Eddie Would Go - the Eddie Aikau Story

The Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational

Every year the company Quicksilver sponsors the Eddie Aikau Invitational. It is the premier big wave surfing competition in the world, held in memory of the legendary Eddie Aikau story, the story of a man who rode the big waves and ultimately died while trying to save his fellow shipmates on an expedition in 1978.

The event is held every winter, although the actual tournament occurs rarely. In order for the Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational to go forward, there must be 20+ foot waves at Waimea Bay, where Aikau himself used to surf. In the 21 years the event has been held, only 7 tournaments have actually taken place. The 22^nd Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational will occur during the winter of 2006-2007.

The Eddie Aikau Story

The Eddie Aikau story begins on the island of Maui. Aikau was born to poor Hawaiian parents, the third child of 6, in 1946. In 1959, when Eddie was only 13 years old, the Aikau family moved from Maui to the island of Oahu in search of better fortunes.

It was while living in Honolulu that Eddie first began surfing. He and his brother Clyde crafted their own surfboards and began surfing the Waikiki Wall. It would be years before Eddie Aikau would have enough money to buy his own surfboard. Surfing was a major part of the young Aikau

This time came when he was 16. Eddie had dropped out of school and taken a job at the Dole Pineapple Cannery. This was his first real job and he worked hard, eventually earning enough to buy himself his first board. It was a Velzy, big and thick. Aikau continued surfing, and was eventually to be found on Oahu's famous North Shore.

Eddie Aikau, Lifeguard

In 1968, Eddie Aikau, now 22 years old, became the first lifeguard hired by the city and county of Honolulu to work the North Shore. Eddie had begun to become experienced with the bigger waves of the northern part of the island in 1967, riding the waves at Sunset beach, and ultimately Waimea Bay, known for having the largest waves on Oahu during the winter.

For three years, Aikau served as part of a roving band of lifeguards patrolling Hawaii's northern shore. The number of lives he saved and rescues he took part in are unknown, as very few official reports were made. Certainly there were hundreds of lives saved by Aikau during this period. In 1971, however, the patrol was disbanded.

Eddie Aikau then became assigned to Waimea Bay, the place where he would truly make his name known. When not on duty, Aikau became famous for riding the big waves. In order to surf large waves, one must be both an excellent swimmer and waterman, able to handle the rough sea and hold your breath for some time, as well as be an excellent surfer. Aikau was rare in that he possessed both of these qualities in great amounts, and he was soon known as the best big wave rider of his day.

During the years that Aikau served as lifeguard at Waimea Bay, not a single life was lost while he was on duty. During this time he also won a number of surfing awards, including the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship, one of the most prestigious competitions of the day. The Duke as he was known was then the most famous Hawaiian surfer of all time.

The Voyage of the Hokule'a

It is now, at the height of his career, that the Eddie Aikau story takes a turn towards the tragic. In 1978 the Polynesian Voyaging Society was working on a recreation of the voyages of the ancient Polynesians across the Pacific. One trip had already been made in 1976, they were now seeking volunteers for a second journey. This time the authentically constructed craft would be traveling by itself as it made the voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti.

Aikau volunteered for the expedition, and along with two others became part of the crew of the Hokule'a. It was a double-hulled voyaging canoe, built in the traditional Polynesian style like those of the ancient Polynesians who had used these vessels to settle the islands of the South Pacific.

Unfortunately for Aikau and his crew, the Hokule'a developed a leak in one of the hulls about 12 miles south of the island of Molokai. The ship capsized, and the three crew members found themselves lost at sea with no one to help them.

After waiting on the boat for several hours, Eddie decided that the only way to save them was for him to swim to the island of Lanai, about 12 miles to their east. There he could get help and bring it back to the boat. Captain David Lyman, head of the expedition, did not like the plan, but ultimately he allowed Eddie to go.

Aikau made a leash out of rope to attach to his rescue board, and begun paddling off away from the boat. He told the others before he left "Don't worry, I can do it. I can get to land." Few people would have thought it possible to do, but Aikau was not just anyone. He was one of the greatest swimmers and surfers of his day, if not the best, and the lives of his fellow crew members was at stake.

Tragically, however, Aikau never made it to land. Almost twelve hours after he had left a Hawaiian Airlines pilot saw the capsized vessel and called in assistance. The other voyagers of the Hokule'a were saved, but Eddie Aikau's body was never found. A memorial in his honor was constructed at Waimea Bay Beach.

The Eddie Aikau Legacy

With a life ended far too soon, Eddie Aikau's legend grew. In the 1980's bumper stickers and t-shirts began to appear across Hawaii saying: Eddie Would Go. It is a testament to his courage and confidence, not afraid to face the big waves of the northern Oahu surf, and ultimately putting his life on the line to save the lives of his friends.

The Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational is perhaps one of the most famous parts of the Eddie Aikau legacy, the premier Hawaiian big wave competition held in memory of the courage and bravery told of in the Eddie Aikau story. He is a true Hawaiian hero, and one who will never be forgotten.