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Learn about duke kahanamoku and buy a duke surfboard. Searching for a duke kahanamoku
statue buy a duke kahanamoku surfboard or other vintage hawaiian surfboards from the first surfers.
Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968 is generally regarded
as the person who popularized the modern sport of surfing.[1] He was also an Olympic champion in swimming. Growing up on the
outskirts of Waikiki, Kahanamoku spent his youth as a beach boy. It was at Waikiki Beach where he developed his surfing
and swimming skills. In his youth, Kahanamoku preferred an traditionalsurf 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 sixteen feet long and weighed 114
pounds. 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. After retiring from the Olympics, Kahanamoku traveled internationally, particularly
Australia and the United States, 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. On January 22, 1968 the
world would bid Aloha to Hawaii's most famous citizen. He would be remembered as a great swimmer, surfer and all-around
good guy. More than 20 years after his death memories of his achievements and affecting personable style still linger.
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