Every year during the week of Duke Kahanamoku's birthday in late August, ocean enthusiasts from around the world, travel to the home break of Duke to commemorate his life and his passions. It is the premier ocean sports festival held at famous Kuhio Beach with multiple age divisions in surfing, paddling, swimming, lifeguarding, waterpolo, beach volleyball and more! Avid ocean athletes from Hawaii and around the globe participate in friendly competition and share Duke's legacy of Aloha and fellowship with each other and spectators.
Duke Kahanamoku, considered the "Father of Modern Surfing", was a swimmer, actor, lawman, one of the pioneer players of beach volleyball and businessman credited with spreading the sport of Surfing. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming and waterpolo. While traveling to Los Angeles in 1912 and Sydney in 1914, he built surfboards at hardware stores and put on "Surfing Exhibitions" for the locals, bringing Surfing to two continents that would go on to widely accept the sport.
The Oceanfest celebrates the legacy of Duke as an Ambassador of Aloha who shared Hawaiian culture with the world and his success as a competitive athlete on a international stage.
