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Duke Kahanamoku memorabilia and other surf items are part of the "Memories of Duke" exhibit at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.
Surf museum shares Duke Kahanamoku -- Olympic champion, Hollywood actor and Hawaiian folk hero -- is the most famous name in surfing, remembered for his grace in the water, good humor and sportsmanship.
‘Memories of Duke’
A rare collection of mementos
is on display, including the log
from Duke's gas stationsBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.comDuke fan Roland Tang has now assembled memorabilia from his remarkable collection for exhibit in the Hawaii International Surfing Museum. "Memories of Duke" opens today at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, part of the festivities to help commemmorate the debut of the new 37-cent Duke stamp. "Memories" will continues through Nov. 15.
In a rectangular room on the lobby floor, Tang, 35, presents surfing memorabilia from the early 20th century. But it is the Kahanamoku items that command the most attention and reverence.
Perhaps most striking is the fragile "Duke's Service Station" log book with accounting entries in his own handwriting, plus autographs of Hollywood actors and local residents who dropped by his two Union gas stations in Nuuanu and Waikiki.
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Part of the "Memories of Duke" exhibit at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.
Also on view are:
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Included is the bronze statue of Kahanamoku, created by Joe Brown. Only three were made.
>> A framed and faded Hawaiian flag that flew over Duke's house at Black Point.
>> Duke's swimsuit.
>> Photographs of Duke with celebrities like Babe Ruth at Waikiki Beach, with Diamond Head looming in the background.
>> Pieces from the Duke Kahanamoku line of clothing.
>> Colorful, floral-patterned "Duke Kahanamoku Surfer Sneakers" produced by the Lunada Bay Co.
>> A dark blue "Duke Kahanamoku Surf Club" jacket with the official club patch, once owned by Fred Hemmings.
>> Duke Kahanamoku surfboards shaped by famous surfers, including Butch Van Artsdalen and Greg Noll.
>> Duke's ukulele with "Duke" blazoned across the body.
>> Trophies from the fabled Duke Kahanamoku surfing contests held at Sunset Beach.
>> A 1913 swimming trophy from the club Duke helped establish, the Hui Nalu Club.
TANG HAS ABOUT 100 surfboards stored either at his Kaneohe home, a brother's house or at two locations on the East Coast. The boards were collected in Hawaii, California, Florida, New York and New Jersey.
The Outrigger Waikiki exhibit has 16 of Tang's boards, including a 10-foot California redwood board which once stood outside the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki. He paid $3,000 for that one in a Honolulu antique store.
"It's worth between $8,000 to $10,000 today," he said.
Also on view is a rare 1934 Tom Blake hollow board, the 10-foot "Makai," worth about $15,000. The board's panels are fastened to crossbeams with brass screws. Duke taught Blake how to shape surfboards.
Tang began collecting surfing memorabilia 12 years ago and offers some important details.
"Duke was not named for Hawaiian royalty, but after his father, who had been christened 'Duke' following the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Hawaii in 1869," he said. "But Duke was royalty, godly even, to people in Hawaii."
Kahanamoku helped revive the ancient sport of surfing, introducing it to the rest of the world. Today, he is known as the father of international surfing.
The Outrigger is featuring a series of events this week, including a special lei presentation at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Duke Kahanamoku statue fronting Kuhio Beach, a "Hawaii Olympic Swimmers and Waikiki Beachboys" exhibit continuing through Sunday, and a temporary U.S. Post Office issuing the new postage stamp of Kahanamoku.
The new 37-cent postage stamp featuring Kahanamoku's likeness will be available in advance Saturday only at the Outrigger Waikiki. The stamp will go on sale nationwide Monday.
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Roland Tang shows vintage surfboards on display at the Outrigger Waikiki. He owns about 100 boards.
Residents and guests are being asked to donate fresh flower leis for the draping ceremony. Deliver leis to the Outrigger Waikiki between 6 and 11 a.m. tomorrow. A table will be set up at curbside. The goal is to come up with 112 leis to mark Duke's birthday. After 11 a.m., leis will continue to be accepted until 3 p.m. at the bell desk in the hotel's lower lobby.
A procession will leave the Outrigger Waikiki at 3:45 p.m. to reach the statue by 4 p.m., where a short ceremony will follow.
The Roland Tang collection at the Hawaii International Surfing Museum: 'Memories of Duke'
Where: Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach , 2335 Kalakaua Ave.
When: Open 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays through Nov. 15
Admission: Free
Call: 923-0711
Also: Duke Kahanamoku statue lei-draping 4 p.m. tomorrow at Kuhio Beach; Duke Kahanamoku stamp sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Outrigger and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tropics Showroom
Related links: Olympic Committee Kahanamoku page U.S. Postal Service Kahanamoku page
U.S. Postal Service online storeOutrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation
Click for online
calendars and events.
