Two Dukes

Above, the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and the Hilton Hawaiian
 Village in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Waikiki Beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is a lagoon next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. It is a man-made lagoon named for Duke Kahanamoku. Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who popularized the sport of surfing.

In May 2016, we swam in the lagoon while in Oahu.

Duke Kahanamoku was a friend to another "Duke" until his death in 1968: John Wayne.

From the official John Wayne Facebook page:

Above, John "Duke" Wayne and Duke Kahanamoku in a scene from Wake of the Red Witch (1948). ​​​​​​​​

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who introduced a powerful style of swimming, winning five medals (three gold) over three Olympic Games. He then became a surfing ambassador to the world, popularizing that sport. A Native Hawaiian, he was born to a minor noble family less than three years before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.​​​​​​​​

​​​Did you know? While living in Newport Beach, California on June 14, 1925, Duke Kahanamoku rescued eight men from a fishing vessel that capsized in heavy surf while attempting to enter the city’s harbor. Using his surfboard, he was able to make quick trips back and forth to shore to increase the number of sailors rescued. Newport’s police chief at the time called Duke’s efforts “the most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen.” Thus was born the tradition of lifeguards having rescue surfboards at the ready.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​Duke and Duke both lived in Newport Beach, CA, were members of the famed Outrigger Canoe Club in Honolulu, HI, and starred in Wake of the Red Witch. They remained friends throughout their lives.​​​​​​​​

Learn To Surf In Hawaii

Above, surfers at Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Being from Hawthorne, California and having attended Hawthorne High School, the "high school of The Beach Boys", surfing has been part of the culture in my area. Although, personally, I never took part in it. But I did hang out with many surfers and attended the annual surf festivals held at the local beaches (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach).

According to an article in Travel Weekly, the sport of surfing originated in Polynesia and it took off in Hawaii. In fact, Travel Weekly recommends taking surfing lessons while in Hawaii.

They wrote:

Hawaii is a wonderful place to learn the sport. There are ample breaks, no need for restrictive wetsuits, a plethora of surf schools and unbeatable scenery. Surfing is believed to have originated in Polynesia, but the first written account of someone surfing came from Lt. James King, who served under James Cook and described native Hawaiians riding waves with wooden planks in 1779. The sport thrived and flourished in Hawaii, which is now home to top professionals and multiple world championship events. 

They then give several tips on surfing along with a few sobering statistics. Still, according to the article, Hawaii is the ideal place to learn to surf.

To read more, go here.

T + L: Best Beaches In Hawaii

Above, surfers at Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel + Leisure has posted slideshow of their favorite beaches in Hawaii.

About Hawaii's beaches, they wrote:

One of the many reasons we love Hawaii—aside from an incredible mai tai, fresh seafood, and laid-back surf culture—is that it can easily lay claim to having the most beautiful beaches in the world. Why is that? For starters, they come in every size, shape, and color there: wide, calm expanses that are perfect for families and little ones who just want to dip their toes in the Pacific; tiny, secluded coves where honeymooning couples can get away from the crowds; and red, white, black, and green sandy stretches that provide the ultimate photo-op for Instagram. Best of all, you can access every single one of them, since all of Hawaii’s beaches are public. 

Better still, you’re not limited to experiencing these beaches on just one island. Like many travelers, you can visit Hawaii on a multi-island itinerary, and spend each day of your sun-filled vacation hitting up a different shoreline. Oahu, home to world-famous Waikiki Beach, is known for having some of the widest golden stretches—and the best surfing—in all of Hawaii.

To see more, go here.