Euro Surf presents:

Life of

Eddie Aikau

A true Hero

Eddie Aikau is truly an inspiring man, his courage and bravery are only a couple of his admirable qualities. Please read this summary of his life.

EDWARD RYAN AIKAU was born May 4, 1946, the third of six children, Frederick, Myra Edward. Gerald, Solomon III and Clyde. The Aikau family was rich in love and tradition. Eddie's father,"Pops," Aikau took Eddie's mother Henrietta and the family surfing nearly every weekend. Plus on surfing holidays; often helping the children drag a 75 lb. wooden board to the beach. That early exposure nurtured a lifelong love and appreciation of surfing in the entire family

Early in 1967, Eddie surfed fifteen foot Sunset for the first time. On November 19, of that same year, Eddie shared one of the best and biggest days at Waimea Bay with some of the top big wave riders on earth. A virtual unknown, he took off deepest on the biggest waves to come through, stunning the beach when he rode a giant 40 foot set wave. There was no doubt about his heart and courage; Eddie would go. Eddie surfed in the timeless Hawaiian style, he didn't surf on the wave - he danced with it, fearlessly, gracefully, and beautifully merging with the power.

His extraordinary ability as a waterman made him the natural choice to be the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay. Waimea was Eddie's favorite surf spot and he shared his knowledge about the big waves and their line-ups with the young up and coming Hawaiian surfers; tutoring them through the fear and empowering them with knowledge that allowed them to thrive where most men feared to be. Eddie courageously risked his life so that others would live. In the spirit of the Duke, he wasn't interested in rewards or thanks; he only filed reports on a small portion of those lives he saved. His peers saw what he was doing and in 1971 recognized his contribution by voting him Lifeguard of the Year.

Professional surfing got a boost from Eddie in 1976, the first year of the I.P.S. world tour. Along with Hawaiian surf stars Barry Kanaiaupuni and Jeff Hakman, Eddie, ranking of 12th in the world ratings helped legitimize the fledgling pro tour. By this time the Aikau household was jammed with surfing trophies and photos of Eddie and Clyde riding waves. Eddie appeared in surf movies featuring Hawaii and a picture of him riding his famous red board was even printed on checks. Eddie's strong connection to his Hawaiian heritage drove him to become one of the nine crew members chosen by the Polynesian Voyaging Society to reenact the voyage of Hawaiian discovery on the traditionally built sailing canoe, "Hokule'a". The Hokule'a (Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus, literal translation Hoku - star, le'a -joy, pleasure, happiness) was a 60' double hulled canoe built by the Polynesian Voyaging Society to reenact historic voyages of exploration and settlement.

the Eddie would go contest

Relying on knowledge, craft and experience, Polynesians navigated vast stretches of the Pacific ocean on their migrations to new islands. Navigators used precise observations of the stars, sun, moon, winds, ocean swells and currents, and flights of birds; charting their progress by memory. Since 1976, the Hokule'a has sailed over 24,000 nautical miles, proving the validity traditional building and navigation techniques and confirming that the ancient Polynesian chants and legends recalling adventures of brave voyagers and successes of planned migrations are true. Eddie had already done all he could as a waterman, voyaging as a crew member on the Hokule'a was a way for him to grow; learn more about his people - and himself. They launched from the Magic Island dock at 7:00 PM the evening of March 16, 1978 - it was an exciting and emotional departure. Several hours out, northwest of Lanai in one of the most treacherous stretches of ocean on earth - the Kaiwi Channel, they were hit by heavy weather. Taking on water and pounded by twelve foot swells and lashed by gale force winds, they were drifted out of shipping and air lanes - and away from rescue. With crew members clinging to the capsized craft and in doubt as to rescue, Eddie decided to paddle his board for Lanai, some twelve miles to the east. For the last time, Eddie would go. While the crew was found the next day, Eddie never was. The loss was deep to the Hawaiian people. They mounted the largest air sea rescue search in the history of the Hawaiian Islands; but no trace was ever found. Eddie Aikau - Hawaiian - his body had followed where his spirit had. This is an absolutely true story

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