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Waikïkï Celebration Honors Duke Kahanamoku, Aug. 24-28, 2005
(Check back for the 2006 Ho`olaule`a schedule and dates)

Aaron Peirsol – 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and World's Fastest
Backstroker to Lead Clinic and Compete in Duke's Ocean Mile Swim

HONOLULU – In what is becoming an end-of-summer tradition to enjoy Waikïkï Beach, the Fourth Annual Duke's Ho'olaule'a will present a series of exciting activities to honor the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, August 24-28.

The Ho'olaule'a (Celebration) begins on the 115th anniversary of Duke's birthday, August 24, with a traditional Hawaiian greeting, followed by the start of The Converse Hawaiian Open – LongBoard Magazine surf meet off Queen's Surf.

The five-day Waikïkï celebration (schedule below) will also feature a lei draping of Duke's statue, surf polo tournament, waterman challenge, historical displays, back-to-back nights of"Sunset on the Beach" on August 27-28, and a special Duke-themed"Brunch on the Beach" on August 28.

"There may not be a better event to enjoy all the fun and thrills that
Waikïkï Beach has to offer than Duke's Ho'olaule'a," said Ernest"Cary" Moore, president of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (ODKF)."It has everything that makes Waikïkï Beach special, surfing, water sports, great food, and a tribute to the man who started the buzz worldwide, Duke Kahanamoku."

A highlight of the Ho'olaule'a will be the participation of Aaron Peirsol, the three-time gold medalist from the 2004 Athens Olympics and world record holder in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. Last month, Peirsol won gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke at the World Championships in Montreal, setting a new 200-meter world record in the process. (click here for Aaron's bio)

Peirsol will lead a special keiki swim clinic on August 25, and compete in the Hawaiian Airlines Duke's Legends Surf Classic on August 26-27, as well as the Duke's Ocean Mile Swim on August 27.

Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation 2005 Ho'olaule'a T-shirts are available at Duke's Waikiki Restaurant and online at e808.com. Proceeds from T-shirt sales go directly to the foundation's grants and scholarships. The T-shirts, designed by Happy Shirts, are $20 and come with the Ho'olaule'a logo on the front.

Recent editions of The Honolulu Star Bulletin feature a Duke's Ho'olaule'a coloring contest. Winners will receive a Converse prize package and a chance to win a BoardSling surfboard bag and a Surf Tech surfboard. (Click Downloads for a copy of the Coloring Contest.) Winners will be announced in the Honolulu Star Bulletin August 24-28th.

"Duke Kahanamoku is an inspiration to all swimmers and surfers and
I can't wait to be in Hawai'i to share in the celebration of his legacy and help
perpetuate the enjoyment and benefits of water sports," said Peirsol.

The Hawaiian Airlines Duke's Legends Surf Classic is a new event added this year to help raise funds for ODKF's college scholarship and community grants program. Five-person teams mixing pros, amateurs and surf legends will take part in a friendly surf competition at Queen's Surf.

"We're delighted to join the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation in the important work of supporting the academic and athletic endeavors of Hawai'i's young people," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and CEO, who will participate in the competition for Hawaiian's team.

Another highlight of this year's celebration is a special one-hour documentary chronicling Duke's remarkable life and accomplishments that includes never-before-seen footage. Produced and aired locally by KGMB9, the show will debut Wednesday, August 24, at 7 p.m., with an encore presentation Saturday, August 27, at 9 p.m. It will also be shown on the big screen at Queen's Surf on both nights of Sunset on the Beach, August 27-28.

Duke's Ho'olaule'a is presented by ODKF with support from several key sponsors including Waikiki Improvement Association, LongBoard Magazine, Outrigger Waikiki and Outrigger Reef Hotels, Hawaiian Airlines, the City and County of Honolulu, Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Duke's Waikiki, Honolulu Star-Bulletin/MidWeek, Bud Light, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and the Waikiki Roughwater Swim Committee and Waikiki Swim Club.

Proceeds raised from the Ho'olaule'a on ODKF's behalf will be used to fund college scholarships for deserving Hawai'i scholar-athletes and provide monetary grants for sportsminded clubs and organizations.

Revered worldwide as the"Father of International Surfing," Duke Kahanamoku is considered Hawai'i's greatest athlete winning six Olympic medals – including three gold medals in swimming – over a 20-year career from 1912 to 1932. He was the first person to be inducted in both the Swimming Hall of Fame (1965) and Surfing Hall of Fame (1966).

ODKF is a public nonprofit foundation created in February 1986 with the mission to financially support the development of individuals and organizations that perpetuate the spirit and legacy of Duke Kahanamoku. For information on supporting, call (808) 545-4880.

Duke's Ho'olaule'a – Schedule of Events
(as of August 17th, 2005)

(Click here for event locations on This Week Oahu Magazine Map F. Inside back cover.)

AUGUST 16 - AUGUST 30
Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach – Cedar Street Gallery
Longtime Hawai'i photographer John Titchen will display photos he's captured of Duke during his career, including many photos that have never been shown before. Proceeds raised from photo sales will be donated to ODKF in support of its college scholarship and community grants program.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21
Lanikai Canoe Club's 38th Annual Duke Kahanamoku Classic
This world-class event honors Duke and challenges canoe paddlers with a 24-mile open ocean race from Kailua around Diamond Head crater and onto Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikïkï. Several contestants will also compete in Ho'olaule'a waterman events later in the week. See LanikaiCanoeClub.org (G-17)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24 – DUKE'S 115th BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
Sunrise Birthday Greeting at Duke's Statue (8 a.m.)
The Fourth Annual Duke's Ho'olaule'a officially begins with a traditional Hawaiian sunrise greeting at Duke's magnificent statue in tribute to his 115th birthday anniversary. (E-6)

The Converse Hawaiian Open – Preliminaries (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Presented by LongBoard Magazine, the world's best men's and women's longboarders compete in surfing and"noseriding" contests on the big boards in front of Waikïkï Beach (subject to surf conditions) (Contact Rose at Longboard Magazine at 1-800-284-1864 for contest entry details). (E-6)

"Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaii's Soul"- KGMB9 (7 p.m.) - The life of Duke Kahanamoku is recounted through this 60-minute special, which includes never-before-seen images of the legendary waterman. For more information, please visit online http://www.kgmb9.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
Keiki Swim Splash & Autograph Session – (10 a.m.)
Aaron Peirsol, the three-time 2004 Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the backstroke, will lead a clinic on swimming techniques and safety for keiki swimmers at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. (808-921-9731) (G-12)

The Converse Hawaiian Open - Preliminaries (7 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Longboard surfing's best continue to challenge each other and the waves off Waikïkï Beach. (E-6)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26
The Converse Hawaiian Open – Semi-Finals (7 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
The field narrows as the top qualifiers compete to advance to Saturday's finals. (E-6)
Hawaiian Airlines Duke's Legends Surf Classic– Preliminaries (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Five-person teams compete in this first-time event to benefit ODKF's college scholarship and community grants program. (E-6)

Waikïkï Beach Boys Legends Celebration – Duke's Waikiki (3 – 5 p.m.)
Known as the Ho'ohanohano Na Kanaka O Ke Kai (to honor the men of the sea), this gathering of former beach boys and old friends of Duke is good fun and great memories about Waikïkï. (E-9)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
The Converse Hawaiian Open – Finals & Awards Ceremony (7 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
The best-of-the-best vie for the honor of earning the title as"longboard champion of Waikïkï." (E-6)

Hawaiian Airlines Duke's Legends Surf Classic– Finals (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
The winning team takes home the trophy honoring Duke's surfing tradition and his legacy of supporting higher education for Hawai'i's young adults. (E-6)

Duke's Ocean Mile Swim – Duke's Waikiki (Registration is at 8 a.m. / Swim begins at 9 a.m.)
Swimmers – including Aaron Peirsol – will race along the shoreline where Duke developed his famous"Kahanamoku Kick" and became the world's fastest swimmer and Olympic champion. Presented by the Waikiki Swim Club and Waikiki Roughwater Swim Committee. (Download the entry form.) (E-9)Bud

Light Surf Polo Tournament – Kapahulu Groin (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
Water polo on surfboards? That's the way Duke, an Olympic water polo medalist, liked to play it off Waikïkï Beach. This fast-paced, end-to-end action is terrific for spectators. (F-4)

Bishop Museum's Duke's Historical Display and Lei Making – Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach (9 a.m. -4 p.m.)

• Duke's incredible life and history-making achievements will be showcased in exhibits and displays. Come see Duke's Olympic medals!
• At 11 a.m., author Sandra Hall will lead a discussion on Duke's life and autograph her book, Duke: A Great Hawaiian. Part of the proceeds will be donated to ODKF.
  
• Watch, enjoy and participate in the Hawaiian lei-making tradition that will culminate with the Waikïkï Beach procession to Duke's statue. (E-9 to E-6)

Waikiki Community Lei Making – Sheraton Moana Surfrider (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
The public is invited to join in a lei making celebration to help decorate Duke's statue. Also, an exhibit chronicling the history of surfing will be on display. (E-7)

Lei Draping of Duke's Statue (5 p.m.)
A colorful Waikïkï tradition, Duke's statue will be decorated with Hawai'i's fresh flower lei. A sidewalk surfboard procession of lei along Kalakaua Avenue begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony recognizing the competition winners for the Ho'olaule'a. (E-6)

Sunset on the Beach,"Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaii's Soul" and"The Ride"- Queen's Surf Beach (7:30 p.m.) Sponsored by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Sunset on the Beach features live entertainment, food from O'ahu's leading restaurants, and a screening of KGMB's documentary on Duke Kahanamoku followed by the locally produced film"The Ride" by award-winning independent filmmaker Nathan Kurosawa. (F-2)

Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaii's Soul – KGMB9 (9 p.m.)
An encore presentation! The life of Duke Kahanamoku is recounted through this 60-minute special, which includes never-before-seen images of the legendary waterman. For more information, please visit online at www.kgmb9.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

Brunch on the Beach – Kalakaua Avenue (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
The final day of Duke's Ho'olaule'a begins with this festive block party honoring Duke and highlighting the fantastic cuisine, music and dance of Hawai'i. Providing entertainment will be the Royal Hawaiian Band, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian Ensemble, Kimo Alama Keaulana & Lei Hulu, and Danny Kaleikini. Mahalo to the Waikiki Improvement Association and Hawai'i's visitor industry for their support! (E-6)

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa - Bishop Museum's Duke's Historical Display (9 a.m. -4 p.m.)
Duke's incredible life and history-making achievements will be showcased in exhibits and displays. Come see Duke's Olympic medals! (D-7)

Waterman Challenge – Waikïkï Beach (10 a.m.)
Teams of watermen, including highly trained lifeguards representing Honolulu and California, show off their impressive skills in an exciting relay competition combining swimming, paddle boarding and canoe racing. (F-8)

Sunset on the Beach,"Duke Kahanamoku: Hawaii's Soul" and"Blue Crush" – Queen's Surf Beach (7:30 p.m.)
Duke's Ho'olaule'a concludes with Sunset on the Beach, sponsored by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. Enjoy live entertainment, the cuisine of O'ahu's leading restaurants, followed by a screening of KGMB's documentary on Duke Kahanamoku and the film,"Blue Crush," which was filmed primarily on the North Shore. (F-2)

(Click here for event locations on This Week Oahu Magazine Map F. Inside back cover.)

Event times are subject to change.