There is definitely a reason why even a child’s movie like Lilo and Stitch present Hawaiians as good swimmers and surfers because they truly have the most gifted water athletes in the world. They are known as the originators of surfing. This legacy can be confidently originated from Duke Kahanamoku. Duke was born in Hawaii and grew up in Waikiki. Ever since his youth Duke spent his days at the beach where he developed his ability to swim and surf by himself. Even before entering the Olympics, Duke had already won and beat existing world records in swimming. This made him easily qualify for the U.S. Olympic swimming team in 1912 where he broke the record for the 200-meter freestyle and won a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle in the Olympics in Stockholm.
After his time with the Olympics, Duke actually popularized surfing as he traveled around the world teaching and presenting swimming and surfing demonstrations. Duke is the one who popularized surfing in Santa Cruz where surfing first started in California.
Again after his popularity from the 1912 Olympics, Duke had actually entered the Swimming and Surfing Hall of Fame as well as becoming a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
This is very interesting to know that a Pacific Islander represented the U.S. in the Olympics back in the early 1900s. All types of Asians and Pacific Islanders were never regarded as an “American” or people who really belonged in America. If anything these minorities were used for pure entertainment or treated like a separate class of humans. However to know that Duke represented Americans and won medals for the states was really a landmark event during the early 1900s. This is the one of the first events where America seems like a country that appreciates its diversity not only in culture but also in skill and talent derived from other cultures. Duke’s representation of not only the United States but also Hawaii as a separate culture and nationhood emphasizes the importance of this event in 1912 and the other years following his legacy in swimming and surfing.
Duke wasn’t popular in just swimming and surfing but got popular enough to be in films and presented as an important character actor. His fame in movies popularized surfing and swimming all the more. Another important event was in 1925 when Duke rescued twelve men from a boating tragedy off of Newport Beach. He was not only recognized as an athlete but as a reliable citizen with sportsmanship and integrity.
So now when I think of a surfer dude, I don't think of a white dude. I know I keep on going back to the "white man" but whenever I think of culture or recreation in America I immediately think of white people who thought of these things. If not the white man it's the black man but never the Asian or Pacific Islander. Again Duke is an important example of someone "not American" that heavily affected culture in the United States.
All in all Duke is the pride and joy of Hawaii as his legacy lives on as he still has fellow surfer followers today and people that still look to his achievements and identify with him as a Hawaiian. They can be proud to know that such a man can change the course of American recreation and sporting culture especially in the west.
-Madelyn Kim
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