I hesitated for several days before writing a blog post, as most of my time has been spent outside the house, and upon returning, household chores took precedence.
Here is a recounting of the events that transpired over those six days, which have become integral to my narrative.
On the first day, I felt fine; by the second day, a subtle reminder began to tap at my consciousness. By the third day, the voice in my head started to sing, “Duke is waiting.” On the fourth day, I encountered various signs, including a video featuring swimmers, two of whom were eliminated after jumping into the pool, while the last one to jump emerged victorious. On the fifth day, I watched an episode of America’s Got Talent, where a singer with a captivating voice referred to as “Mama Duke” caught my attention (because it mentioned Duke’s name). Then, on the sixth day—today—while showering, the sensation of the water sparked a vision of a photograph of Duke that had been featured after his passing.
Suddenly, I found myself contemplating what to title this blog post. A flurry of suggestions came to mind, but “What Is There to Know?” seemed to resonate perfectly.
Among the various pictures, articles, and memorabilia I have collected about Duke, the image of him on the newspaper headline reading “Duke P. Kahanamoku Dies in Waikiki at 77” is particularly vivid in my memory.
I had intended to save these newspapers for another story about how I discovered them, but it seems the time has come to discuss them. I found these newspapers from a seller on eBay under the username lo_ping, who had them listed for $25. I was immediately drawn to their uniqueness, especially since they were printed in Honolulu, Hawaii, on January 23, 1968—just one day after Duke’s passing on January 22, 1968.
I contacted the seller to inquire if he would be willing to sell them to me for $15, explaining my blog about Duke and my desire to cherish these items. The next day, he responded positively, expressing his willingness to sell them to me, understanding their sentimental value. However, upon revisiting the listing, I noticed the price had changed to $500, leaving me confused. Rather than questioning the price change, I chose to let it go, assuming the seller had reconsidered. Within half an hour, he reached out again, explaining that he had raised the price to deter buyers but encouraged me to make an offer, which he would accept. I promptly did so, and I was relieved to know the newspapers would soon be mine.
After receiving the newspapers a few days later, I emailed the seller to express my gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to own such rare items. Our correspondence led to exchanging phone numbers, and when I inquired about how he came across these newspapers,
This was his response which I copied and pasted it;
Right on! I’m so happy they went to such a good cause! You can put any information you choose in your blog. My name is Jeff Howard, and my store name is lo_ping. Here is a little background on where those papers came from. I purchased a desk from an estate sale, and it was still full of the previous owner’s books, and papers from his military service in Hawaii, and vacations. I mostly threw everything away, but when I came across his surfing memorabilia it just seem to special to discard. Duke’s passing must have made a huge impact on him considering he hung on to those papers for the rest of his life, which was for over 45 years. We gave the desk to my sister-in-law, but my wife too a video of it that I could send you. In the video you can see the papers. I’m so excited to see, and read your blog.
The list of newspapers includes:
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 23, 1968
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 24, 1968
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 27, 1968
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 28, 1968
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 30, 1968
- The Honolulu Advertiser, January 27, 1968
He even sent me a short video of the drawer when they first acquired it, revealing the newspapers buried beneath a pile of papers. I expressed my gratitude to Jeff for not discarding them, as I feel it was fate that allowed me to own these treasures.
This experience has been truly enriching, as I have been able to capture the momentum from an individual who, during his military service in Hawaii, held onto vintage newspapers that clearly had a significant impact on him throughout his life.
Jeff, who purchased the desk at an estate sale and subsequently listed it on eBay, provided a rare opportunity for me to acquire these newspapers at an affordable price. I had long sought a piece that featured Duke’s passing, and I believe I am now the final piece of the puzzle. With these newspapers, the collection is complete and has found a true home.
This blog post stands out as one of the most powerful I have written about Duke, not only due to the experiences I had over the six days leading up to its completion but also because the newspapers contain numerous stories and images from Duke’s life. They capture poignant moments of grief from his wife, Nadine, his brother, Sargent, and the people present at the beach as his ashes were scattered in the ocean, detailing their experiences and the aftermath.
While I have already read all the stories within the newspapers, you may not have, and I look forward to sharing them with you in the form of a blog—one story at a time. I hope that as you read them, you will be transported back in time to when the “Father of Modern Surfing” sailed away.
Speaking of sailing away, I must take my leave for now until the next blog.
And oh, regarding my title, “What Is There to Know?” my response is, “There is much to learn,” especially for someone like me who is deeply interested in the Legacy of Duke Kahanamoku.