U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for August 24: Duke Kahanamoku
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature for August 24 from the U.S. Census Bureau:
Profile America Wednesday, August 24th. Today marks the birthday of one of Hawaii’s most famous Duke Kahanamoku. A powerful swimmer, he won five medals at four different Olympics, retiring from competition at the age of 42. He’s credited with inventing the flutter kick, but is best remembered for his efforts to popularize surfing earning him the unofficial title, "father of international surfing" Preferring old Hawaiian style boards, he often used a surfboard 16 feet long and weighing 114 pounds. He once rode a wave off Waikik Beach for nearly two miles. When Duke Kahanamoku began his Olympic swimming, Hawaii was home to about 200-thousand people. Today, about 1.3-million call the island chain home. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at http://www.census.gov.
Sources: Chase’s Calendar of Events 2005, p. 438
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2004-2005, t. 17
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-04.html
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970: p. 26
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Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments ready to air on a monthly CD or on Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button). For further information, contact Rick Reed at 301-763-2812, fax at 301-457-3670, or e-mail at rreed@census.gov.
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