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Environment and Heritage
Environment and Heritage

Duke Kahanamoku

Hawaiian swimmer and surfer (1890–1968)

Duke Kahanamoku (front row, centre) posing with Pua Kealoha to his right, to his left is believed to be George Cunha. The man in the back row over Duke’s left shoulder is “Dad” Centre. The other men in this photo are unknown, c. 1915
Image Credit: Australian Sports Museum – Frank Beaurepaire Collection
 

Location

Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club, Kooloora Ave, Freshwater NSW 2096

Freshwater is on the lands of the Darug people of the Eora Nation.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible

About Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku was a champion Hawaiian swimmer and surfer. His dazzling demonstrations of wave-riding techniques at Freshwater and Dee Why Beaches in the summer of 1914–15 are credited with popularising the sport of surfing in Australia.

An Olympic gold medallist swimmer, Duke was invited to Sydney to give swimming demonstrations, then persuaded to add a surfing display. On 24 December 1914, with onlookers lining the Freshwater sands, Duke paddled out into the waves and caused a sensation with a magnificent display of surfing prowess. His exhibition of skill and grace inspired many locals to take up surfing and helped the sport become what it is today.

This sepia postcard depicts Hawaiian champion swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku in about 1915. Duke gave a legendary demonstration of surfing techniques at Freshwater Beach on 24 December 1914.
Hawaiian champion swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku, c. 1915
Image Credit: Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies

Hawaiian champion swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku, circa 1915

Duke Kahanamoku: the start of a surfing legend

Duke Kahanamoku was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1890.

He learned to swim and surf in the famous beachside area of Waikiki, where his talent as a swimmer was soon obvious. In 1912, Duke qualified for the US Olympic swimming team and won a gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle race and a silver in the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay in Stockholm.

Duke's success marked the start of his international travel, performing sprint-swimming demonstrations. Tall and charismatic, the young athlete also won plaudits wherever he went for his good humour and sportsmanship.

The Aussie connection

Duke accepted an invitation to visit Australia, where he was persuaded to add a surfing demonstration to his itinerary. Surfing was still relatively unknown outside Hawaii, so Sydneysiders were keen to learn about the intriguing new sport.

With a date for the demonstration fixed for 24 December 1914 at Freshwater Beach, Duke set about crafting himself a surfboard from a piece of sugar pine he bought locally.

A report in the Sydney Morning Herald from 25 December 1914 described Duke’s performance:

The conditions were against good surfboard riding. The waves were of the 'dumping’ order … Then, too, Kahanamoku was at a disadvantage with the board. It weighed almost 100lb, whereas the board he uses, as a rule, weighs less than 25lb. But, withal, he gave a magnificent display, which won the cordial applause of the onlookers.

One of the Hawaiian-style techniques Duke demonstrated was surfing the clean waves behind the break. Another highlight during his surfing demonstrations was to beckon young Freshwater locals, Claude West and Isabel Letham, to tandem surf with him.

  • A black and white photo showing a crowd surrounding a man carrying a large surfboard on a beach
    Crowd surrounding Duke Kahanamoku, Freshwater Beach, 1915
    Crowd surrounding Duke Kahanamoku, Freshwater Beach, 1915
    Image Credit: Frank Bell (1884-1923)/Manly Art Gallery and Museum collection. Courtesy MAG&M and Stephen Lees
  • A sepia photo showing a man surfing. Three swimmers in the foreground look out to the man on the waves. The photographer has written on the front of the photo 'Duke Kahanamoku, 1915'
    Duke Kahanamoku surfing at Freshwater Beach, 1915
    Duke Kahanamoku surfing at Freshwater Beach, 1915
    Image Credit: Isabel Letham/Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies

The start of something big

Duke’s display roused many locals to take up surfing. Today, his demonstrations on the Northern Beaches are widely credited with elevating surfing into one of Australia’s much-loved pastimes, as well as a successful professional sport.

There's more to the story!

Duke went on to win more medals at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics and also appeared in 15 Hollywood films, including 1955’s Mister Rogers (as himself). After returning to Hawaii, he served as Sheriff of Honolulu for nearly 30 years.

His handcrafted surfboard can still be seen at the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club, where it has been proudly on display since the early 1950s.

  • Formally posed sepia portrait of Duke Kahanamoku, seated centre wearing a suit, surrounded by Manly Surf Life Saving Club Members taken in 1915
    Duke Kahanamoku with Manly Surf Life Saving Club members in 1915
    Duke Kahanamoku with Manly Surf Life Saving Club Members in 1915
    Image Credit: Australian Sports Museum – Frank Beaurepaire Collection
  • Duke Kahanamoku plaque on wall at Freshwater Surf club
    Duke Kahanamoku’s Plaque at Freshwater Surf Club
    Duke Kahanamoku Plaque at Freshwater Surf Club
    Image Credit: Tim Pascoe photography

References

  • Australian National Surfing Museum (13 January 2015) 'Duke's Day 3' [video], Australian National Surfing Museum, YouTube, accessed 20 June 2025.
  • Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club (n.d.) Freshwater SLSC [website], accessed 20 June 2025.
  • Northern Beaches Council (2015) Duke Kahanamoku, Northern Beaches History Hub website, accessed 20 June 2025.