While Hawaii is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, fascinating culture and awe-inspiring natural backdrops, it also has its share of world-class athletes and sports celebrities.

There’s Duke Kahanamoku — five-time Olympic medalist in swimming and world-renowned surfer. He performed numerous surfing demonstrations around the world and has done more to popularize the sport than anyone in history. A statue was erected in his honor on the shores of Waikiki Beach, and is a popular landmark for tourists and locals alike. A live cam pointing directly at the statue is available at http://www.honolulu.gov/cameras. If you’re ever in Waikiki, the statue is conveniently accessible through our Green, Red and Pink Lines.

Other notable surfers include Sunny Garcia, Andy Irons, younger brother Bruce Irons, and Rell Sunn.

Another Olympian worth mentioning is Bryan Clay, Olympic gold medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics decathlon event. Born in Texas and raised by his mother in Hawaii, Clay graduated from James B. Castle High School in Kaneohe and went on to earn his degree in social work from Azusa Pacific in 2002. Aside from fellow Olympian Nastia Liukin, Clay is one of only two people to be featured on the box of Wheaties cereal box’s post-Beijing special edition.

For fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it’s no secret that Lightweight Division Champion B.J. Penn hails from Hawaii. His accomplishments in the sport of Jiu-Jitsu are widely known, starting with earning his black belt within only three years — a feat that otherwise would have taken a decade or more to do so. He also became the first non-Brazilian to win the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which he did in just weeks following the awarding of his black belt. Penn is also one of two UFC fighters to hold titles in two different UFC weight classes.

Hawaii locals also feature prominently in the sport of sumo. There’s Konishiki, known as the largest sumo wrestler in history (weighing in at nearly 650 pounds!). Though he never achieved the rank of yokozuna (the highest rank in professional sumo), Konishiki is still regarded as one of the most popular Hawaii locals to compete in the sport.

While Konishiki didn’t attain the title of yokozuna, another Hawaii local eventually did so. Akebono, the second heaviest (right below Konishiki at 516 pounds) and the tallest wrestler in sumo, became the first non-Japanese wrestler ever to hold the title.

Another sumo wrestler hailing from Hawaii is Musashimaru, the second foreigner to hold the rank of yokozuna.