The elder son of surfing legend George Downing, Keone learned to surf at the age of five around the gentle waters of Waikiki and soon matured into a young champion. He twice won the junior division and the open division of the Makaha international contest and at the age of sixteen competed in the open division of the 1970 world contest at Bells Beach Australia, where he placed fifth in a field that included all the heroes of the day: Reno Abellera, Nat Young, Midget Farrelly, and Rolf Aurness.

He carried his father's all around watermanship into outrigger canoe paddle racing, playing a part in five Molokai to Oahu race winning teams through the 1980?s. Then came January 1990, the Quiksilver in memory of Eddie Aikau. Keone?s win in arguably the most dramatic ever Eddie still stands as a classic and the highlight of his professional career. Now 53, Keone devotes most of his time shaping and running his family surf business Downing Hawaii.