"In Hawaii, we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with aloha, which means love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the world’s center of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with Aloha. You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed. Aloha to you."

Any Hawaii waterman or waterwoman worth his or her saltwater knows "Duke’s Creed" as stated by Hawaii’s first Olympian and world ambassador of surfing.

It is how Duke Paoa Kahanamoku lived his life, sharing his simple yet profound belief system. It is the essence of aloha.

It is why, of the more than $165,000 in scholarships awarded this year by the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, one was considered worth even more than the $10,000 check written. That is the honor of being named the Duke Kahanamoku Ambassador of Aloha.

Stanford-bound Maluhia Stark-Kinimaka of Kauai was named the award’s seventh recipient at Monday’s ODKF mahalo luncheon at Outrigger Canoe Club. The recent Kapaa High graduate was unable to attend due to a surf competition in California, but her gratitude and humility were evident in the videotape shown courtesy of HawaiiNewsNow.

"When I learned of this, there were tears of joy," she said. "My options were to turn pro on the surf tour or attend Stanford. The $10,000 will allow me to attend Stanford and study aerospace engineering.

"The award continues the values I learned from my family. My parents (Titus and Robin) taught me the ways of the ocean and the ways of aloha."

Stark-Kinimaka’s father is Titus Kinimaka, a legendary waterman and renowned big-wave surfer. The family runs the Hawaiian School of Surfing in Hanalei.

Stark-Kinimaka had a 4.3 GPA at Kapaa High, ranking her No. 1 in her class. She also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, was a champion swimmer for Kapaa, and is a member of the Hawaii Junior Olympic Surf and Junior National Lifesaving All-Star teams.

"We had many deserving finalists," ODKF president Bill Pratt said. "The Ambassador of Aloha" award personifies Duke’s spirit. It’s about academics, athletics, leadership and community service. But most of all, it’s about having the Hawaiian heart.

"Maluhia shares aloha wherever she goes."

Sixty-five other Hawaii high school graduates received scholarships to help continue their athletic careers in college. Ten events, eight teams and five individuals also received ODKF grants involving sports associated with Kahanamoku: swimming, surfing, paddling, water polo and volleyball.

A complete list of awards is available at dukefoundation.org Opens in a new tab.