Even as of that (1918) date, I was already thinking of surfing in terms of how it could someday become one of the events in the Olympic Games. Why not? Skiing and tobogganing have taken their rightful place as official Game events. I still believe surfing will one day be recognized, voted in and accepted.”

— Duke Kahanamoku in “Duke Kahanamoku’s World of Surfing” just before his death in 1968.

Somewhere — perhaps most appropriately overlooking the waves off Waikiki — you figure Duke Kahanamoku is smiling today.

It would no doubt be one of long-last satisfaction after the International Olympic Committee Wednesday made the father of modern surfing’s nearly century-old vision a reality by adopting surfing as a sport for the 2020 Olympiad in Tokyo.

“I think Duke would be very proud — as we all are here in Hawaii,” former world champion and historian Fred Hemmings said Wednesday, greeting the news with a buoyant, “Hurrah!”

The sport has been Hawaii’s enduring gift to the world, currently embraced by more than 35 million across more than 100 countries, according to the International Surfing Association, and now the IOC has seen fit to place it on an Olympian level.

“The genesis of surfing is Hawaii. When you look at all the cultures that have lived on shorelines, only the Hawaiians developed the sophisticated art of riding waves for pleasure,” Hemmings said. “And, true to the spirit of old Hawaii, the Hawaiian surfers were very proud to share their sport. This is the logical big step in the direction they all thought the sport, one of gentlemen and great athletes, should go.”

As part of recent IOC reforms aimed at attracting younger followers and new sponsors, host countries may select sports to join the 28 core sports. Which is how 20 women and 20 men will find themselves competing for medals off the shores of Chiba, an hour south of Tokyo, in 2020.

Perhaps the loudest chorus of celebratory voices raised Wednesday was from Hawaii. “It’s a great way to elevate the sport I love and share it with the world,” tweeted three-time world champion Carissa Moore.

“I’d love to be a part of the Olympics and be among all those athletes,” said Tatiana Weston-Webb, the just-crowned women’s champion of the Vans U.S. Open, in a World Surfing League video. “It would be such a dream come true. If I got a medal it would be even more amazing.”

Malia Manuel said, “If I was (selected) for the Olympics, of course I’d love to represent Hawaii but there are so many talented surfers.”

With six women and three men from Hawaii currently among the WSL’s Top 20 in their divisions, the competition should, indeed, be stiff.

There are sure to be questions about whether Chiba, one of Japan’s top surfing spots, can produce, on demand, world class surf sufficient to showcase the event.

And there is no guarantee surfing will be carried over to subsequent Olympiads. The 2024 host, for example, might well be a land-locked site meaning surfing could be a one-and-done event.

But little of that mattered Wednesday.

In his autobiography, Kahanamoku wrote, “There will be greater international (surf) meets to come and there will be new great champions to show their wares. In the Olympic Games, maybe? Yes, in the Olympics! Why not?”

Finally, the IOC concurred.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.