Duke Kahanamoku was the original waterman and he father of international surfing. His legend is spread through his involvement in surfing, swimming, and his ability to showcase the Aloha spirit at it's best. The Olympian was a youthful reminder of the things that people born and raised in Hawaii are capable of. Duke himself, was born and raised in Honolulu. His love for the water was apparent in his passion for sharing it, and competing.

The week of August 21-28 will not only be an ocean sport packed celebration in Duke's honor, but also in honor of some of the other local legends of the water. The 2011 Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame will be inducting a new class into it's ranks on the evening of August 21st. Among the new inductees are local female legends such as Ethel Kukea, Dominator of women's surfing in Hawaii during the 1950s, and Aileen Soule, a swimmer and diver who, at age 14, won a gold medal in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

The event schedule is as follows:

On Aug. 24th, Duke's Birthday, after the 7am Lei ceremony, the Toes on the Nose longboard classic, tandem surfing and "legends contest," all begin and continue through Fri., Aug. 26.

The Hawaii Paddleboard Championships and Duke's Waikiki Ocean Mile Swim are set for Sat., Aug. 27. The 10-mile paddleboard race will begin at 11 a.m. in Maunalua Bay, near Hawaii Kai. The swim race begins at 9 a.m. , starts and wraps up on Waikiki Beach.

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Eddie King - Wahine Sports Network