Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)
The true story of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, six-time Olympic swimming champion and legendary surfer who popularized surfing around the world.
Growing up in Honolulu with the Pacific Ocean as his backyard, Duke Kahanamoku learned to swim and surf at a young age. By his early twenties, Duke's lightning-fast swimming won him a place on the 1912 United States Olympic team and a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle race. Over the years Duke struggled with racism and financial troubles, but by the end of his twenty-year Olympic career, he was a six-time medal winner.
Although a swimming champion, Duke's passion was surfing. He traveled the world, introducing surfboarding to Australia and the east and west coasts of the United States. Considered the father of modern surfing, Duke spread his love of the ocean and Hawai'i wherever he went.
Throughout his life Duke Kahanamoku was beloved for his modesty, sportsmanship, and amazing skill in the water. Today he remains a legendary waterman and an inspiration to all to live life with aloha.
aloha: love, kindness, grace, affection, compassion; also traditional Hawaiian greeting or farewell
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
Ellie Crowe has written several award-winning children's books, as well as travel/cultural books on Hawai'i. Her titles have been recognized with the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and on the Texas Bluebonnet Master List. Crowe first heard of Duke Kahanamoku while living in Australia. When she moved to Hawai'i, she found Duke was a hero there too. She lives in Honolulu with her family. You can visit her online at elliecrowe.com.
Richard Waldrep's paintings honoring subjects as varied as the Olympic Games, American music, and history have appeared on thirty-nine US postage stamps. He has also created award-winning illustrations for editorial, publishing, advertising, and corporate clients including Men's Health , U.S. News and World Report , the Washington Post , and Parker Brothers. He lives in Sparks, Maryland.
* "This picture-book biography celebrates the life of champion swimmer and surfer. . . Well researched and fact-filled, this book will appeal to a wide audience of general readers." -- School Library Journal, starred review
"A welcome introduction to a groundbreaking figure rarely covered in books for youth." -- Booklist
"[I]nspiring and absorbing." -- The Horn Book
"The author and illustrator of Surfer of the Century have done a great man justice. What higher praise could there be?" -- The Asian Reporter
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)
Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Carter G. Woodson Award - National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Once Upon a World Children's Book Award - The Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance Library and Archives
Texas Bluebonnet Award Shortlist - Texas Library Association (TLA)
