Aloha! I wanted to take a moment and offer a heartfelt mahalo for all of your support of this year's Duke's OceanFest. No question it's become the best week of summer in Waikiki and a perfect tribute to the memory of Duke Kahanamoku.
Having taken time to reflect, I felt this year's Dukes OceanFest was teh best one yet, especially considering the economic challenges our sponsors, participants and volunteers have had to confront in 2009.
Nevertheless, perserverance and hard work won out and I am thankful for how everyone continued to maintain their faith in what has developed into the premier ocean sports festival in Waikiki. The entire week was one thrill after another, but there are a few highlights worth singling out.
First, we were delighted to welcome two new event sponsors who added the luster of professional longboard surfing to our week of events. The "Toes on the Nose Rabbit Kekai Pro Longboard Classic" moved its event this year from Costa Rica to Waikiki, carrying on the legacy of one of Hawaii's beloved watermen and legendary beach boys. Additionally, the "Gidget Women's Pro Open" brought many of the world's best women longboarders to Waikiki.
Kudos to the Hawaii Paddleboard Championship for not just staging another exciting "Duke's Race" from Hawaii Kai to Waikiki, but for encouraging physically challenged paddleboarders to compete. Duke would be so proud. What an inspiration!
The Duke's Waikiki Ocean Mile Swim surpassed expectations by drawing 319 competitors for a morning sprint off Waikiki Beach. Swimming catapulted Duke Kahanamoku onto the world stage, so it was gratifying to see such a strong turnout for an event that goes to the core of Hawaii's sports legacy. A big mahalo goes to Chris Colgate, a dedicated waterman who gives way more than he's ever given credit for, both to this event and to Duke's OceanFest as a whole.
Finally, Duke's OceanFest garnered some great exposure on the Internet courtesy of the live streaming video that Oceanic Time Warner Cable aired at www.dukefoundation.org. The streaming video received more than 260,000 hits during the three days of surfing competition, with many online visitors coming from the mainland and internationally. We are excited about the potential this offers for taking the events of Duke's OceanFest, the beauty of Waikiki, and the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku to the rest of the world.
As is always the case, all of our efforts support the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (ODKF) and its good work for Hawaii's scholar-athletes in water sports and volleyball. The sponsorships, the t-shirts and luau tickets sold, and the work of volunteers - everything in some way or another benefits ODKF and the outstanding young men and women of Hawaii it is committed to serve.
Plans are already underway for the 9th Annual Duke's OceanFest, August 22-28, 2010. Mark your calendar and plan to join us as we gather again in Waikiki to celebrate the greatness of Duke Kahanamoku and Hawaii Nei.
A Hui Hou!
Jim Fulton
Duke's OceanFest Committee President
2010 Duke's OceanFest Calendar
Top athletes compete in a week-long series of events at the 9th Annual Duke’s OceanFest, Waikiki’s premier oceansports festival!
Event Highlights August 22-28
August 22: Ho‘omana Ceremony - Duke’s OceanFest opens at Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort.
August 24: Sunrise Blessing Duke Kahanamoku’s 120th birthday
August 25-28:
Hawaiian Airlines Duke’s Legends Surf Classic
Toes on the Nose Rabbit Kekai Longboard Classic
Gidget Worldwide Women’s Pro Longboard Contest
Corona Expression Session
Hawaii Paddle Board Race Presented by Maui Jim's Sunglasses
C4 Waterman Stand-Up Paddle Surfing
Bear Financial Group Inc. Tandem Championships
Duke’s Waikiki Ocean Mile Swim
Corona Beach Volleyball Championships presented by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
Surf Polo Tournament
AccesSurf Challenge
Beach Boys Celebration at Duke’s Waikiki
Island Heritage Logo Tent
August 28:
Lei Draping of Duke’s Statue
The Great Hawaiian 105 KINE Lu‘au
(Events subject to change)
Duke's OceanFest Oceanic Cable Commercial
Outrigger Hotels Special ODKF Room Rates
Outrigger and OHANA invite you to celebrate the 9th Annual Duke's
OceanFest August 22 - 28, 2010. Scheduled competitions for this ocean
sports festival will be held at Waikiki Beach and include surfing,
paddle boarding, beach volleyball, and more. Proceeds will support the
Duke Kahanamoku Foundation which provides scholarships and grants to
ocean athletes. Click here for special room rates only available for a limited time!
2010 Gidget Women's Pro
The prestigous Gidget Women's Pro returns to Waikiki during this year's Duke's OceanFest. Top women longboarders compete at Queen's in Waikiki trying to upset defending champion Kelia Moniz.
To enter visit asphawaii.org and join the Association of Surfing Professionals first. For event information email asphi@hawaii.rr.com or call (808) 228-3965.
2010 Toes on the Nose Rabbit Kekai Longboard Classic
The best longboarders in the world compete at one of the most beautiful surf breaks, in a contest dedicated one of the world's best surfer, Rabbit Kekai, during the week-long Duke's OceanFest which honors one of the world's best waterman. See who can beat last year's winner, Kai Sallas.
You can enter theToesontheNose longboard event at www.aspworldtour.com where you join the Association of Surfing Professionals first.
For event information email asphi@hawaii.rr.com or call (808) 228-3965.
2010 Surf Polo
OUTRIGGER HOTELS TO SPONSOR 2010 DUKE’S SURFPOLO TOURNAMENT
The 2010 Outrigger Hotels Duke’s OceanFest Surf Polo Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010, from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm, in Waikiki waters on the ewa side of the Kapahulu Groin.
This year’s tournament will feature the defending champions Hawaiian Islands from Oahu, as well as waterman and lifeguard teams from the City & County of Honolulu and California.
Surf Polo is played by teams of six players on surfboards, governed by water polo rules. The sport was originated in Waikiki by beachboys and watermen including the Kahanamoku brothers, and has been a showcase event of the Duke’s OceanFest since 2001.
Celebrate Duke’s Birthday at the Duke’s OceanFest 2010
Proceeds to benefit the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Scholarship Fund
DATE & TIME: Saturday, August 28th, 9:00 AM Start. Check-in between 8:00 and 9:00 AM.
WHERE: Duke’s Canoe Club on Waikiki Beach.
COURSE: Triangular course. Swim out the channel, around two outside buoys, and return to the beach.
ENTRY FEE/DEADLINE: Swim is open to first 250 entrants. $25 per swimmer, postmarked by August 15, 2010. Late entries will be accepted for $35 per swimmer.
On Saturday, August 28, 2010,
the Hawaii Paddleboard Championship, also known as Duke's Race, features Hawaii's finest
ocean athletes in an open ocean race. The Race will start
at 11 a.m. from Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai and bring the athletes on one
of the most famous downwind paddling courses, rounding Diamond Head, with the finish at
the Duke Kahanamoku Statue-Waikiki Beach.
The first finishers will arrive by 12:30 p.m. Approximately 150 athletes
from all over the Hawaiian Islands, Austrailia and California are set to compete, including world class athletes such as Tim
Fernandez, Kanesa Duncan, Slater Trout, Connor Baxter, Zane Schweitzer, Aaron
Napoleon, Alika Willis, George Ramos, Chris Fong, Livio Menelau and Brian
Rocheleau.
Outrigger and OHANA invite you to celebrate the 9th Annual Duke's
OceanFest August 22 - 28, 2010. Scheduled competitions for this ocean
sports festival will be held at Waikiki Beach and include surfing,
paddle boarding, beach volleyball, and more. Proceeds will support the
Duke Kahanamoku Foundation which provides scholarships and grants to
ocean athletes.
The prestigous Gidget Women's Pro returns to Waikiki during this year's Duke's OceanFest. Top women longboarders compete at Queen's in Waikiki trying to upset defending champion Kelia Moniz. 
The 2010 Outrigger Hotels Duke’s OceanFest Surf Polo Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010, from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm, in Waikiki waters on the ewa side of the Kapahulu Groin.
