The days preceding competitive swimming showed that

swimming was a natural sport for the Hawaiians, and that

aquatics in one form or another played an important part in

their lives. The first competitive swimming brought fame to

Hawaii immediately, although later the regard for Hawaii

swimming suffered a blow. Dan Renear was the hero and the

"goat"? George Freeth did much in this period for Hawaii

fame with his swimming and diving in California.

The advent of the A. A. U. in 1911 brought Hawaii

again into the swimming world with a force when Duke P.

Kahanamoku swam races unbelievably fast, and they were truly

unbelievably fast, as the mainland refused to acknowledge

the performances. The year 1911 also saw Hawaii's first

move in capitalizing on amateur swimming.

The year 1912 saw the United States and the world

believe the times accredited to Kahanamoku when he won

national and Olympic honors for Hawaii and himself. This

year also saw further and broader capitalization on

Kahanamoku's swimming success, with Kahanamoku receiving a

tour of at least seven months duration and a house and lot

for his efforts.