- He was sheriff of Honolulu for twenty (20) years.
- In June, 1925, he was credited with saving the lives of eight people when the yacht they were on capsized. Duke used his surfboard to save their lives.
- His open-air Waikiki Beachfront bar and restaurant, called simply "Duke's," on the ground level of the Sheraton Outrigger Waikiki in Honolulu, remains a major tourist attraction. Many of Duke's legendary (surfing) long-boards, as well as those of other famed surfers, adorn the walls, along with other Duke memorabilia.
- While sheriff of Honolulu in the 1930's, Duke and his brother Sam were both lovers of tobacco heiress Doris Duke and were frequent guests at Shangri-La, her nearby oceanfront estate.
- Brother Sam was also an Olympic swimmer.
- Elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1965. He made his first Olympics appearance in 1912 and his last in 1932.
- Inducted into the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) as an "International Surfing Icon for [his] contributions to bringing Surfing to New Jersey".
- Won silver medal 100 Meter Swimming Freestyle (Johnny Weissmuller won the gold) at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- Won gold medal in the 100 Meter Swimming Freestyle at the 1912 & 1920 Summer Olympics. Also was part of the gold medal winning 4X200 Meter Freestyle Relay team at the 1920 games.
- Won a total of three gold and two silver medals.
- Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, 1984.
- Olympic swimmer
- Pictured on a USA 37¢ commemorative postage stamp issued 24 August 2002 (112th anniversary of his birth).
- On Kuhio Beach, a bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku welcomes you to Waikiki with open arms.
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