In Memory of Eddie Aikau 25th Anniversary

The 25th anniversary of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave event is planning to get underway. This event only takes place if wave heights are in excess of twenty feet, and all forecasts are pointing towards one of the largest swells to hit Hawaii in decades. The last time the event ran was in December 2004.

Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, this event gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe. It is the world’s longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational. The universal appeal and strength of “The Eddie” is a testament to the human spirit it honors and that we all seek to connect with: a life lived with passion, dedicated with meaning, and exited from heroically. Just 31 when he lost his life in an attempt to save others, his life story is now woven into the fabric of Hawaii.

The opening ceremony was an overwhelming tribute, complete with the original Hokule’a voyaging canoe in Waimea Bay in the midst of a 15- to 18-foot swell. The Hokule’a is a traditional double-hulled vessel that represents the original Polynesian voyage to the Hawaiian islands, and a symbol of great Hawaiian pride. It is also the same boat from which Aikau paddled for assistance in 1978, never to be seen again. Clyde Aikau, winner of the 1987 event, led the paddle-out of this year’s official Invitees and Alternates circling the Hokule’a and paying respects to Eddie.

Clyde is ready to ride on what he expects to be the swell of a lifetime. “Knowing that it’s probably gonna go, everybody’s real jacked, including yours truly. I really think it’s going to be a big one, probably the biggest waves ever for the event. I’ve surfed all the big waves that have come through here, ‘74, ‘69, and this one should be even bigger than that.”