The story
Duke's OceanFest in Honolulu
Duke's OceanFest is a weeklong celebration held each August on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, honoring Olympic swimming champion and surfing pioneer Duke Kahanamoku. Organized by the nonprofit Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, it gathers local, national, and international competitors for surfing, paddleboard racing, outrigger canoe races, surfboard water polo, and beach volleyball, alongside a lei draping ceremony and keiki events, with proceeds funding scholarships for Hawaii athletes.
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku grew up along Waikiki Beach in the early twentieth century, teaching himself to swim and surf in the waters that would later define his life.