1 Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was born into a noble, respected Hawaiian family in 1890. His grandfather was a High Hawaiian chief. His father taught Kahanamoku how to swim as a young boy, and soon he was fearless in the water. He spent all his free time on the beach, mastering the ocean waves. He fell in love with the sea and decided to leave school to pursue swimming, canoeing, and the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing.
2 Before long, he drew public attention for his effortless water skills. At 21, Kahanamoku easily qualified for the 1912 U.S. Olympic swim team. He made quite the splash, shattering world records. Kahanamoku won the gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle and took silver alongside his American teammates in the freestyle relay race.
3 In the 1920 Olympics, Kahanamoku did it again. He won gold in both the 100-meter freestyle and the relay. He medaled again in the 1924 Olympics alongside his younger brother and continued his athletic career on the Olympic water polo team in 1932. He represented the U.S. in the Olympics for twenty years but didn't stop there. After his Olympic career, Kahanamoku did not give up on his love for the water. He traveled the world, showcasing his swimming and helping introduce the world to surfing. He brought the sport to California and Australia, where it is popular today!
4 Kahanamoku was beloved for more than just his epic swimming and surfing skills. His charming character and sportsmanship were legendary. While living in California, he acted in nearly thirty Hollywood movies. He made more headlines when he saved eight men from drowning after their boat capsized in the ocean. Kahanamoku's heroic actions inspired lifeguards to begin using surfboards from then on.
5 In 1966, Kahanamoku became the first person to be inducted into both the Swimming and Surfing Halls of Fame. In 1968, on the island of Honolulu, the man considered to be the greatest freestyle swimmer of all time and dubbed "the father of surfing" passed away. He left behind countless fans and admirers, as well as a legacy of ocean love and surfing history.
Surfs Up! The Evolution of Surfing
1 Surfing is a longstanding and popular sport that has evolved over hundreds of years. Although today surfing is thought of as a sport or leisure activity, its roots are rather unique.
2 Cave paintings from 12th century Polynesia show that surfing was once a spiritual way of life. Ancient Tahitians and Samoan warriors used surfing to get warriors in shape for battle. When Polynesians brought surfing to Hawaii, it was still a spiritual art. Taming the ocean and discovering the ocean's mysteries inspired Hawaiians as it had the Polynesians. Eventually, Hawaiian royalty began surfing. This is why surfing is called the "sport of kings."
3 Things changed in the 1820s when European colonists came to Hawaii. Hawaiians were steered away from surfing by Christian missionaries who rejected it. As the missionaries helped pass laws banning Hawaiian practices like hula dancing and the wearing of leis. They also banned surf culture without actually banning surfing. This was the "dark age" in the history of surfing.
4 Later the free-spirited nature of surfing captured the imagination of white American businessmen. They used surfing as a way to draw tourists to Hawaii. This was the beginning of surfing's rise in global popularity. As word got out about surfing as a "sport," interest grew. The American government hired surfers like the "father of surfing" Duke Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian native and record-breaking Olympian, to help introduce surfing to the world.
5 With every decade, surfing culture has evolved. Today, surfing takes place anywhere people can catch waves. In the 1960s, movies and surf music like songs from the Beach Boys helped surfing gain international attention. New inventions and techniques like wetsuits, short boarding, and hotdogging held people's interest.
6 By the 1980s and 1990s, there was an entire brand of surfing-inspired fashion and music. It was around this time that surfing became a competitive sport. Surfing icon Kelly Slater, known as the "Michael Jordan of Surfing," became an ambassador for the sport. He won countless professional surfing contests. In 2021, surfing became an Olympic sport. Two surfing icons, Carissa Moore and Italo Ferreira were crowned surfing's first Olympic Gold Medalists.
7 Over time, surfing and the culture around it have evolved. While many people see it as just another sport, others continue to connect with it on a deeper level. Like the ancient surfers did—many still see surfing as a spiritual way to connect to mother nature.
10.
Based on the passages, what can you infer about Duke Kahanamoku's influence on surfing?
A.He introduced surfing to Hawaii.
B.He popularized surfing in California and Australia.
C.He invented the modern surfboard.
D.He was the first person to surf competitively.
1 answer
Based on the passages, the best inference about Duke Kahanamoku's influence on surfing is:
B. He popularized surfing in California and Australia.
The passage notes that after his Olympic career, Kahanamoku traveled the world to showcase his swimming and helped introduce the world to surfing, specifically mentioning his contributions in California and Australia where the sport is popular today.
