty.
His grandfather Kahanamoku and grandmother Kapiolani Kaoeha were kahu, retainers and trusted advisors of the Kamehamehas
House of Kamehameha
The House of Kamehameha , or the Kamehameha Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I in 1810 and the death of Kamehameha V in 1872...
.
His birth place is disputed with many different sources stating Haleakalā
Haleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
on Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
or Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
on Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, but according to Kahanamoku himself, he stated he was born at Honolulu at Haleʻākala, the home of Bernice Pauahi Bishop which was later converted into the Arlington Hotel.
He had six brothers and three sisters, including Samuel Kahanamoku
Samuel Kahanamoku
Samuel Alapai Kahanamoku was an American swimmer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.In the 1924 Olympics he won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle event....
. In 1893, the family moved to Kālia, Waikiki (near the present site of the Hilton Hawaiian Village
Hilton Hawaiian Village
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa, formerly the Kaiser Hawaiian Village Hotel, has been a popular hotel in the Waikiki area of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States since 1957. It is the largest hotel of the Hilton chain, with 3,386 rooms and with 7 towers...
), to be closer to his mother's parents and family. Duke grew up with his siblings and 31 Paoa cousins.
Duke attended the Waikiki Grammar School, Kaahumanu School, and the Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
, although he never graduated because of he had quit school to help support the family.
Growing up on the outskirts of Waikiki, Kahanamoku spent his youth as a bronzed beach boy. It was at Waikiki Beach where he developed his surfing and swimming skills. In his youth, Kahanamoku preferred a traditional surf board, which he called his "papa nui", constructed after the fashion of ancient Hawaiian "olo" boards. Made from the wood of a koa
Koa
Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu...
tree, it was 16 feet (4.8 m) long and weighed 114 pounds (52 kg). The board was without a skeg
Skeg
A skeg is a sternward extension of the keel of boats and ships which have a rudder mounted on the centre line. The term also applies to the lowest point on an outboard motor or the outdrive of an inboard/outboard...
, which had yet to be invented. In his later career, he would often use smaller boards, but always preferred those made of wood.
On August 11, 1911, in an amateur swim meet, Kahanamoku was timed at 55.4 seconds in the 100 yard (91 m) freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, beating the existing world record by 4.6 seconds, in the salt water of Honolulu Harbor. He also broke the record in the 220 yd (201 m) and equaled it in the 50 yd (46 m), but the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU), in disbelief, would not recognize these feats until many years later. The AAU initially claimed that the judges must have been using alarm clocks rather than stopwatches, and later claimed that ocean currents aided Kahanamoku.
Career and legacy
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, and a silver with the relay team. During the 1920 Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp, he won gold medals both in the 100 meters (bettering fellow Hawaiian Pua Kealoha
Pua Kealoha
Pua Kele Kealoha was an American swimmer who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.In the 1920 Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of the United States' 4×200 m freestyle relay team and a silver medal in 100 m freestyle event.His younger brother Warren also competed in 1920 and 1924 Summer...
) and in the relay. He finished the 100 meters with a silver medal during the 1924 Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, with the gold going to Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller was an Austro-Hungarian-born American swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in movies. Weissmuller was one of the world's best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven...
and the bronze to Duke's brother, Samuel Kahanamoku
Samuel Kahanamoku
Samuel Alapai Kahanamoku was an American swimmer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.In the 1924 Olympics he won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle event....
. He also played for the U.S. water polo team at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
.
Between Olympic competitions, and after retiring from the Olympics, Kahanamoku traveled internationally to give swimming exhibitions. It was during this period that he popularized the sport of surfing, previously known only in Hawaii, by incorporating surfing exhibitions into these visits as well. His surfing exhibition at Sydney's Freshwater Beach
Freshwater Beach
Freshwater Beach is a beach located in Freshwater, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Freshwater Beach is the first beach north of Manly, New South Wales, on the Peninsula. The beach is flanked by a headland at each end and can produce excellent surf. There is a large rock pool at the...
on December 23, 1914 is widely regarded as a seminal event in the development of surfing in Australia. The board that Kahanamoku built from a piece of pine from a local hardware store is retained by the Freshwater Surf Club. There is a statue of Kahanamoku on the headland at Freshwater. He made surfing popular in mainland America first in 1912 while in Southern California.
During his time living in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, Kahanamoku performed in Hollywood as a background actor and a character actor in several films. In this way, he made connections with people who could further publicize the sport of surfing. Kahanamoku was involved with the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club is an athletic club and private social club in Los Angeles, California, USA. It awards the John R. Wooden Award to the outstanding men's and women's college basketball player of each year....
, acting as lifeguard and competing on both swimming and water polo teams.
While living in Newport Beach, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on June 14, 1925, Kahanamoku rescued eight men from a fishing vessel that capsized in heavy surf while attempting to enter the city's harbor. 29 fishermen went into the water and 17 perished. Using his surfboard, he was able to make quick trips back and forth to shore to increase the number of sailors rescued. Two other surfers saved four more fishermen. Newport's police chief at the time called Duke's efforts "the most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen."
Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship
The Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship is named in honor of the "Father of Modern Surfing", Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku. The contest began in 1965 by invitation only at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu until it was replaced by the Billabong Pro in 1985...
s are named in his honor. He is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
United States Olympic Hall of Fame
The United States Olympic Hall of Fame is an honor roll of the top American Olympic athletes.The Hall of Fame was established by the United States Olympic Committee in 1979; the first members were inducted in 1983. Between 1992 and 2003, the Hall of Fame went dormant, with no induction of new...
. He served as sheriff of Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
from 1932 to 1961, serving 13 consecutive terms. During this period, he also appeared in a number of television programs and films, such as Mister Roberts (1955).
Kahanamoku was a friend and surfing companion of heiress Doris Duke
Doris Duke
Doris Duke was an American heiress, horticulturalist, art collector, and philanthropist.-Family and early life:...
, who built a home (now a museum) on Oahu named Shangri-la
Shangri La (Doris Duke)
Shangri La is the name of an Islamic-style mansion built by heiress Doris Duke near Diamond Head just outside Honolulu, Hawaii. It is now owned by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art in cooperation with the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and open to the public for tours; an admission fee is...
.
Hawaii music promoter Kimo Wilder McVay
Kimo Wilder McVay
Kimo Wilder McVay was a musician turned talent manager, who successfully promoted Hawaiian entertainment acts. McVay promoted and managed acts such as teenage heart throb Robin Luke, Don Ho, John Rowles, comic Andy Bumatai, Keolo and Kapono Beamer, ventroliquist Freddie Morris, magician John...
capitalized on Kahanamoku's popularity by naming his Waikiki showroom "Duke Kahanamoku's", and giving Kahanamoku a piece of the financial action in exchange for the use of his name. It was a major Waikiki showroom in the 1960s and is remembered as the home of Don Ho
Don Ho
Donald Tai Loy "Don" Ho was a Hawaiian and traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer.-Life and career:Ho, of Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent, was born in the small Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, but he grew up in Kāneohe on the windward side of the island of Oahu...
& The Aliis from 1964 through 1969.
Kahanamoku's name is also used by Duke's Canoe Club & Barefoot Bar, a beachfront bar and restaurant in the Outrigger Waikiki On The Beach Hotel. There is a chain of restaurants named after him in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Hawaii called Duke's. A monument at Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
beach in Honolulu honors his memory. It shows Kahanamoku standing in front of his surfboard with his arms outstretched. Many honor him by placing lei
Lei
Lei may refer to:* Lei, the plural form of Leu, the name of two currencies. See Romanian leu and Moldovan leu* Lei , a Hawaiian flower necklace* Lei , a Chinese name* Lei, Italy, a town in Sardinia...
s on his statue. There is a webcam watching the statue, allowing visitors from around the world to wave to their friends.
On August 24, 2002, which was also the 112th anniversary of the birth of Duke Kahanamoku, a 37c first-class letter rate postage stamp of the United States Postal Service with Duke's picture on, was issued. The First Day Ceremony was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki and was attended by thousands. At this ceremony, attendees could attach the Duke stamp to an envelope and get it canceled with a First Day of Issue postmark. These First Day Covers are very collectable.
Duncan v. Kahanamoku
Kahanamoku was the pro formaPro forma
The term pro forma is a term applied to practices or documents that are done as a pure formality, perfunctory, or seek to satisfy the minimum requirements or to conform to a convention or doctrine...
defendant in the landmark Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case Duncan v. Kahanamoku
Duncan v. Kahanamoku
Duncan v. Kahanamoku, 327 U.S. 304 , was a decision by the United States Supreme Court. It is often associated with the Japanese exclusion cases Duncan v. Kahanamoku, 327 U.S. 304 (1946), was a decision by the United States Supreme Court. It is often associated with the Japanese exclusion cases...
. While Kahanamoku was a military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he arrested Duncan for public intoxication. At the time, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, not yet a state, was being administered under the Hawaiian Organic Act
Hawaiian Organic Act
The Hawaiian Organic Act of April 30, 1900 was a United States federal law enacted to provide a government for the territory of Hawaii.-Background:...
which effectively instituted martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
on the island. Duncan was therefore tried by a military tribunal and appealed to the Supreme Court. In a post hoc ruling, the court ruled that trial by military tribunal was, in this case, unconstitutional.
Death
Kahanamoku died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on January 22, 1968 at the age of 77. For his burial at sea a long motorcade of mourners, accompanied by a 30-man police escort, moved across town to Waikiki Beach. Reverend Abraham Akaka
Abraham Akaka
Abraham Kahikina Akaka was an American clergyman. Born in the Pauoa Valley on the island of Oahu. For the better part of three decades, Rev. Akaka was Kahu of Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. His mother was of pure Hawaiian ancestry, and his father was of Hawaiian-Chinese ancestry...
, the pastor of Kawaiahao Church, performed the service. A group of beach boys sang Hawaiian songs, including "Aloha Oe". His ashes were scattered into the ocean.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Adventure Adventure (1925 film) Adventure is a 1925 film by Victor Fleming, based on Jack London's 1911 novel Adventure.-Plot:A Solomon Islands plantation owner, David Sheldon becomes ill from blackwater fever following the death of many of his fieldhands die from the disease. Joan Lackland , a female soldier of fortune, arrives... |
Noah Noa | |
| The Pony Express The Pony Express (1925 film) The Pony Express is a silent 1925 Western film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by James Cruze and starred his wife Betty Compson along with Ricardo Cortez, Wallace Beery, and George Bancroft. Prints of this film survive but it hasn't... |
Indian Chief | ||
| No Father to Guide Him (short) | The Lifeguard | ||
| Lord Jim Lord Jim (1925 film) Lord Jim is a 1925 silent film starring Percy Marmont , Noah Beery, and Duke Kahanamoku. The movie was directed by Victor Fleming and based on the novel Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad. A print is preserved at the Library of Congress... |
Tamb Itam | ||
| 1926 | Old Ironsides | Pirate Captain | uncredited |
| 1927 | Hula Hula (film) Hula is a silent film by Victor Fleming, based on the novel Hula, a Romance of Hawaii by Armine von Tempski, directed by Victor Fleming, starring Clara Bow, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was one of the top 10 grossing movies of 1927.... |
Hawaiian Boy | uncredited |
| Isle of Sunken Gold Isle of Sunken Gold Isle of Sunken Gold is a 1927 adventure film serial directed by Harry S. Webb. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Anita Stewart* Duke Kahanamoku - The Devil-Ape* Bruce Gordon* Evangeline Russell* Curtis 'Snowball' McHenry... |
The Devil-Ape | ||
| 1928 | Woman Wise | Guard | |
| 1929 | The Rescue The Rescue (1929 film) The Rescue is a 1929 romantic adventure film directed by Herbert Brenon, and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. The screenplay was written by Elizabeth Meehan, based on novel by Joseph Conrad. The music score is by Hugo Riesenfeld. The film stars Ronald Colman and Lili Damita.-Cast:*Ronald Colman as Tom... |
Jaffir | |
| Where East Is East Where East Is East Where East Is East, is a 1929 silent movie starring Lon Chaney, Sr. as an animal trapper in Laos. The picture is Chaney's penultimate silent film and the last of his collaborations with director Tod Browning... |
Wild Animal Trapper | uncredited | |
| 1930 | Girl of the Port | Kalita | |
| Isle of Escape Isle of Escape Isle of Escape is a 1930 talking film produced and released by Warner Brothers. The film stars Monte Blue and Myrna Loy and is set on a tropical island. Blue was playing the man-stranded-on-island roles, in such films as White Shadows in the South Seas at MGM towards the end of the silent era and... |
Manua | ||
| 1931 | Around the World with Douglas Fairbanks | Himself | documentary |
| 1948 | Wake of the Red Witch Wake of the Red Witch Wake of the Red Witch is a 1948 drama film from Republic Pictures starring John Wayne and Gail Russell, produced by Edmund Grainger, and based upon the novel by Garland Roark... |
Ua Nuke | |
| 1955 | Mister Roberts | Native Chief (as Duke Kahanamoko) | |
| 1957 | This Is Your Life This Is Your Life This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards... |
Himself | |
| 1967 | Free and Easy | Himself | documentary |
| Surfari | Himself | documentary | |
Articles
External links
- Kahanamoku Sons bio of Duke
- Moments with Duke highlights, pictures, & videos
- Surfline bio of Duke
- Undated photo of Kahanamoku from the Library of Congress collection
- Video of the Duke Kahanamoku Statue at the Surfers Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, California
- Info on Hawaii, its people and history.
- Duke's restaurant website
- More on Duke Kahanamoku and other surfing heroes