Outrigger c a n / e clu b OCTOBER FORECAST

(iEURCE I). “ DAD ” CENTER "DAD" CENTER OF WAIKIKI By Edwin North McClellan

George David C e n te r—affectionately and the Myrtles would cover pages. He called “Dad” by his thousands of friends was a familiar figure on early Regatta —has been—and is—one of the most valu­ Days in Honolulu Harbor and at Pearl able assets of Hawaii. He has evolved into Harbor when he rowed for the Myrtles; a constructively unique and hospitable but lie was even better known later as a unit of distinctive Hawaiiana. “Dad” is representative of the Outrigger Club in among the first "ten in the Hawaiian many sports, particularly in surfing events Hall of Fame.” He has always exercised sponsored by the Club. As early as Re­ his many efficient qualifications as an gatta Day of 1907 "Dad” was stroke of American citizen of Hawaii for the pub­ the Myrtle Freshman Crew which de­ lic good; but, he is best remembered for feated the Healanis. On Regatta Day of his devoted service in directing the youth 1909, “Dad” swung an efficient paddle of Hawaii along a path of happiness and (with Rusty Brown, Harry Steiner, Willy usefulness. “Knut” Cottrell, Edmund Melanphy and V incent “Z en ” Genoves) , in Prince BORN ON MAUI Kuhio’s canoe Aa, as it won the six-paddle “Dad” was born at Kipahulu (Maui) canoe contest for the Outrigger Canoe on Christmas Day in 1886 during the Club. And while “Dad” had many early reign of King Kalakaua. On the death of athletic thrills, I am sure one of his Kalakaua, “Dad” became a subject of greatest was to captain the Maile-Ilima Queen Liliuokalani. Next, a citizen of Soccer Team which won the champion­ the Provisional Government and Repub­ ship of the Hawaiian Association Foot­ lic of Hawaii with Sanford Ballard Dole ball League, in 1909. as President. The American Flag went up over Hawaii in July of 1898 and “Dad” OUTRIGGER CAPTAIN FOR MANY YEARS became a citizen of the United States and “Dad” was Captain of the Outriggers the Territory of Hawaii. Educated in from 1910 until about 1938. He repre­ Hawaii and on the Mainland “Dad” dis­ sented the Club in about every sport it tinguished himself as a schoolboy athlete took part in. Captain, coach, active-ath- in many sports. lete, manager and adviser, “Dad” served In his active athletic days “Dad” repre­ on the Board of Directors of the Out­ sented the Myrtle Boat Club in swim­ rigger Club for many years. He is as much ming, rowing and other sports. During a part of Waikiki and the Outrigger as the past half-century “Dad" has been a is the Beach itself. ) swimmer, surfboarder, outrigger-canoeist "Dad,” who shares with Duke Kahana­ (paddle and sail), body-surfer, fisher­ moku the honor of being the Outrigger man, oarsman, yachtsman, volley-baller, Club’s "most honored member,” realized golfer, basket-baller, soccerite, track-and- that Duke was a "coming champ” about fielder, footballer and expert participant 1910, Not long ago "Dad” said to me, “I in other athletic activities. was swimming anchor on the Myrtles in MEMBER OF THE "OUTRIGGER CLUB" IN 190B. a swimming relay race in Honolulu Har­ "Dad” missed becoming a charter mem­ bor against the Healanis. Duke swam the ber of the Outrigger Canoe Club by only final lap against me. Duke won by a a few weeks after it came into being in touch. We knew then that we had a April and May of 1908. I was on the champion swimmer.” And, on August 12, Beach at Waikiki, in front of the Out- 1911—the day that Duke (of the H ui rigger Canoe Club, in July of 1908 when Nalu) broke world-records in Honolulu "Dad” competed in the Big Surf Contest Harbor—"D ad” swam second to the (board) as the U. S. Atlantic Fleet looked Bronze Duke of Waikiki in the 220-yard on. To even list the contests in which race. “Dad” was one of those who, about "Dad” Center represented the Outriggers 1911, organized the Hawaiian AAU. [ 3 ] Later, he served many years as its presi­ Vol. 9 No. 10 dent, ending that service about 1939. “Dad” was swimming coach at Punahou for about thirty years. He also coached water polo teams of Hawaii.

"BUILDER OF CHAMPS" The list is long of those whom "Dad” coached to c h a m p io n sh ip caliber in FORECAST swimming. The list is longer of those Issued by the whom “Dad” encouraged in the same BOARD OF DIRECTORS sports. Among the many are: Duke Paoa Kalianamoku, Samuel Alapai Kahana- E. W . STENBERG . . Editor moku, Clarence (Buster) Crabbe, Buddy Bus. Phone 5-7911 Res. Phone 9-3664 TED MAGILL . Advertising . Bus. Phone 9-4806 Crabbc, Ludy Langer, W ild Bill Harris,. Gay Harris, Pua and Warren Kealoha, Toots Minvielle, Clem Akina, Jr., Buck OUTRIGGER CANOE CLUB Kahele, Bill King, Art Powlison, Harold WAIKIKI BEACH HONOLULU, HAWAII Hustace, Jimmy Hurd, Benton Wood, Ed BOARD OF DIRECTORS Peterson, Bob Darnell, Bill Newport,) LeRoy C. Bush Samuel M. Fuller Fred Reeder, C. Dudley Pratt, Dave Liv­ Ernest R. Cameron Leslie A. Hicks William C. Capp Murray Johnson ingston, Marichen Wehslau Jackson, Lily Robert D. Fischer Duke P. Kalianamoku Wilford D. Godbold William J. Mullahey Bowmer, May Forrest, Helen Moses Cas­ Herbert M. Taylor sidy, Ruth Scudder, Olga Clarke, Janice OFFICERS Lovet Makinney, Mildred Slaght Hooper, WILFORD D. GO DBO LD...... President Beatrice Newport, Kanny Ross, Cecily WILLIAM J. MULLAHEY...... Vice President SAMUEL M. FU LLER...... Secretary Cunha, Blanche Fernandes, Estel Cas­ HERBERT M. TAYLOR...... Treasurer sidy, and many others. E. P. "TED " M AGILL...... Club M anager Always in close contact with youth at Committees Chairmen FINANCE...... Wilford D. Godbold, Ex-Offlcio Waikiki, "Dad” has aided thousands in BUILDING FUND...... Leslie A . Hicks aquatic beach sports, including among ADMISSIONS...... Dr. Irving Blom the many: Ronald Higgins, Edric Cooke, DISCIPLINARY...... Samuel M. Fuller Ernest Cooke, Francis Bowers, Sonny HOUSE AND GROUNDS...... Ernest W. Stenberg ENTERTAINMENT...... Sam uel M. Fuller Ruttman, Toots Minvielle, Sally Hale, V O LLEYBA LL...... Ernest H. Thomas Clarence Dyer, W. W. (Wild Bill) Har­ CANOE...... W illia m C. Capp ris, Gay Harris, Ainslie MacKenzie, Ken­ BEACH ACTIVITIES...... William J. Mullahey WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES...... To be chosen neth Makinney, Lorrin Thurston, Bob JUNIORS' ACTIVITIES...... To be chosen Burbank, Bouldin Burbank, Joe Stick- CANOE COACHING...... Sam uel M. Fuller ney, Sam Poepoe and a throng of others. ATHLETIC CO-ORDINATING DIRECTOR...... Robert D. Fischer AMERICAN OLYMPIC SWIMMING COACH CLUB HISTORIAN...... To be chosen George David Center was selected to EDITOR/ "FORECAST"...... Ernest W. Stenberg manage and coach the Hawaiian swim­ AFFILIATED CLUBS mers who were picked to go to the Main­ Arizona Club/ Phoenix, Arizona. land for the Olympic Trials at Chicago Balboa Bay Club, Newport Harbor, California. in July, 1920. Eight swimmers won the Club Del Mor, Santa Monica, California. College Club of Seattle, Seattle, Washington. right to be members of the team to enter Country Club of Peoria, Peoria, Illinois. Dovenport Club, Davenport, Iowa the trials. They were: Duke Paoa Ka­ Jonathan Club, Los Angeles, California. hanamoku, Ludy Langer, Warren and Multnomah Athletic Club, Portland, Oregon. New York Athletic Club, New York City. Pua Kealoha, William W. Harris, Jr., Old Pueblo Club, Tucson, Arizona. San Diego Club, San Diego, California. John Kelii, Harold (Stubby) Kruger and Santa Monica Swimming Cub, Santa Monica, California. Helen Moses. They sailed from Honolulu Hilo Yacht Club, Hilo, Hawaii. in June of 1920. “Dad” likes to tell about Kauai Yacht Club, Lihue, Kauai. this wonderful trip. “Duke was a bigger Carleton Club, Winnipeg, Canada. attraction than ever," "Dad” recently South Yarra Club, Melbourne, Australia. Tattersall's Club, Sydney, Australia. told me. “People demanded to see him Terminal City Club, Vancouver, Canada. Waikiki Club, Lima, Peru. at every place the train stopped—even at

[4] small towns—so that A m ericans could 1930. Before sailing, "Dad” told the Pan- have a glimpse of their famous world- Pacific Union: 1 champion. People would come right into “I believe in swimming as one of the the car and get Duke out of his bunk so greatest sports in the world and a great they could get a peek at him.” developer of mankind, and that is why I A seven-swimmer team emerged from am interested in having as many of the the Chicago trials—Duke, W ild Bill Har­ countries on the Pacific get together every ris, Warren and Pua Kealoha, Ludy two years in an athletic contest like this, Langer, Stubby Kruger and Helen Moses. to develop our swimmers so that we can They sailed for Europe aboard the SS build up a team to represent Hawaii and Princess Matoika. There is no space to America in the final Olympics every four describe the ‘‘Mutiny of the Matoika.” years.” Among the 1,500 athletes parading before It might be an excellent idea if the King Albert of Belgium, Cardinal Mer- Outrigger Canoe Club in 1950 revived cier, the clerical war-hero, and other the 1927 proposal for a Pan-Pacific Olym­ world-known notables were “Dad" Cen­ piad of Sports. ter and his comrades. And “Dad” had “Dad” had much to do with the crea­ been appointed coach of the entire Amer­ tion and dedication of the First World ican Swimming Team. The Hawaiian War Memorial (Natatorium) at Waikiki swimmers did splendidly. After shaking, in 1927. Duke Kahanamoku returned hands with King Albert and his Queen, from California for this dedication and “Dad” and his fellow Americans from declared, “I can see Dad Center’s hand Hawaii moved on to visit Brussels, Paris, in it,” and that “with such men as Dad London and other parts of the world. Center and Harvy Chilton there is no Receiving medals on their return to New reason why Hawaii should not hold a York, the Hawaiian Team, on November high place in the swimming world.” 9, 1920, were greeted with a royal aloha "Dad” Center coached the Hawaiian welcome at Honolulu. During the team’s swimmers who participated in the Olym­ tour it took part in twenty-six contests pic trials at Detroit in 1928. Only Buster and brought back fifty-nine medals and Crabbe qualified for the American Team other trophies of their victories at Ant­ to compete at Amsterdam (Holland). werp, Paris, London, New York, Chicago, Duke Kahanamoku did not try for the Detroit, San Francisco and way-points. team. The Honolulu Chamber of Commerce "DAD'S" LIFE FILLED WITH MANY THINGS honored the swimmers with a luncheon There have been too many interesting and each swimmer received a gold medal. features in Dad’s life to even list them. "DAD" VISITS JAPAN—PAN-PACIFIC But most of them were very interesting OLYMPIAD OF SPORTS and all were good for Hawaii. Seldom In 1926, “Dad” led an Hawaiian Swim­ has any aquatic event occurred in Ha­ ming Team to the Sesquicentennial at waii, during his lifetime, without "Dad” Philadelphia. (It was in January of this being on hand cither as participant, year that “Dad” lost his mother. His coach, manager, official, adviser or friend of all. His friends laughed with him father had passed away in 1901.) This when a Samoan coconut crab was found year George David Center coached and in his refuse-can. They shared his pleas­ managed another swimming team that ure when he held that swimming-class of visited Japan. In the following year about fifty at the Outrigger Canoe Club (1927), “Dad” was coach and manager in 1928. They shared his disappointment of an American Swimming Team that at never having been able to accept any journeyed to Nippon. In September of of the several invitations he received to 1927 "Dad” Center left Honolulu (as the visit Australia, and also when his strenu­ representative of the Pan-Pacific Union) ous efforts failed in 1932 to form “ 1 he to urge the organization of a Pan-Pacific Swimming Association.” They enjoyed Olympiad of Sports, with invitations his taming of his dingo “Skipper” after from the Pan-Pacific Union to have the the dog returned Irom the war. And they first meet held in Honolulu in 1929 or were very much interested in “Dad’s” motor-outrigger Miss Veednl tli;it made a round-trip to Molokai in 1928.

ALOHAED MANY CELEBRITIES TO HAWAII “ D ad ” lias welcomed countless n u m ­ Seventeen floors bers of celebrated persons to Hawaii and particularly to Waikiki. They all ask for of modern comfort and “Dad.” We have room to mention only a lew. “Dad” can tell you about Jack and convenience C harm ion London and their visits to W aikiki in 1907 and 1915-1916. Captain ‘Dad” Center of the Outrigger Canoe lift otel ( J u b led his (leet ol outriggers off W a i­ £ ' H kiki Reach to give an aloha salute to M V FROM 6.00 SINGLE Secretary ol the Navy [oseplnis Daniels, aboard the battleship \eu< York on A u ­ 8.00 DOUBLE gust 20, 1919. Duke l’aoa Kalianam oku ON GEARY, TWO BLOCKS FROM UNION SQUARE was there. Three days later, “ D ad” had UNSURPASSED LUXURY all fourteen canoes ol the Club and many suri’boards on the Reach to entertain ROBERT S. ODELL • PRESIDENT several hundred Navy and Leatherneck lads. “ D ad ” has a good yarn about help­ DWIGHT H. HART, JR. ■ MANAGER ing Duke Kalianamoku teach the Prince of Wales to surl'hoard and outrigger- canoe, in 1920. “Dad” also took a promi­ nent part in the gland welcome ol Presi­ .Stirling Meets at W aikiki, keeps up his dent Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 193-1. wonder-work of teaching the youth of The names ol "Dad’s” visiting friends Hawaii good sportsmanship and how to are legion. excel on the beach and in the water. This “Dad” Center and Mrs. Lily Anderson Dean of Athletes of the Outriggers is out were married at K uliouou in W aikiki in there almost every day enjoying volley­ June of 19-10 In his fellow Outrigger ball and aquatic sports but mostly teach­ Henrv Pratt Judd. His best man was ing the youngsters. Yes, “D ad ” is a real Edric Cooke and E. E. Budge gave the American gentleman of Hawaii—unself­ bride awav in marriage. ish, modest, efficient and hospitable. He has retired from business but "D a d ” FRIEND AND TEACHER OF YOUTH never will retire from helping those who All his life “ D ad” (k ilter has been the want and need aid on the Beach at friend and teacher of thousands of boys W aikiki. and girls of H aw aii—particularly those who wanted to learn how to swim and APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP surf. You will find sporl-pages of local Below are listed applicants for mem­ newspapers and magazines frequently bership in the OCC. It is each member’s (allying items like this one in the Star- duly to make any objection to their mem­ liu lii'lin of February 2, 19.3(>: “Dad may bership if they have any cause for such be seen every day at the Outrigger Club, objection. Contact Dr. Irving Blom by where he enjoys volley-ball and gives the phone or by mail on or before October kids a helping hand around the canoes 10th stating your reasons for objections. and surfboards.” On May 1, 1950, “Dad” Anv such information will be treated as after almost fifty years with Tlieo. H. strictlv confidential. Davies X: Co., Ltd., retired with appro­ priate ceremonies, and so, he has more ASSOCIATE time to devote to his great hobby of A p p lica n t S p o n so r S eco n d er Val( ino Lope/ I .O . Riven D. Hayselden helping youth on the Beach of Kings. Cornelia Ihitilli (iay Harris llarhnra Dupints

Yes, George David Center, the Grand SENIOR Old Man of Waikiki, veteran of many I lotvard IcruuMin Charles Klenshr I la/el I .is lor Sadie H u n ter R . I). Fischer I. I). Atherton Regatta Days, Swimming Contests and Samuel Olmsted R. G. Riet