Hawai'i Waterman Hall of Fame
2011 Inductees

Peter Cole – Surfing, Community Service

The love of surfing lured Peter Cole from southern California to O'ahu's North Shore in the late-1950s and to a home at his beloved Sunset Beach.

Respected as a daring big-wave surfer, Peter won the 1958 Makaha International Surfing Championships and conquered monster waves in Hawai'i and around the world.

An ardent protector of the environment and Hawai'i's marine life, Peter helped form the Surfrider Foundation's O'ahu Chapter in 1996.

Ethel Kukea – Surfing, Paddling

A "Waikïkï beach girl," Ethel Kukea was a pioneering surfing champion who inspired generations of women to follow in her footsteps.

Ethel won the inaugural women's division of the Makaha International Surfing Championships in 1955, and defended her title the following year.

The matriarch of the Kukea family waterman legacy, Ethel was a dominant force in women's surfing and paddling competitions for many years.

Aileen Soule – Swimming

Aileen Soule was a champion whose reign spanned eight decades.

At age 14, Aileen became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in 1920, winning in springboard diving, before becoming the only Olympian ever to medal in both swimming and diving four years later.

A lifelong competitor, swimming was her passion. She swam daily off Waikïkï Beach, and set numerous world age-class records in ocean and pool competitions well into her 90s.

Nainoa Thompson – Polynesian Voyaging

Nainoa Thompson embraced the miracle of ancient Polynesian voyaging and brought it forward for all of Hawai'i to celebrate.

Utilizing the skill of Polynesian wayfinding with only the sky, stars, sea, and intuition as a guide, Nainoa became the first Hawaiian since the 14th century to navigate voyages between Hawai'i and Pacific island nations in traditional double-hulled canoes.

Nainoa continues to inspire as executive director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

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