The 8-day event features a variety of ocean sports that were close to Duke Kahanamoku's heart: Longboard Surfing - Paddleboard Racing - Swimming - Tandem Surfing - Surf Polo - Beach Volleyball - Stand-Up Paddling, etc.

Duke's OceanFest is held each summer in Waikiki in honor of Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who is remembered as the greatest waterman who ever lived, and Hawaii’s ambassador of Aloha. Among his many accomplishments, Duke Kahanamoku was an Olympic gold medal swimmer; a surfer; an esteemed canoe steersman; a Hollywood actor; and the Sheriff of Honolulu.

Shark News, 11 August, 2012 :  Shark Week begins Sunday. One of the great human stories for thousands of years is the individual facing something this grand and awesome yet also this mysterious and frightening. One response is to fight it. Another is to just stand there and be reverent. And that is why Shark Week never loses its appeal with viewers

Last year, the summer programming phenomenon of Discovery Channel attracted 26.6 million viewers. The Shark Week specials get up close and personal with these amazing predators. The encounter puts emphasis on education - on understanding how much we've learned about sharks and how much we still can learn.

Michel Bourez, feeling right at home at the end of the road. Photo: Joli

Jeff Mull: Teahupoo has gained a reputation for handing out some of the world’s best barrels and worst beatings—often you’ll find both in the same session. If watching the upcoming Billabong Pro Tahiti inspires you to test yourself at the ferocious wave, we recommend reading the following words of advice from local expert Michel Bourez first. If you’re still chomping at the bit, make sure both your SURFER subscription and life insurance policy have been renewed before you book your flight.

TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Saturday, August 11, 2012) – The world’s best surfers are converging on the planet’s heaviest lefthander next week for Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti, to be held from August 16 – 27, 2012 at the infamous South Pacific reef pass of Teahupo’o.

Following last year’s historic installment of the event, ultimately won by reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40, and featuring a barrier-breaking tow-in session dubbed ‘Code Red’, the surfing world eagerly anticipates the return of this season’s Billabong Pro Tahiti and the impact it will have on the 2012 ASP World Title race.

Surf News, 10 August, 2012 : The Association of Surfing Professionals 6-Star Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro returned to Oceanside Pier for day two of competition and saw a day of dominant performances from ASP Women’s WCT surfers. The Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro’s Round of 80 format represents the largest qualifying event for the 2013 ASP WCT and is also the only women’s qualifying event on the 2012 ASP North America schedule.

Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA), 19, built momentum in her Round of 24 heat, opening her assault with two 7-point rides and went on to blast the day’s highest scores. The talented Californian went on to net the day’s highest single wave score of a near-perfect 9.70 out of 10 for an impressive frontside air and competed her campaign with a combined 17.40 heat total while advancing to the Round of 12.

Pro surfer Ian Walsh is the oldest of 3 brothers, all of who have followed closely in his footsteps and found themselves in the lineup at some of the heaviest waves in the world. In episode 2 of "The Ian Walsh Experience" meet the twins Shaun and D.K. as they show their approach to big-wave training through MMA, free diving, and motocross. With Ian's help, Shaun and DK have become a fixture in the lineup at Jaws and a never-ending source of comedy on land.