Duke Kahanamoku's Poem

Have you ever heard of a legendary hawaiian swimmer, surfer and an all around person? Well if you haven’t, let’s dive in and see who. Duke Kahanamoku was an outstanding and legendary hawaiian. He was born in August 24, 1890 - Died in January 22, 1968. He was Hawaii’s best-known citizen. Duke was a sports champion and a media celebrity. Duke popularized surfing among generations, and around the world. He was a cultural icon also a superb athlete. Duke Kahanamoku grew up in kalia district of the island of honolulu. Duke grew up in one of the most turbulent periods in Hawaii’s history. When Captain James Cook, british explorer, he arrived on the hawaiian islands. He brang with his crew ship a lot of diseases, new cultural ways, and white people. The diseases cut the island population from 300,000 people to just 40,000 in 1893. Because of Duke Kahanamoku privileged family, his childhood was untouched by the political controversies that was happening in that period. Besides
He first started in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) swimming event held in hawaii. Kahanamoku won the swimming race, the time of 55.4 seconds.He swam the 50-yard swimming by the time of 24.2 seconds, it tied up with the world record.The AAU was surprised on how fast he was at a young adult age. He focused on making the U.S Olympic Men’s swimming Team. Duke was set to compete in the Stockholm for the 1912 games. Then U.S moved on to the qualifying meet in Philadelphia for 100-meter freestyle, Duke swept the field by the time of 60 seconds. Once again in 1920 Olympic games in Antwerp, Belgium, Kahanamoku made it to the U.S Team again. He participated in the 100-meter and the 800-meter freestyle swimming. Duke was a 30 year old swimming in the Olympic Games, but set another world record. 61.4 seconds but he again proved himself mastery of this sport and made 60.4 seconds the 800-meter freestyle swimming