A wonderful life

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku

>> Aug. 24, 1890: Born at Hale‘akala, Honolulu home of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

>> 1911: Co-founds Hui Nalu Surf Club.

>> Aug. 11, 1911: Breaks freestyle world records at 100 and 220 yards in Honolulu Harbor, recognized years later by the AAU.

>> 1912: Hawaii’s first Olympian. Wins gold (100 free record) and silver (4×200 free relay) at Stockholm Games; popularizes surfing during swimming and surfing exhibitions on both coasts of the mainland.

>> Dec. 24, 1914: Gives surfing exhibition at Sydney’s Freshwater Beach, widely regarded as a seminal event in the development of surfing in Australia. Surfboard, made of Australian pine, remains at the Freshwater Surf Club.

>> 1916: Favored to win a second consecutive 100-free gold, but Olympics canceled due to World War I.

>> 1920: Wins two golds (100 free and 4×200 free relay, both records) at Antwerp games.

>> 1924: Wins silver (100 free) at Paris games.

>> Aug. 24, 1927: As a capacity crowd of 7,000 watches, celebrates 37th birthday with first swim in the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium.

>> 1932: Alternate on water polo team that won bronze at Los Angeles games.

>> 1934-1960: Elected for 13 consecutive terms as sheriff of Honolulu.

>> Aug. 2, 1940: Marries Nadine Alexander in Kailua-Kona.

>> 1960: Appointed “Ambassador of Aloha” after his sheriff’s position was eliminated upon statehood.

>> 1965: Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

>> 1966: First inductee in the International Surfing Hall of Fame, becoming the first to be inducted into both the swimming and surfing halls of fame.

>> May 1966: Shows England’s queen mother how to hula during her visit to Hawaii.

>> December. 1966: Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championships telecast on CBS, with an estimated 50 million viewers making it the largest audience to watch a surfing competition.

>> Jan. 22, 1968: Dies in Honolulu after suffering heart attack at Waikiki Yacht Club.

>> Jan. 27, 1968: Ashes scattered off “First Break” in beachboy funeral attended by thousands on Waikiki Beach.

>> 1978: Inducted as part of the inaugural class of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame; Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex opens at the University of Hawaii.

>> 1984: Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame.

>> Aug. 24, 1990: Statue dedicated at Kuhio Beach as part of 100th-birthday celebration.

>> Aug. 24, 2002: U.S. Postal Service issues the Duke Kahanamoku 37-cent stamp.

>> 2010: Inducted as part of the inaugural class of the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame.