Duke: A Great Hawaiian

by Sandra Kimberley Hall

Book Overview

Hawai'i's Ambassador of Aloha, Duke Kahanamoku, is remembered for his Olympic medals and as the Father of International Modern Surfing. But those who place leis on his statue in Waik k equally honor... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573062308
• ISBN13: 9781573062305
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Bess Press
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.7" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Before the Blue Devils, there was this Duke

Bess Press has published the second book by Sandra Kimberley Hall about Hawaii's ambassador of aloha and its greatest athlete, Duke Kahanamoku. Known as the father of international surfing and remembered for his accomplishments in the Olympics, Kahanamoku remains a legend more than 35 years after his death. In a moving tribute filled with photos of Kahanamoku, Hall reveals how Kahanamoku remained true to his core values throughout his long life, filled with great success -- his Olympic accomplishments as well as his Hollywood career -- and challenge -- his financial struggles and a comeback from brain surgery. Hall, who grew up on the beach where Kahanamoku taught Australia how to surf, arrived in Hawaii during Kahanamoku's centennial and statue unveiling, and launched a career as a freelance writer. She has written dozens of articles for airline and surfing magazines and newspapers. Her subjects include the Kahanamoku, surfing history and the Himalayas. Hall is the author of "Memories of Duke: The Legend Comes to Life" (Bess Press. 1995).

"Duke" : A great book

This book is a gem, a pithy, accessible and colourful distillation of a complex life and memory. It's beautifully written, designed and produced, with good use of rare photographs and images. The inclusion of endnotes, photo credits, further reading pointers and an index enhances the book, which has the distinction of appealing to both the lay reader as an introduction to 'the Duke' and to the historian who seeks a condensed reference to Kahanamoku's life and context. The book is a reminder of the need for a full biography that considers his continued importance and meaning along with his vita. Gary Osmond St Lucia, Queensland, Australia

Hawaii's Sovereign Of The Seas Remembered

Until Joseph Brennan's Duke: The Life Story of Duke Kahanamoku (1994) is reprinted or another comparable book is made available, the sporting world's great interest in Duke Kahanamoku, Olympic star and the greatest surfing avatar of the 20th century, may be satisfied by Sandra Kimberley Hall's compact Duke: A Great Hawaiian (2004), a brief but beautifully illustrated overview of the champion's life. Whether as a record-breaking swimmer, a surfer and surfboard innovator, an entrepreneur, an actor in early Holloywood, the Sheriff of Honolulu or as a janitor or garage mechanic during leaner periods of his existence, Duke Kahanamoku was, first and foremost, a gentleman and an ambassador of traditional Hawaiian good manners and 'aloha,' a word which, in addition to other meanings, encompasses a wide range of positive human feelings, from "love, affection, and compassion" to "grace and charity." As such, Kahanamoku represented the kind of role model--both as a man and as an individual--that is completely lacking on the world stage today. With his humble manner, extraordinary talents, and magnificent physique, Kahanamoku was revered by men, desired by women, and almost universally loved and admired by all. The photographs of Kahanamoku from different periods of his life are the great strength of Duke: A Great Hawaiian. Hall certainly seems to understand Kahanamoku's intrinsic value as a human being and as an individual, and conveys that understanding with warmth, enthusiasm, and ease.

Enduring Aloha

The Y2K millennial issue of Surfer magazine featured on its cover the formal portrait of a young Duke Kahanamoku with the caption "Surfer of the Century." Perhaps you've been to Kuhio beach at Waikiki and visited the Duke statue; maybe even left a flower lei draped on his arms. Most people also take a few minutes to consider the inscription that's written there, imagining what Aloha could mean if we each lived our life that way. I ordered a copy of this book before it was published. When it arrived in the mail I realized that I held a small volume, one of life's little primers, that might affect me in a big way -- and that's what happened. If you love the ocean like Duke did, then Sandra Kimberley Hall has written the thank you letter we all wish we could have given him. Duke Kahanamoku lived from 1890 to 1968. It's been more than thirty years since he died, and people still speak of him as if he's here among us. This book will help you understand why swimmers/surfers/water polo teams/outrigger canoe clubs/open water paddlers... all EXPECT to meet the Duke. He's right there with us every time we greet another ocean enthusiast with the generous spirit of Aloha that was his gift to all. I'm the guy who led a letter writing campaign resulting in the approval of a U.S. postage stamp honoring the Duke. Others had begun the process more than twenty years ago. Working as a volunteer for the Surfrider Foundation, I circulated a newsletter beginning in 1998. For four years thousands of people all across America responded by sending letters/petitions/postcards of support to Washington -- and we succeeded. The stamp was issued on the anniversary of Duke's birthday, August 24, 2002. More than 62 million stamps were printed, and the edition is now sold out. The handsome, active and youthful image chosen to portray Duke on the stamp has invited many others to examine his life -- Olympic champion, Halls of Fame, years of public service to the Territory/State of Hawaii. He was a lifelong inspiration to those who met him personally, and also those who could only read about him (a skinny kid like me in the library at Beach Haven, NJ hoping maybe I could learn to ride the surf on my blue & yellow inflatable canvas raft). We all know that very few of us will ever appear on a commemorative stamp. Those who took the time to write to the Postal Service felt that Duke Kahanamoku was one of those people who represents us at our very best. This book celebrates all the reasons why. Respectfully submitted, Don Gallagher 38 Green Acre Road, Lititz, PA 17543-8770

A fitting tribute to the father of modern surfing

This fantastic little book oozes aloha from every page. If the Duke is looking down on us, he'd be stoked, proud and humble to have a book like this written about him. The story of Duke Kahanamoku is a moving one and the author has captured the spirit of the man in these pages. The quality of the production is beautiful with photos on each of the left hand pages and the text laid out in simple form on the right. The aloha print cover is a joy. If you're into surfing, or Hawaiian, history this is a must have book and a future collectable for sure. Aloha from England! Pete Robinson www.thesurfingmuseum.co.uk