surfresearch

pods for primates : a catatogue of surfboards in australia since 1900

surfresearch.com.au
duke kahanamoku : december 1914

DUKE PAOA KAHANAMOKU'S AUSTRALIAN VISIT
Newspaper Extracts : 9th December 1914 - 23rd December 1914

Sydney Morning Herald
9 December 1914 page 6. KAHANAMOKU AND PARTY Mr. W. W. W. Hill, hon. secretary of the Australian Swimming Union, has received a cable from Mr W.T. Rawlins, president of the Hawaiian Amateur Athletic Union, stating that Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, Francis Evans and George Cunhu left on Honolulu on the Ventura on November 30.
Francis Evans is evidently the manager of the party, and has taken Mr Rawlin's place as it was expected that the enthusiasts had done most in the development of Kahanamoku would come in charge of the team.
George Cunha is also famous as sprint swimmer and has secured many seconds to his companion. He has covered the hundred yards in 57 seconds and the 50 yards in 24 seconds, and it is quite possible that both first and second place may go to the visitors in the hundred yards championship.
Sydney Morning Herald
16 December 1914 page 6. KAHANAMOKU'S ARRIVAL ...
The arrival of Kahanamoku and party by the Ventura last Monday has formed the completing a link in the great swimminging celebrations, which are to take place in Sydney on January 2, 6 and 9.
It is the first time that Australia has entertained an international swimmer, and as as the present visitor is the world's best exponent, it makes the occasion the more memorable. Duke Paoa Kahanamoku will find greater opposition in Sydney than any other part of the globe, and the entertainment at the Domain Baths should compare favourably with any other swimming function that has been held elsewhere.
George Cunha, who is accompaning Kahanamoku as swimming companion, is a performer of very high merit over distances from 50 to 220 yards, and has he has covered the 100 yards in 57 s, it is just possible that is possible that he may also outclass our best exponents in the sprint championship. Francis Evans is manager, and has acted on several occasions with Mr Rawlins on tour with the Hawiian teams in America.
They are members of the Hui Nalu Club, and the party will attend the Randwick and Coogee gala to-night, and Sydney- Melbourne contest on Saturday.
Sydney Morning Herald
23 December 1914 page 6. KAHANAMOKU CARNIVALS

The fine swimming in the Sydney Melbourne club contests forecasts a strenuous and exciting time in connection with the Kahamamoku carnivals.
...
Next Tuesday the association will hold an exhibition for school-children throughout the metropolitan area.
The city council has granted them the free use of the gallery and 5000 tickets have been issued to the schools.
The program will include exhibitions by Duke Paoa Kahanamoku and George Cunha (Hawaii), Ivan Steadman (Victoria), and our best local exponents

Kahamamoku has decided not to compete in the longer distances.
He is not a distance or middle distance swimmer.
However, on this tour he has agreed to swim in all championships up and up to and including the quarter-mile; and will appear in the hundred yards on January 2, 440 yd. on January 6 and 220 yd. on January 9.
His companion, Geo. Cunha, will swim in the 100 yards and the 220 yards events on the two Saturdays, and will swim in the first-class handicap on the mid week gala.
Probably an attempt will be made on the 50 yards or 75 yards record, or a teams relay race over 220 yd., two men each racing 110 yards, will be arranged.
The matter will be settled within the next day or so by the executive of the A.S.A.
The second is the termination of the Melbourne club to compete at the carnivals is gratifying....

The Australian Swimming Union received a cable message from the secretary-treasurer of the Amateur Athletic Union of United States, through the Hawaiian Athletic Sssociation, vouching for the ameteur standing of George Cunha and the Duke Kahamamoku, and granting them permission to compete in Australia.
A similar statement asked for by the United States athletic union regarding the understanding of the Australian swimmers, was cabled.

The Sun
23 December 1914 page 5. FAST- SWIMMING.
KAHANAMOKU DID NOT SHOW.
100 YARDS CHAMPIONSHIP
(BY W. F. C. CORBETT.) The swimming authorities have heard that through the publication of a paragraph yesterday to the effect that Kahanamoku would give an exhibition in the surf at Freshwater, Manly, some 2000 or 3000 people who assembled there to watch the show were disappolnted.
The famous Hawaiian did not put in an appearance, and he was not expected to do- so by those controlling his visit to this country.
The association wishes it to be made knownn that the "Duke's" first appearance in publlc will take place on the openlng day (January 2) of the championship carnival at the Municlpal Baths, Domain.
The announcement of any other arrangement with Kahanamoku as the central flgure has not that body's authority.

Longworth, Barry, and Cunha (Kahanamoku's companion) put up some speedy performances In the Municipal Baths, Domain, yesterday.
Longworth covered 440 yards in 5min. 30sec., Barry got over 110 yards in 1min. 2sec., which is only 3-5 seconds slower than Kahanamoku's world's 100 metres (slightly less than 110 yards) record,
accomplished at the Olympic Games held in Stockholm, two years ago.
Barry, it might be mentloned, is being trained in gymnasium work by Mr. Snowy Baker, for the forthcoming contests which are sure to excite world-wide interest.

Cunha's contribution to the swimming sensations of yesterday was 100 yards in 57sec.
Entrles for the several events In connectlon with the approaching championship meetlng,
have closed, and are unusually numerous.
Mr. Hay, the association organiser for the carnival, spent the whole day Monday and the greater part of the night receiving them.
Those who will compete for the 100 yards honors are:- Duke Paoa Kahanamoku..:
George Cunha, W. Longworth. A. Barry, LO. Solomons, H. M. Hay, G. Wyld, J. Huie, Tas Jones, E. G. Finlay, J. Stedman. B. G. Page.

Notes.
“Non – Demonstration”, promoted for the 22nd December 1914.
Since the NSW Swimming Association had Duke Kahanamoku under exclusive contract and publicizing his first public appearance as 2nd January at the Domain Baths, the proposed surfing demonstration was in legal dispute.
The result was that Duke did not make an appearance, much to the disappointment of a crowd estimated between 2000 - 3000 people.

Autographed Postcard, Feb 11, 1915.
E. S. Marks was prominant in Sydney sports.
Sydney's premier athletic track is named
The E.S. Marks Field.
Postcard reproduced from private collection.