If you’ve ever been to Hawaii (specifically the island of Oahu) and walked by Waikiki, the island's most famous beach, you’ve no doubt seen a bronze statue of a massive man in the sand. This man has his colossal surfboard standing tall behind him, and his arms spread open wide and draped with leis. This man welcomes all to Waikiki, and if you look at the plaque at his feet, you can see his name. Waterman, by David Davis, is a biography of Duke (Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola) Kahanamoku and his legacy. Duke is descended from the Hawaiian royal family, and an incredibly famous sportsman from Oahu, one of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s safe to say even now he is the most famous surfer in the world, and he definitely was when he brought surfing outside Hawaii. From breaking the records for the 50 and 100 meter swim by almost 2 and 5 seconds, bringing his school soccer team and waterpolo team to the top, creating his own surf and sea club after being rejected by the another club, and of course his surfing, Duke has created an almost unbelievable legacy, and a fair portion of that is indeed legend. This book strives to find the very real and very impressive true legacy of the Hawaiian legend.
As someone who grew up in Honolulu, I’ve strolled past this statue countless times. I’ve heard of Duke, even the tourists staying for the weekend have, but I never really knew anything beyond that he was a famous surfer. I don’t usually enjoy nonfiction, but this book was an exception, and I liked being transported to Duke’s world in Hawaii. This book not only explores his life, but also the political station of Hawaii at the time of his life (1890-1968) and such things as the forceful annexation of Hawaii into the United States and what happened to the Hawaiian Monarchs.
This is a very interesting book, and a good read for anyone interested in Hawaii, watersports, or just interested in learning. If you enjoy any of those topics, this book should be a good read for you.
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