In 1990, renowned Hawaiian language scholar and professor, Puakea Nogelmeier, composed a chant in honor of Duke Kahanamoku for the dedication of the Duke statue in Waikīkī. Read the chant in Hawaiian and English.
In 1990, Puakea Nogelmeier, composed the following chant for the blessing of the new Duke Kahanamoku statue in Waikīkī. It is published here with his permission.
Ke kau aʻela ka lā i ka lani
E aʻiaʻi mai nei i ka ʻili kai
Kai lipolipo ia, kai o Kapua
Kai o nā ʻale e popoʻi lā i uka
I ke alo o Lēʻahi ē
Piʻi aʻe ka ʻale me he mauna lā i luna
I luna lilo nō ka ʻehu o ka huʻa kai
Kua ʻale palipali e haʻaheo nei
Nēʻī ke kohola i ka nalu nui
ʻO ka nalu haʻi lala ē
Hoʻēʻe ʻo Kahanamoku i ka nalu
A kau me he ʻiwa lā i ka huʻa kai
Kai ānai i ka maka o ka lehulehu
Lele wale aʻe i ka nalu kua loloa
E popoʻi ana lā ē
Niau palanehe nō ka papa kīkoʻo
A kū kilakila i ke alo kunihi
Kāʻalo i ka mākāhā, i ke kai mimilo
E kū ana ʻo Papaʻenaʻena lā i mua
A ʻenaʻena ʻo iala ē
Komo aku ka papa iā Kalehuawehe
A kū wale ʻo Kahanamoku i ka welelau
ʻIke ʻia ka nani i kai o Kūhiō
A pae aku i ke one o Helumoa lā ē
He lū lehua ʻo kapa kai ē
Kūʻoliʻoli nā maka lā o uka
A lei ʻo Kahanamoku i ka lanakila
Leo ʻia aku nō ka lono a puni
Hākei ʻo Kalia i ka lei haʻaheo
He wehi no nā kūpuna ē
The sun is placed high in the heavens
Glistening on the surface of the sea
A deep sea, the sea of Kapua
Sea of the breakers cresting towards the shore
Toward the majesty of Lēʻahi
The billow towers above like a mountain
The spray of sea foam soaring to great heights
The back of the breaker stands proud like a cliff
As the reef shudders from the great pounding comber
A surf breaking evenly to the side
Kahanamoku catches and mounts the wave
To ride like a frigate bird, gliding in the foam
Entrancing to the eye of the multitude
Flying effortlessly across the long-backed surf
The arching, cresting wave
The long board glides deftly and smoothly along
To stand proudly on the steep face of the wave
Passing the sluice-gate, avoiding the whirlpool
As Papaʻenaʻena stands there above
And blazes in the glory
The board enters the sea of Kalehuawehe
Kahanamoku stands poised at the very tip
The beauty can be seen seaward of Kūhiō
Until he arrives at the sands of Helumoa
The sea foam scattering like lehua in the breeze
All those ashore are filled with joy
And Kahanamoku achieves the lei of victory
The news is spread throughout the land
That Kalia wears a lei of pride
An adornment worthy of the ancestors
