Organiser Shay Dewey said the event was a celebration of Duke Kahanamoku's ''gift''.
''What we are celebrating is his gift of surfing that he gave to the rest of the world,'' Mr Dewey said.
Perfect weather greeted those who took to the water on long boards.
Among them was St Clair Surf Life Saving Club member Greg Page.
Mr Page was well versed in the history of Duke Kahanamoku's visit, having heard of it from former St Clair Surf Life Saving Club member Duke Gillies.
''I asked him [Duke Gillies] one day, `How did you get your nickname?','' he said.
''He told me when he was 12 years old Duke Kahanamoku came to Dunedin and did a swimming exhibition. After Duke Kahanamoku had been here [Mr Gillies] got really inspired with his swimming and that nickname stayed with him for the rest of his life.''
The father of surfing visited Dunedin while on a swimming exhibition tour of Australia.
Reports from the time say he was greeted by ''a good crowd at the railway station''.
He competed in a swimming tournament at the municipal baths.
''The attendance was very large and the enthusiasm was intense,'' the ODT reported at the time.
''Much has been said of his style, and to see how he forges his way through the water is certainly a treat - marvellous.''
Mr Page said Duke Kahanamoku visited St Clair Beach during his time in the city.
''He was really impressed by the way the waves looked ... so he went for a body surf,'' Mr Page said.
''He came back in and said ''the waves are incredible, but the water is freezing''.
His impact inspired surfers from Hawaii to New Zealand, he said.
