It was a job he enjoyed and the public loved him. In 1966, he was made the first member of the Surfing Hall of Fame, and in his memory, surfing champions from all over the world compete in the annual Duke Kahanamoku International Surfing Championship Meet on Oahu's North Shore. Bathed in the tepid crystalline depths of the azure Pacific, tethered by bubbles and brushed by rainbow colored fish, scuba divers enter a fantasy world of brilliance and wonder. Each of Hawai'i's eight main islands have outstanding dive spots with an array of unique marine animals, colorful corals and bizarre lava formations. Most diving occurs on the calmer, leeward coasts of all the islands, where visibility often exceeds 100 feet.
Dive shops abound with gear rentals, dive trips, lessons and certification.
Corals of the fringing and sub-tidal reef are the most colorful of the shallow water communities and provide an intricate and elaborate ecosystem for marine species.