Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku c. 1912
Personal information
Born(1890-08-24)August 24, 1890
Haleʻākala, Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii
DiedJanuary 22, 1968(1968-01-22) (aged 77)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight190 lb (86 kg)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1912 Stockholm100 m freestyle
1920 Antwerp100 m freestyle
1920 Antwerp4×200 m freestyle
1912 Stockholm4×200 m freestyle
1924 Paris100 m freestyle

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968) was a Hawaiian competition swimmer, lifeguard, and popularizer of the sport of surfing. A Native Hawaiian, he was born three years before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. He lived to see the territory's admission as a state and became a United States citizen. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming, winning medals in 1912, 1920 and 1924.

Kahanamoku joined fraternal organizations: he was a Scottish Rite Freemason in the Honolulu lodge, and a Shriner. He worked as a law enforcement officer, an actor, a beach volleyball player, and a businessman.