![]() "The expression 'Eddie would go' actually predates Hokule'a," Simpson noted. He and Clyde were famous for entertaining people at parties and luaus.Īccording to maritime historian Mac Simpson, Aikau was already a legend on the North Shore before his death. He was always a central figure in bringing people together and a pivotal character in maintaining calm and camaraderie on the North Shore when competition intensified the lineups.Įddie Aikau has never had any children of his own, but his compassion and care extended to all who came within his reach. To this very day, November 19, 1967, remains the biggest day ever surfed at Waimea Bay.ĭuring the early to mid-1970s, Eddie traveled to South Africa, South America, and Australia to participate in a few early-era pro surfing events. In 1967, Eddie cracked a giant swell at Waimea Bay and made his mark in the world of big wave riding. Greg Noll, Mike Stang, George Downing, John Kelly, and Sammy Lee were a huge inspiration to him. He dreamed of reaching the height of his heroes. As a competitor, his best contest result was a win in the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship.Įddie Aikau saw big wave surfing, not as a competition, but as a personal goal. At the time, there were no jet skis or zodiacs - just two youngsters with a board and swim fins.ĭuring his career as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay, Eddie Aikau managed to rescue and save the lives of over 500 people.Įddie took on every major swell to come through the North Shore from 1967 to 1978. The two brothers worked together for ten years up until 1978 and never lost one person. At the same time, he challenged the biggest waves on offer in the Hawaiian Islands. He was high risk at an early age," says younger brother Clyde Aikau.Įddie was the first official lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work at Waimea Bay, on Oahu's North Shore, back in 1967. "Eddie was a pretty quiet guy, but when there was a challenge, or some risk to be taken or a game to be played that everybody wanted to win, Eddie seemed to rise to the top. He was the second-oldest of the five Aikau kids, and the leader of their pack, since their earliest days on Maui, through to their surfing days on the South and North Shore of Oahu. "Eddie Would Go." Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau was born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 4, 1946. The surfer, lifeguard, family man, friend, traveler, musician, and hero inspired future generations of wave riders, all around the planet. While “it’s way more gangster if you can paddle in” to a big wave, she added she would likely participate in a new, tow-in category in the Magnitude.Ī new prize, for the Eddie Aikau Wave of the Bay, will be awarded to the rider of the “biggest, deepest, rideable wave at Waimea,” the foundation announced.The life of Eddie Aikau is the incredible story of the ultimate waterman. She added she was excited to be getting back in the water after recently being sidelined for nine months due to surgery for “a massive hip tear.” “Positive changes are coming into effect,” said Kennelly, a co-founder of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, which was instrumental in the unanimous December 2020 passage of a Honolulu City Council “surf equity bill” requiring gender equity for sports activities requiring a park use permit. ![]() This year the roster of invitees includes five other women-Andrea Moller, Emily Erickson, Justine Dupont, Makani Adric and Paige Alms - and 39 men. In 2018 Kennelly was the first and only woman invited to compete in the Eddie, which hasn’t taken place since John John Florence took home the trophy in 2016. She was also looking forward to Friday’s opening ceremonies for the Eddie at Waimea Bay. ![]() ![]() “They’re gonna provide camera crews and safety just like last year for Jaws, Waimea and one of the outer North Shore reefs.” “I’m super grateful that Red Bull is bringing Magnitude back,” she said Tuesday in a phone interview. In 2020 the holding period was canceled due to the coronavirus.Īlso opening today is the holding period for Red Bull Magnitude, the all-women Hawaii big-wave contest, which debuted in 2020 in a video format that will continue this year, the company announced.īig-wave champion Keala Kennelly, a Kauai native who won last year’s Magnitude, said she’s stoked to be selected for both events and about the full dance card for herself and other female surfers this winter, from the Triple Crown events at Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and Pipeline to the HIC Pipeline Pro to the World Surf League Peahi Challenge at Jaws. 28, event organizer the Eddie Aikau Foundation announced on social media. The 2021-2022 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay will go on - that is, if waves and conditions meet the criteria during the holding period, which opens today and runs through Feb. ![]()
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