Duke Kahanamoku
The Father of Surfing
- 1914 – 1915 Duke brought surfing to Australia and New Zealand.
- 1919 – Duke had several amazing rides, and in particular in 1919 when the big “Bluebirds” were rolling in, Duke rode a wave on his 16 foot 114 pound semi hollow board, from Steamer Lane to Castle Surf to Baths-Elks Club Surf to Queens Surf, a ride of 1-¾ miles! Probably the longest wave ride of modern times.
- 1925 – heroic surfboarding rescue of 8 drowning men off of Newport Beach, California, after their fishing boat capsized in heavy seas.
- 1912 to the 1960’s Duke helped to popularize surfing on the west coast and the east coast of the United States, during many exhibition trips.
1965 – Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team travels through the USA giving surfing demonstrations.
Paul Strauch Jr.
Joey Cabell
Fred Hemmings
Butch Van Artsdalen
1965 – Duke is inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame and the Swimming Hall of Fame
