In the inaugural year of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Awards, about $2,000 was given out in college scholarships and grants to Hawaii athletes and nonprofit organizations participating in water sports and volleyball. Some 20 years later, the total was $200,000.

The warmth and awe people feel for Kahanamoku has not changed at all.

Widely considered Hawaii’s greatest athlete, he won six Olympic medals in swimming and water polo, smashed world records in Honolulu Harbor and introduced surfing to millions. He also acted in 30 movies, saved eight people from drowning one fateful day in 1925, served as Honolulu sheriff for 26 years and was officially appointed Hawaii’s Ambassador of Aloha in 1960—eight years before his death.

At yesterday’s Mahalo Luncheon at the Outrigger Canoe Club, $155,000 in college scholarships and grants were given to 92 isle athletes and organizations. About 70 percent was awarded in scholarships to 53 Hawaii residents who represented the diversity of the islands by gender (31 women, 22 men), education (23 public school grads, 30 from private schools) and location (36 from Oahu, 17 from neighbor isles).

Grant recipients included world-class kayakers Patrick and Ryan Dolan of Kailua, teams such as Pi’opi’o Bears 13-under Volleyball and events like Keiki Oceanfest. There were also originals along the lines of Keep the Ocean Blue North Shore Tow-In Championship, which would like to add a women’s division.

For the third year, a senior nominated by their high school was given the $10,000 Duke Kahanamoku Ambassador of Aloha Scholarship. By definition, the winner "embodies the spirit of aloha and character that made Duke Kahanamoku such a beloved figure in Hawaii and around the world." Simply put, the foundation is searching for an exceptional student-athlete with "a Hawaiian heart."

They found it in Lahainaluna’s Jack Pope the first year. He is now an integral part of the University of the Pacific swim team. Kamehameha honors graduate Nanea Fujiyama earned the scholarship last year, putting it to good use at Occidental College, where she is on the water polo and swim teams.

Tyler Amina, who graduated from Kamehameha with a 4.2 grade-point average and has already published a research paper on the "neuropathology of HIV-1 associated dementia," is the 2010 winner. He is headed to Princeton to study medicine and science and play water polo.

The scholarship will make a dent in the $53,000 annual tuition. His knowledge of history and easy way with people might even make a difference in New Jersey. Amina is adamant about "tapping into" Kahanamoku’s spirit, and, like Duke, spreading the aloha everywhere he goes.

"Everyone—friends, family, visitors—felt the love and compassion the people here have to give to everybody when he was around," Amina said. "He took that abroad …and showed that all the love we have in the islands was here for everyone."

Amina calls science and water polo his "two main passions." For the Dolans, the passion is in the paddling. For the first time in their lifetime, there were no Hawaii kayakers at the last Games.

The brothers’ short-term goal is tandem success at next month’s World Championships in Poland—a trip that costs about $5,000 each. Long term, Patrick, 22, and Ryan, 20, are pointing to the 2012 Olympics.

"It’s really frustrating that in our era there was not a Hawaiian kayaker at the Olympics," Patrick said. "We’re working on making that right."

There is optimism, in part from Down Under. Former Australian coach Guy Wilding was named the U.S. Sprint National Team coach in February. He and his wife, two-time Olympic kayaker Shelley Oates-Wilding, moved here a month ago and are training the Americans that can get here.

For the first time, the Dolans don’t have to go anywhere to get help from their national body. That, and yesterday’s grant, means a great deal.

"With them coming here, in just the last three weeks, personally, we’ve seen huge gains," Patrick said. "We’re loving life. It’s something we love doing and it’s something that’s only becoming more fun for us with them."

2010-2011 ODKF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

Tyler Amina, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Princeton University, Sport: Water Polo, Swimming

Breyandi Andrade, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Brigham Young University, Sport: Swimming, Surfing, Volleyball

Keelan Barcina, High School: Kahuku High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Swimming, Volleyball

Beaumont Brians, High School: Kaiser High School, College: Hamilton College, Sport: Swimming, Diving

Henry Cassiday, High School: Punahou School, College: University of Southern California, Sport: Volleyball

Matthew Cheape, High School: Mililani High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Volleyball

Tyson Chihara, High School: Kauai High School, College: Pomona College, Sport: Swimming

Kelsey Christopher, High School: Kealakehe High School, College: Savannah College of Art & Design, Sport: Swimming

James Chung, High School: Kapaa High School, College: Hawaii Pacific University, Sport: Surfing

Jacob Elarco, High School: Kamehameha Schools Hawaii, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Canoeing

Marissa Eveland, High School: Christian Education Institute, College: Mira Costa College, Sport: Surfing

Ashley-Anne Feria, High School: Punahou School, College: University of Washington, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo, Volleyball

Nanea Fujiyama, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Occidental College, Sport: Water Polo

Jayson Hagi, High School: Kapolei High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Swimming

Nicole Hagi, High School: Kapolei High School, College: Siena College, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo

Kimberly Hall, High School: Punahou School, College: Stanford University, Sport: Water Polo

Hana Imai, High School: Kapaa High School, College: University of the Pacific, Sport: Volleyball

Maile Ishikawa, High School: Kaimuki High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo

Joseph Kahaleuahi, High School: Hana High School, College: Oregon State University, Sport: Surfing

Terran Kaleiwahea, High School: Kamehameha Schools Hawaii, College: University of Hawaii – Hilo, Sport: Canoeing, Volleyball

Anna Koethe, High School: St. Francis School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Canoeing

Francesca Koethe, High School: St. Francis School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Paddling

Xinhe Li, High School: Roosevelt High School, College: Yale University, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo

Jacey Lorenzo, High School: Waianae High School, College: Kapiolani Community College, Sport: Canoeing

Kaoru Lovett, High School: Kalaheo High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Canoeing, Surfing

Vanessa Martinez, High School: Kapa’a High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Surfing, Paddling

David Morgan, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Hope International University, Sport: Volleyball

Chelsie-Ann Mow, High School: Hawaii Baptist Academy, College: Willamette University, Sport: Volleyball

Makamaekanani Namahoe, High School: Hilo High School, College: Long Island University, Sport: Volleyball

Karie Nickle, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Occidental College, Sport: Water Polo

Emily Niederhauser, High School: Mid-Pacific Institute, College: Villanova University, Sport: Paddling, Kayaking, Water Polo

Kari Noborikawa, High School: Kaiser High School, College: Chapman University, Sport: Volleyball

Lohiao Paoa, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: San Diego State University, Sport: Canoeing, Water Polo

Malia Paresa, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: University of Southern California, Sport: Canoeing, Surfing

Halialani Parish, High School: Kapolei High School, College: Oregon State University, Sport: Volleyball

Royce Pasalo, High School: Kohala High School, College: University of Hawaii – Manoa, Sport: Volleyball

Ryan Pe’a, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Loyola Marymount University, Sport: Swimming

Beau Pickering, High School: Kamehameha Schools, College: Princeton University, Sport: Swimming

John "Jack" Pope, High School: Lahaianaluna High School, College: University of the Pacific, Sport: Swimming

Rachel Randall, High School: Le Jardin Academy, College: Johns Hopkins University, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo

Hannah Ross, High School: Mid-Pacific Institute, College: Westmont College, Sport: Canoeing

Ashley Shaffer, High School: Kamehameha Schools Maui, College: University of Oregon, Sport: Canoeing, Surfing, Swimming, Water Polo

Aubree Shipman, High School: Kalaheo High School, College: University of San Francisco, Sport: Volleyball

Jack Smart, High School: Punahou School, College: Vassar College, Sport: Swimming

Megan Steele, High School: Punahou School, College: University of San Francisco, Sport: Swimming, Padding, Water Polo, Surfing

Kaopu Nani O Ke Kai Sutton, High School: Kamehameha Schools Hawaii, College: Carleton College, Sport: Canoeing

Nicole Talion, High School: Kapolei High School, College: University of Southern California, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo

Preston Tavares, High School: Kamehameha Schools Maui, College: University of San Diego, Sport: Canoeing

Tiffany Tran, High School: Roosevelt High School, College: DePauw University, Sport: Swimming, Water Polo

Hulali Trask, High School: Kamehameha Schools Hawaii, College: Hawaii Community College, Sport: Canoeing, Water Polo, Volleyball

Paige Tsuruda, High School: Word of Life Academy, College: California State University – Bakersfield, Sport: Water Polo

Mark Walker, High School: Seabury Hall, College: University of Utah, Sport: Volleyball

Kent Yamada, High School: Mililani High School, College: Columbia University, Sport: Swimming

2010 ODKF ATHLETIC GRANT AWARDEES

Geodee Nonohelani Clark, Surfing, Roxy ASP Women’s World Championships, France

Ahren DePonte, Volleyball, 2010 Boys Nationals Championships

Patrick Keoni Dolan, Kayaking, Canoeing, National and World Competitions

Ryan Kawika Dolan, Kayaking, Canoeing, National and World Competitions

Crystal Dzigas, Surfing, Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia

Nainoa Frank, Volleyball, Nationals, Texas

Kaoliopuuwai Kahokuloa, Surfing, NSSA Nationals, California

Haunani Kane, Surfing, Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia

‘Olinakamakalei’opua Kekaualua-Kalauli, Volleyball, 2010 Volleyball Festival, Arizona

Kimiko Patcho, Volleyball, 2010 Volleyball Festival, Arizona

Jordan Tumaneng, Volleyball, 2010 Junior Volleyball Assn./AAU Championships, Florida

Madisyn Uekawa, Swimming, Speedo Series Sectional Championship

Lehua Wall, Kayaking, USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint Trials

Victoria Zeuner, Kayaking, 2010 Lake Placid National Junior Camp

13u Pi’opi’o Bears Volleyball Team, Girls Junior National Championships, Nevada

AccesSurf Hawaii, Inc., Adaptive Surfing and Swimming, Day at the Beach

Aloha Region High Performance, USA Volleyball High Performance Championships, Tennessee

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, 9th Annual Ocean Sports & Fitness Day & Mini Surf Classics

Hawaii Canoe & Kayak Team, Kayaking/Canoeing, U.S. Nationals, Oklahoma

Hawaiian Style Volleyball Club, National Coaching Showcase

Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, Water Sports Days, Development Grants

International Hawaiian Canoe Association, Canoeing, International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championships, New Caledonia

Kamehameha Swim Club, USA Swimming/2010 Speedo Western Region Short Course Section Championships, Washington

Keep the Ocean Blue North Shore Tow-In Championship, Surfing, Women’s Division

Keiki Oceanfest, Body Boarding

Marimed Foundation, Paddling, Epic Voyage 2010 and Training

Na Kama Kai Ocean Clinic, Ocean Awareness and Safety Instruction

Na Wahine O Ke Kai/Molokai Hoe, Paddling, Molokai to Oahu Canoe Races

Outrigger Canoe Club, Cline Mann Paddleboard Race, Dad Center Outrigger Canoe Race, and Macfarlane Regatta

Peter Miller Foundation, Surfing, Shorebreak Classic

Pure Light Racing, Paddling, 2010 Time Trials in San Diego

Rainbow Aquatics Swim Team, 2010 Speedo Western Region Short Course Section Championships, Washington

Swim With Mike, Hawaii Swim-a-Thon Fundraiser for the Physically Challenged

Team Hawaii, Aloha Surf, U.S. Lifeguard Association Nationals Competition, California

Team Piko Volleyball Club, USA Volleyball Junior National Championships, Nevada

Women’s Pipeline Pro, Surfing, Long & Short Board Surfing and Bodyboarding