37c Duke Kahanamoku stamp

The Postal Service issued a 37-cent Duke Kahanamoku commemorative stamp on August 24, 2002, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The stamp, designed by Carl T. Herrman Of Carlsbad, California, and illustrated by Michael J. Deas of New Orleans, Louisiana, went on sale nationwide August 26, 2002.

The Postal Service honors Duke Kahanamoku, Hawaiian swimmer and surfer, who is credited with popularizing the Polynesian sport by surfing throughout the world. In 1999, Surfer magazine named him "Surfer of the Century." For most of his career, Kahanamoku was generally seen as Hawaii's unofficial goodwill ambassador In 1934 he was elected sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu and was subsequently reelected until the position itself was discontinued in 1960. Thereafter, from 1961 until his death on January 22, 1968, Kahanamoku served as Honolulu's official greeter.

The stamp was issued in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of twenty. Avery Dennison printed 62.8 million stamps by gravure.

Reference: Postal Bulletin (July 25, 2002).

Scott Catalogue USA: 3660
mint

Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

Museum ID: 2002.2029.28