Today’s blog highlights Duke Kahanamoku’s involvement in yacht racing, an intriguing aspect among the many roles he embraced throughout his life.
My exploration into this topic was sparked by a previous story about his NADU boat, which led me to discover the Trans-Pacific Yacht Race.
Allow me to share how I pieced this narrative together.
If you have not yet read my earlier posts about Duke, featured on this site, let me recount the moment I decided to blog about him. I believe that the Universe, and perhaps Duke’s spirit, conspired to expand his legacy even though he passed before my time.
In February 2025, I stumbled upon one of his trading cards among a box of athlete cards I owned. I was struck by his striking appearance, which piqued my interest. Within a month, I began uncovering a wealth of articles and tidbits about him.
Even my friend Ryan goes- it is very impressive of my accumulation of ephemera about Duke for such a very short period of time.
During a recent thrifting excursion, I made a silent request: “Duke, help me find you among the books.” Although I didn’t locate anything in the books, I turned and noticed a magazine nestled on a shelf, untouched despite the presence of others nearby. Drawn to it, I flipped to the center and discovered his photograph. This moment validated my belief that “time and space” are mere constructs; life is a continuous journey where nothing is ever truly lost.
Returning to my narrative, I recently found a book titled Memories of Duke: A Legend Comes to Life, which features a page depicting Duke with a beard. The accompanying article detailed his role as Boatswain aboard the Manu’ iwa in 1934. This yacht, captained by Harold Dillingham, sailed from San Pedro, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, covering the grueling 2,200 miles in an impressive 12 days, 9 hours, 29 minutes, and 56 seconds, securing first place honors which was embedded on his mind as he described it.
This achievement must have been a significant milestone for Duke, who had only taken up sailing two years prior to the race. Notably, Duke was seen sporting a beard during the event, as there were no razors available on board. It was also mentioned that as they approached Moloka’i, a navy plane dropped leis and poi, Duke’s favorite foods.
During this period, Duke often claimed to be one of the first individuals to have crossed the ocean from Hawaii to California using four different methods: by sail, by streamers, by oil-fired engine, and by airplane. This assertion prompted me to investigate whether there were any articles or magazines covering the race. Initially, I faced challenges pinpointing the exact month and year to locate supporting documents.
As often happens, the information I sought materialized when I discovered the July 30, 1934, edition of Time Magazine. I began researching vintage magazines online and found a few listings, though the prices for vintage issues were often steep.
I was particularly drawn to a seller on eBay, @uclalumni_90, and inquired about an article referencing the yacht race from California to Diamond Head. The following day, I received a response with the image I sought. After negotiating for just that page, I promptly made the purchase.
When the magazine arrived yesterday, I quickly located the page I had been searching for. To my surprise, the cover featured a man who resembled someone from one of Duke’s stories, but that will be a topic for another post.
Last night, while reviewing a PDF of the Trans-Pacific Yacht Race, I discovered a photograph of Duke alongside Harold G. Dillingham that bore a striking resemblance to the image in my book. This revelation was fortuitous, as I initially hesitated to cut that page from my book.
Additionally, I found a page detailing Duke’s role as the Executive of the Offshore Greeting Committee in Honolulu during one of the races. This position was fitting, as wherever Duke Kahanamoku went, he drew a crowd.
He was one D-man of his time!
With this curiosity puzzle now resolved, I look forward to sharing my next topic soon.
Stay tuned!
