HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

142

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the governor to designate the month of august 2002, as the "duke paoa kahanamoku ho'olaulea" to commemorate the lifetime accomplishments of duke paoa kahanamoku.

 

WHEREAS, as reflected by a lifetime of achievement, as well as his kindness, grace, and quiet dignity, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, born August 24, 1890, was a man who truly embodied the spirit of Hawaii in the 20th century; and

WHEREAS, upon the passing of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku on January 22, 1968, the Reverend Abraham Akaka proclaimed that "Duke Kahanamoku represented the alii nobility in the highest and truest sense – concern for others, humility in victory, courage in adversity, good sportsmanship in defeat. He had a quality of life we are all challenged and inspired to emulate.";

and

WHEREAS, in his youth, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku became a master surfer, utilizing a 16-foot long wooden surfboard that weighed 114 pounds, which eventually lead to his current recognition as the "father of international surfing" and his selection to the International Surfing Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku's many other athletic accomplishments included setting United States records in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle swim, dominating the swimming events at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, including setting the world record in the 100-meter freestyle; competing and winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in subsequent Olympic Games in 1920, 1924, and 1932; and being a charter member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku also served the people of Hawaii in public office with distinction as Sheriff of the City and County of Honolulu, for 13 consecutive terms from 1935 to 1960; and

WHEREAS, because Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was an outstanding representative for Hawaii and the United States, a role model for the youth of our nation, and continues to be an inspiration to all, his family, the Nadine Laka Kahanamoku Scholars program at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the family of F. Kamakaopiopio Clarke Myamoto, the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, the Surfrider Foundation, the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, and countless numbers of individuals throughout Hawaii, the United States, and the world petitioned the United States Postal Service to honor the memory of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku by designing and issuing a postage stamp bearing his likeness; and

WHEREAS, to commemorate what would have been his 100th birthday in 1990, the Honolulu City Council renamed Fort DeRussy Beach Park in honor of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, and the Hawaii State Legislature requested that the United States Postal Service honor his memory through House Concurrent Resolution No. 42, Regular Session of 1990; and

WHEREAS, on August 24, 2002, the 112th anniversary of his birth, the United States Postal Service will oversee the unveiling and dedication of the first date of issuance of a postage stamp bearing the likeness of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku for general circulation throughout the United States; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Governor is requested to designate the month of August 2002 as the "Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Ho`olaulea" to commemorate the lifetime accomplishments of Hawaii's goodwill ambassador to the world with a multitude of recreational ocean, family, and cultural activities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Hawaii Congressional delegation, the Nadine Laka Kahanamoku Scholars program at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the family of F. Kamakaopiopio Clarke Myamoto, the

Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, the Surfrider Foundation, and the family of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Ho`olaulea