The Local Brand Co. Los Angeles, CA

06/18/2024

Some illustrations that I've created over the last couple years were featured in a Bold Journey Q&A article. If you're so inclined, here's the link: https://boldjourney.com/meet-greg-chinn/ to read the article.

06/18/2024

I was just featured in Bold Journey: Finding & Living With Purpose Q&A article. I chat about my path to the work I currently produce, qualities I have developed in the process and some of the challenges. The illustrations shown are what I've created over the last couple years. If you are interested, here's the link: https://boldjourney.com/meet-greg-chinn/

06/05/2024

Sneak peek of a title wall/brand identity that I created with museum curator WM Frank Mitchell for Freedomways exhibit in CT

12/06/2023

This is pretty cool. Most recently, the Kona Brewing Co. Big Wave stickers I illustrated/designed went into all the tote bags for the 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational invitees. The contest takes place at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu. This was the original copy that went with each Big Wave label. Aloha!

09/29/2023

If you find yourself on Oahu, go grab some Kona Brewing Hawaii stickers which were reprinted as giveaways for the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival coming up soon. Still one of my favorite projects ever because I got to collaborate with the wonderful KBC Marketing Director Eric Chang and highlight local Hawaiian surf culture (via the KBC's Makana Project) through my own visual remembrances. Bonus is the acrylic painting I had originally done for the promotion will be featured on a banner there. Aloha & mahalo!

06/18/2023

Final post on Duke Kahanamoku: An Iconic Life. Mahalo to the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (ODKF) for letting me collaborate on this!

In 1960 Duke was named Hawaiʻi’s official Ambassador of Aloha to welcome visitors and es**rt visiting VIPs.

Duke shared his personal philosophy of life in his Creed of Aloha:

“In Hawaiʻi we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with aloha, which means with love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaiʻi renowned as the world's center of understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with aloha. You'll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it and it is my creed. Aloha to you, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.”



This post was made in collaboration with graphic designer Greg Chinn at Local Brand Co. Los Angeles, CA.

06/16/2023

Aloha Friday

On August 2, 1940, at 50 years of age, Duke Kahanamoku married the love of his life, Nadine Alexander, shattering a barrier yet again, as in*******al marriage was still unusual at that time. The couple remained together until his death in 1968. Duke never had any children.

The photo was taken at Duke and Nadine's wedding.

Duke dealt with racism and discrimination throughout his career. He broke through these barriers with quiet grace and elite athleticism. At Duke’s funeral service, award-winning radio broadcaster Arthur Godfrey delivered his eulogy stating, “[Kahanamoku] gave these islands a new dimension, winning the respect of the world for himself and his people. What Longfellow’s Hiawatha and later Jim Thorpe had done for the American Indian, [Kahanamoku] did for all Polynesians, especially Hawaiians.”



This post was made in collaboration with graphic designer Greg Chinn at The Local Brand Co. Los Angeles, CA.

06/15/2023

Duke, the Hollywood years.

Duke Kahanamoku lived in Southern California from 1922-1930 to act in movies, though typecasting and racism kept him out of the lead roles he desired. He performed in Hollywood as a background actor and a character actor in about 30 films.



This post was made in collaboration with graphic designer Greg Chinn at The Local Brand Co. Los Angeles, CA.

06/14/2023

On this day, remembering Duke Kahanamoku and the Corona Del Mar rescue

On June 14, 1925, at Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, California, a vessel trying to enter the city’s harbor capsized in heavy surf. Kahanamoku and a few other surfers paddled out to try and help. Using his wooden surfboard in the rough waters, Kahanamoku made repeated trips from shore to the capsized ship, saving eight people from drowning. Two other surfers were able to save four more individuals. The Newport Beach police chief called Kahanamoku's efforts, “the most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen.”

Formal lifeguarding and water safety training were just being developed during his young adult life. As Sheriff of Honolulu from 1932 to 1961, Duke was a strong proponent of public safety, and as a waterman, he was vigilant of others in the ocean. Though there is no evidence he was ever a paid lifeguard, Duke made other quieter water rescues and preventative actions, as well as helped recover bodies of drowning victims.

06/13/2023

Duke Kahanamoku, The Godfather of Surfing

Duke Kahanamoku shared the sport of surfing as he traveled the world, first as a swimming sensation, and later as an aspiring movie star, and then official Ambassador of Aloha. He is unofficially called the Godfather of Surfing for introducing the sport around the world.

Athletics were so important to Duke that he sought various ways to transmit those benefits to others. As Duke aged, he took the time to mentor, coach, organize competitions, referee, and officiate. One notable example was that he helped start the Walter MacFarlane Regatta in order to perpetuate the art of canoe racing. Duke coached extensively in his later years, not just surfing, but also outrigger canoe paddling, sailing, and beach volleyball.

The late Jimmy Pfleuger said, “He would speak to you in a very soft tone. In the boat, he never yelled at you. He never swore. He just talked to you. When he wanted the kids to paddle a little harder, he would say, ‘Come on, kids. Give me ten.’ It would send goosebumps, goosebumps through everybody. He was a great, great leader. Great leader.”

Another OCC member, the late Bob Bush, recalled Duke as his paddling coach, “Duke had put us on these training programs where they had buoys set up for the regular race, and we’d go paddle three laps, and he’d say, ‘OK, one more lap’ and we’d go out past the outside buoy, and he’d say, ‘OK, take it home.’ So we’d give it everything we had, get into the beach, and then, ‘OK, one more lap’ (Laugh), and it was over and over again. (Laughter) The second year, we had a crew in such good shape…”



This post was made in collaboration with graphic designer Greg Chinn at The Local Brand Co. Los Angeles, CA

06/13/2023

The amazing life on Duke Kahanamoku, US Olympic Swimming Medalist! Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (ODKF)

In the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, Duke Kahanamoku won a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle, and a silver medal with the second-place U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

The 1916 Games were to be held in Berlin but were cancelled due to the outbreak of the First World War.

During the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Kahanamoku won gold medals in both the 100 meters and in the relay.

At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, at age 34, he finished the 100 meters with a silver medal with the bronze to his brother, Samuel.

He also served as an alternate for the U.S. water polo team at the 1932 Summer Olympics.



This post was made in collaboration with graphic designer Greg Chinn at The Local Brand Co. Los Angeles, CA