Find out more about my book, The Silver Swan: In Search of Doris Duke, now available in paperback.
Doris Duke and Sam Kahanamoku
Doris’ ease with her tallness—she measured 6’1” in her twenties when she claimed Hawaii for her own—meant that she was used to taking up space; she was also an accomplished dancer who knew the secret of balance: slightly bent knees. Her comfort with her own body shows in her girlhood photos where she often sits on a low step, patting her dog, knees spread wide, which even today seems to be forbidden to many girls and women, at least those who occasionally wear skirts.
She knew her effect on people, especially men, how she could bewitch and bewilder them, with her sphinx smile and slit eyes, her off-hand, askance look, as though the person in front of her was only appearing in her peripheral vision. She had seen her effect fascinate and terrify about equally her first husband, whom she would eventually divorce, her mother, her classmates at her girls’ school in New York, and the servants in her parent’s Manhattan mansion, one of whom remembered her bounding all over the house, kicking up her legs, probably the first and the last time that austere habitat had witnessed such high jinks.
Long before Title Nine released money and made laws that opened sports to women in schools and colleges, Doris Duke made physical movement her own. To stand on Sam Kahanamoku’s shoulders was to claim her place in the world as a figurehead, a beacon, a woman with “too much money,” as one demeaning book is titled, too much power, too much imagination.
She would suffer, of course, because of who she was—scandals, rumors, more attention than, later on, she wanted. But nothing could prevent her from seizing that moment in the surf at Hawaii when she reared high in the air, arms thrown back and chin lifted, exulting in her power to do what she wanted.
[As Peter points out in the comments below, we learned several months after this post was originally written that the photo is of Duke Kahanamoku and Viola Hartmann, tandem surfing in California, circa 1922. Not Doris Duke as originally stated.]
Amazing! When will new DD bio be coming out?
Patrick, the pub date has not been set. The manuscript is due June 15, 2015.
Editing a novel about an elite female surfer set in the near-future, when surfing is an Olympic sport; thrilled to learn that Doris Duke led the way. So eager to read this bio, Sallie!
particularly when the board was 8 feet long and weighed 60 lbs
Thanks Sallie & keep us posted!
I like this photo Sallie! Grew up surfing in So. Cal.
Whoops….
The photograph above is of Duke Kahanamoku and Viola Hartmann (later Cady), tandem surfing at Laguna Beach, California, in 1922.
Champion diver and swimmer Viola Hartmann knew Duke Kahanamoku when he lived in Los Angeles, CA.
Please see: http://www.latimes.com/la-me-krahn2jun02_gz3p0nke-photo.html
Doris Duke was NOT the first White Woman Surfer in Hawaii!
There are Post-Doctoral peer reviewed published research papers evidencing this assertion – including a photograph of a White Women surfer at Waikiki, Honolulu surfing in the 1910’s – which was some 20 years before Doris Duke arrived at Waikiki and was taught to surf there by the Kahanamoku Brothers.
Peter – you are correct about the photo being of Viola Hartmann, not Doris Duke. Elizabeth at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library did some research for me back in May, 2015 on this topic and shared the results, along with this link: surfingheritage.org. At the time, we neglected to update the post with this information. Thank you for pointing this out, you clearly know your surfing history!
No worries.
I am informed Doris Duke’s baby daughter Arden, was born prematurely and sadly died soon after birth.
I have read Pony Duke’s biography on Doris Duke which alleges this baby girl who was born in 1940 in Hawaii – had brown skin and was fathered by Duke Kahanamoku.
However, I was informed in January 2015 by Duke Kahanamoku’s official biographer (Ms Sandra KImberely Hall) – that the father of Doris Duke’s baby girl born in 1940 was in fact Sam Kahanamoku – one of Duke’s younger Brothers and NOT Duke K.
For information, Sam Kahanamoku has fathered another daughter out of wedlock named Sonia V. Lien – who has just passed away. Her book “From Alone to Aloha” authored by K David Kragen inter alia deals with her discovery of her Paternity.
I would be interested to learn of any evidence based research which you may have or know of – which informs who in fact – was the father of Doris Duke’s daughter Arden??