In 1978, Aikau was among a handful selected to join the cultural expedition of the Polynesian, double-hulled voyaging canoe Hokule'a, which set sail from the Hawaiian Islands on Mamore specifically from Magic Island, Oahu - and bound for Tahiti. When he was not on the North Shore pulling people out of the heavy surf, Eddie dedicated his time to other hobbies and interests he had. And that's where the phrase came from: Eddie would go when no one else would or could." "He was already doing what no one else dared to - pull people out of Waimea Bay's big surf. "The expression 'Eddie would go' actually predates Hokule'a," Simpson noted. The North Shore was a quiet place where waves could be 35 feet, but no one was on the beach.Īccording to maritime historian Mac Simpson, Aikau was already a legend on the North Shore before his death. The music that was coming out of Hawaii expressed that particular period. The 1970s represented an incredible time in Hawaiian history and for the Aikau family. He and Clyde were famous for entertaining people at parties and luaus. 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 huge inspirations. 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 until 1978 and never lost one person. 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.Īt the same time, he challenged the biggest waves on offer in the Hawaiian Islands. "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 from their earliest days on Maui to their surfing days on the South and North Shore of Oahu. The surfer, lifeguard, family man, friend, traveler, musician, and hero inspired future generations of wave riders worldwide.Įdward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau was born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 4, 1946. The life of Eddie Aikau is the incredible story of the ultimate Hawaiian waterman.
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