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Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968) was an Olympic swimmer from Hawaii, who participated in four Olympic Games from 1912 through 1924 and won a total of five medals. He is considered to be the father of modern surfing, doing much to promote the sport and to mold the rules that govern it.

In the 1930s Duke Kahanamoku began an association with Kahala Sportswear, a maker of Hawaiian shirts. In 1949 he had his name on shirts by Cisco, a New York company. During the 1980s Catalina sportswear had a Duke Kahanamoku label. Today, Kai Clothing holds a license for the Duke Kahanamoku name.

Written by fuzzylizzie


from a 1930s/1940s beach jacket - Courtesy of baileysalohashirts

from a 1930s/1940s beach jacket

Courtesy of baileysalohashirts

from a late 1940s shirt - Courtesy of thespectrum

from a late 1940s shirt

Courtesy of thespectrum

from an early 1960s shirt - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from an early 1960s shirt

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1960s shirt - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1960s shirt

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1980s shirt - Courtesy of glamoursurf

from a 1980s shirt

Courtesy of glamoursurf