August 24, 1890, born in downtown Honolulu, first surviving child of Duke and Julia, full-blooded Hawaiians

Family moved to Waikīkī’s Kālia area

Enrolled in first grade at Waikīkī-kai Elementary School

Kāhili bearer at Princess Ka‘iulani’s royal funeral

Transferred to Ka‘ahumanu Elementary School

Entered Kamehameha School for Boys

Member of Kamehameha School’s championship soccer team

Transferred to McKinley High School

Broke 3 freestyle world record in his first swim races, in Honolulu Harbor

Won Olympic gold medal and set world record for 100-meter freestyle, Stockholm; also won a silver medal on the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay team

Introduced surfing to U.S.’s Atlantic coast

Helped popularize swimming and surfing in California

Swam in exhibitions in about 30 mainland cities to raise money for Liberty Bonds for U.S. war effort. Boosted popularity of swimming. Reinforced reputation of Hawai‘i as pre-eminent in swimming.

Recommended surfing as an Olympic event

Antwerp Olympics: gold medals in 100-meter freestyle and 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay, fourth place in water polo

Helped popularize swimming and surfing in California

Paris Olympics: silver medal in 100-meter freestyle

Introduced surfing to U.S.’s Atlantic coast

Lived in Los Angeles. Played small parts in about 30 movies

Heroic board rescue of 8 drowning men at Newport Beach, California

Rode a monster wave 1-1/8 miles at Waikīkī, probably longest ride in modern times

Helped popularize swimming and surfing in California

Los Angeles Olympics: awarded bronze medal as alternate on the U.S. water polo team

Elected City and County of Honolulu Sheriff. Re-elected 12 times

August 2, 1940 married Nadine Alexander

Official representative at Melbourne Olympics

Sheriff position abolished when Hawai‘i achieved Statehood and government reorganized

Appointed Hawai‘i’s Ambassador of Aloha

Third visit to Australia to judge surf meets

Official guest at Tokyo Olympics

First person inducted into both the Swimming Hall of Fame and the Surfing Hall of Fame

First annual Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surf Meet, Sunset Beach

January 22, 1968 died in Honolulu at age 78; Waikīkī beachboy funeral

Plaque and bust dedicated at Huntington Beach, California

Posthumously inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

Statue dedicated at Waikīkī on centennial of his birth

Duke Kahanamoku Way dedicated at Rockaway Beach, New York

Statue dedicated at Freshwater, Sydney, Australia

Biarritz, France, Surf Festival named in his honor

First name inscribed in the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame

Identification plaques placed on Waikīkī statue on his birthday

U.S. Postage Stamp created in his honor