August 23-29, 2009

The 8th Annual Duke’s OceanFest, Waikiki’s premier ocean sports festival, is celebrating the greatness of Hawaii’s most famous beach resort with a week of exciting competitions and special events, August 23-29.

A wide variety of events are capturing the fun and spirit of Waikiki Beach, including surfing, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, and beach volleyball, and all is being done in tribute to the legendary Duke Kahanamoku.  An Olympic swimming champion and revered as the “Father of International Surfing,”  Duke Kahanamoku honed his amazing skills in Waikiki’s waters a century ago. Later in life, he was appointed as Hawaii’s official “Ambassador of Aloha.”

“The entire week is just a blast,” said Jim Fulton, president of Duke’s OceanFest.  “Competitors and spectators come from around the world to enjoy Waikiki Beach at its best and say mahalo for Duke Kahanamoku and all he has meant to Hawaii.”

Proceeds raised by Duke’s OceanFest support the foundation established in Duke’s legacy, the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (ODKF). The mission of ODKF is to provide college scholarships and athletic grants to outstanding Hawaii scholar-athletes competing in water sports and volleyball.

On July 13, ODKF announced the awarding of $191,000 in scholarship and grant awards to 95 Hawaii recipients, comprised of 60 college-bound scholar-athletes receiving scholarships and 35 individuals and nonprofit organizations receiving grants.

Following is a listing of events for Duke’s OceanFest. For the schedule of surf competition times, check ODKF’s website at www.dukefoundation.org or visit the official OceanFest event site near Duke’s Statue from August 26-29.

AUGUST 23, 10AM – DUKE’S ALOHA HO‘OMANA CEREMONY
Duke’s OceanFest week begins with a traditional Hawaiian ceremony celebrating Duke Kahanamoku’s spirit of aloha. Free and open to the public. 
Location: Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa

AUGUST 24, 7AM – DUKE KAHANAMOKU SUNRISE BLESSING
Duke Kahanamoku’s 119th birthday anniversary is honored with a traditional Hawaiian blessing at his majestic statue.
Location: Duke Kahanamoku Statue, Waikiki

AUGUST 25, 8PM – TOES ON THE NOSE KICK-OFF PARTY
Featuring live music by Sashamon and his blend of Hawaiian, rock and reggae.  Free and open to the public.
Location: Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber, Waikiki

AUGUST 26, 6PM – TOES ON THE NOSE RABBIT KEKAI AUTOGRAPH SIGNING PARTY
A protégé of Duke Kahanamoku who grew up in Waikiki, Rabbit Kekai popularized hot-dogging on short boards and was a master canoe paddler.
Location: Hotel Renew Lobby, 129 Paoakalani Avenue, Waikiki

AUGUST 26 – ACCESSURF CHALLENGED ATHLETE SURFING
This inspiring competition highlights the therapeutic benefits of surfing for the physically challenged.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 26-27 – C4 WATERMAN STAND-UP BEACH BOY PADDLE SURFING
Paddle surfing has grown tremendously in popularity with today’s ocean sports athletes and this exciting event shows why.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 26-27 – SENOR FROG’S WAVEOFGOODDEEDS.COM ITSA/ISA TANDEM WORLD TITLE
This competition shows that a surfing duet on the board is better than going solo.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 26-28 – TOES ON THE NOSE RABBIT KEKAI PRO LONGBOARD CLASSIC
This international longboard surfing meet has moved from Costa Rica to Hawaii and will have longboarders
competing for a $10,000 purse.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 26-29 – ISLAND HERITAGE LOGO SHOP
Specially produced event shirts, hats, visors and other items on sale. Proceeds benefit ODKF’s scholarships and grants program. Location: OceanFest Event Site, near Duke’s Statue

AUGUST 27, 4-6PM – WAIKIKI BEACH BOYS CELEBRATION
Waikiki’s famed beach boys and old friends of Duke gather to swap stories.
Location: Duke’s Waikiki Restaurant

AUGUST 27, 8:15PM – “THE RIDE” – FREE SCREENING
Presented by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, this captivating tale follows a surfer who’s carried back in time to 1911 and meets a young Duke Kahanamoku. Open to the public.
Location: Outrigger Reef on the Beach, poolside

AUGUST 27-28 – GIDGET WOMEN’S PRO OPEN
The world’s best women longboarders compete to be queen of Queen’s Surf and for a purse of $7,500.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 28, 4PM – OUTRIGGER HOTELS AND RESORTS WATERMAN CHALLENGE
Teams of skilled watermen square off in this thrilling relay race that combines swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, and canoe paddling.
Location: Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, beachfront

AUGUST 28, 6PM – SENOR FROG’S SALUTE TO THE LEGENDS
Meet waveofgooddeeds.com tandem and longboard surfers taking part in this year’s Duke’s OceanFest.  Three hours free parking.
Location: Royal Hawaiian Center, above Cartier and Fendi

AUGUST 28-29 – CORONA US OPEN OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL MEN’S OPEN QUALIFYING EVENT
Sixteen two-person teams compete in this beach volleyball tournament. Teams wanting to enter should call Randy Morris at (808) 389-7633. Times: Aug. 28: 12-7pm; Aug. 29: 7am-5:30pm.
Location: Kuhio Beach, Waikiki

AUGUST 28-29 – HAWAIIAN AIRLINES DUKE’S LEGENDS SURF CLASSIC
Teams of amateurs surf with the sport’s legends in this event run like a pro-style surf meet, complete with heats, judges, public address announcer, and exhibit booths.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 29, 8AM – DUKE’S WAIKIKI OCEAN MILE SWIM
This open ocean sprint along the Waikiki shoreline attracts hundreds of swimmers, including many from the mainland.
Location: Duke’s Waikiki Restaurant, beachfront

AUGUST 29, 8AM-3PM – SURF POLO TOURNAMENT
Six-person teams play water polo in Waikiki the way Duke and his beach boy friends did in the old days – on surfboards!
Location: Kapahulu Groin, Waikiki

AUGUST 29, 10AM – LEI MAKING FOR DUKE’S STATUE
Presented by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, the public is invited to string together strands of fresh flower lei that will be used to decorate Duke’s Statue later that afternoon.
Location: Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach

AUGUST 29, 11AM – HAWAII PADDLEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP
Presented by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, “Duke’s Race” challenges paddle boarders in this sprint from Hawaii Kai to Waikiki. Location: Start 11am at Maunalua Bay, finish 12:15pm at Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 29, 1:15PM – CORONA EXTRA NOSERIDING INVITATIONAL
Surfers show their board-riding skills on the waves of Waikiki.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 29, 4:45PM – LEI DRAPING OF DUKE KAHANAMOKU’S STATUE
A sidewalk surfboard parade along Kalakaua Avenue starting at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach leads to the decorating of Duke’s Statue with beautiful fresh flower lei.
Location: Queen’s Surf, Waikiki

AUGUST 29, 6PM – THE GREAT HAWAIIAN 105 KINE LUAU
Great times, great food and the music of Hawaii in this festive Waikiki beachfront party that concludes Duke’s OceanFest! Location: Waikiki Aquarium
Note: Luau tickets available during OceanFest at the Hawaiian Airlines Legends Tent near Duke’s Statue.

AUGUST 29, 7PM – “DUKE KAHANAMOKU: HAWAII’S SOUL” ON KGMB9
This beautifully produced 60-minute TV documentary by Phil Arnone and KGMB9 captures the life, legacy
and lifetime of accomplishments of Duke Kahanamoku.