Description

Duke Kahanamoku Legacy Study

This is a secular, open-and-go unit study for families who believe history should be honest, inclusive, and intersectional.

Duke Kahanamoku was more than a champion swimmer and legendary surfer. He was a Kānaka Maoli waterman, lifeguard, actor, public servant, and Ambassador of Aloha whose life carried Hawaiʻi into the world. His story offers learners an entry point into a larger, living history of Hawaiʻi: its people, culture, political sovereignty, colonization, resistance, and enduring resurgence.

Through readings, discussion, activities, and reflection, learners explore Duke’s achievements in swimming, surfing, and ocean rescue alongside the racial barriers and colonial systems that shaped his world. They are invited to consider how Duke remained rooted in his people, his ocean, and his values while moving through spaces that often excluded Indigenous people and people of color.

In this 29 page study, learners will:

• Trace important moments in Duke’s life alongside key events in Hawaiian history.
• Explore the meaning of aloha, cultural pride, resilience, and responsibility to community.
• Learn about Duke’s influence on swimming, surfing, water rescue, and global culture.
• Examine racism, colonization, and cultural survival through an age-appropriate, family-guided lens.
• Practice critical thinking by noticing whose voices are centered in stories about Hawaiʻi.
• Connect Indigenous knowledge, ocean stewardship, community care, and climate responsibility.
• Respond through open-ended prompts, activities, and a flexible Legacy Choice Board.

Inside, families will find carefully chosen readings and discussion materials, vocabulary support, creative and hands-on activities, flexible prompts for different ages and learning styles, and own-voice resources to explore at their own pace.

Please note: This study includes discussions of colonization and racism. You know your learners best, so adapt the material according to your family’s ages, needs, and interests. We encourage families to approach Hawaiʻi and Kānaka Maoli history with humility, curiosity, and care—and to seek out additional Pasifika-created and Kānaka Maoli–centered resources alongside this study.