Parking here can be a challenge! See parking garage waypoint for suggested free 90 minute parking!!!
This virtual cache points out a couple pieces of Huntington Beach history.
Located at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street is a life-size bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku and his longboard (surfboard). Surrounding the statue are a number of famous surfers' handprints and footprints in concrete that make up the 'Surfing Hall of Fame'. Duke Kanahamoku (born in Hawaii 1890, died 1968) was a five time Olympic medalist swimmer (one gold and one silver in 1912, two golds in 1920, and a silver in 1924). Between Olympic competitions, he traveled internationally to give swimming exhibitions and also popularized the sport of surfing, previously known only in Hawaii, by incorporating surfing exhibitions into these visits as well. While living in Southern California, he performed in Hollywood as a background actor and a character actor in several films. In 1925 in Newport Beach, California, Kahanamoku used his surfboard to rescue eight men from a fishing vessel that capsized in heavy surf while attempting to enter the city's harbor. In the early 1920's, he surfed under Huntington's Pier. In his 70's, he returned to Huntington Beach to help promote the U.S. Surfboard Championships. He was also the sheriff of Honolulu, Hawaii from 1932 to 1961.
Before the statue of Duke Kahanamoku and this shopping and dining area were here, a legendary restaurant and nightclub, built in 1929 and demolished in 1986, occupied this site. There is a wall plaque that describes the history of this landmark; it includes an extensive list of the many famous musicians that performed here.
To prove that you were here and to get credit for finding this Virtual Cache, you need to accomplish TWO tasks:
(1) Post a photo with your log, demonstrating that you were actually at the location. The photo must include either (a) yourself (no faces required, a body part is fine), or (b) a piece of paper with your caching name written on it. You can take your photo with the statue of Duke, or with a surfer's footprints in the pavement.
(2) Find the plaque on a wall 155 feet southeast from Duke (see virtual stage waypoint N 33° 39.415 W 118° 00.080). Message or email me the 15th name listed in the fourth column on the plaque. Do not post a photo of this plaque!
If you are here with other cachers, only one of you needs to contact me with the answer, but please include in your message the names of the other cachers.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.