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"Duke" by Moses Goods
With Opener The Liliʻu Project
Proudly presented by OUTRIGGER Resorts & Anaina Hou Community Parks
Award-winning actor, writer and storyteller Moses Goods brings to life one of the most important and beloved figures in Hawaiian history in his acclaimed one-person show, "Duke." Through this poignant and powerful play, Goods portrays the remarkable life of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku — Hawaiʻi's first Olympic gold medalist, the father of modern surfing, and an enduring symbol of aloha, humility and the resilience of the Hawaiian people.
Duke Kahanamoku's life was nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Honolulu in 1890, he shattered world swimming records, won five Olympic medals across three Games, rode a wave off Waikīkī more than a mile atop a wooden surfboard, saved eight lives from a capsized yacht in southern California, appeared in more than two dozen Hollywood films, and served twelve terms as Sheriff of the City and County of Honolulu. He carried the spirit of aloha to every corner of the world — and brought the world to Hawaiʻi.
But beyond the accolades and fame, Duke experienced something equally profound: Hawaiʻi's passage from an independent Kingdom through the difficult decades of territorial rule and into statehood. Known for his kindness and love of community, Duke became far more than a champion; he became a role model and an ongoing source of inspiration for all.
ANAINA HOU COMMUNITY PARK
A non-profit, community-gathering place on Kauaʻi's North Shore, rooted in the diverse history of these islands and dedicated to honoring the culture that calls us to mālama the land, sea, and one another. Through public and private partnerships, Anaina Hou serves the greater island community through education, health and public safety, environmental stewardship, and quality entertainment.
INAMONA
A non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Native Hawaiian stories by providing resources in film, storytelling and theatrical arts to the community. Moses Goods founded INAMONA and serves as its artistic director.
THE LILIʻU PROJECT - MUSICAL SET: A DEEPER STORY & REUNION
Prior to the presentation of "Duke," The Liliʻu Project will perform - exploring the musical legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani, one of Hawaiʻi's most prolific and significant haku mele and widely known as the Hawaiian Kingdom's last reigning Sovereign. The ensemble endeavors to remember Liliʻuokalani through the study and sharing of her mele, memoirs and other writings.
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was born a citizen of the Hawaiian Kingdom under the rule of Queen Liliʻuokalani. He learned to swim one year after the overthrow of the Kingdom and Queen.
In 2015, Moses Goods commissioned The Liliʻu Project to compose and record the score of "Duke," in collaboration with Goods. Award-winning Project members Starr Kalāhiki (singer), John Signor (multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator) and Honybal Sosa (guitarist and composer) contributed to the score. All three are reuniting with Goods this summer - performing mele composed by or for Queen Liliʻuokalani prior to the August 22, 2026 presentation of "Duke" at The Porter Pavilion.
