The Eddie Opening Ceremony 2011
The opening ceremony for the Eddie Aikau surfing contest marks the beginning of the holding period for the world’s most prestigious big-wave invitational surfing event. About 50 big wave surfers formed a circle in the water and paid tribute to legendary 1960s and ‘70s Hawaiian surfer and North Shore lifeguard Eddie Aikau. The invitation-only one-day professional contest is held when waves at Waimea Bay are seriously big. Wave heights must exceed a minimum 20-foot threshold.
It’s a rare international sporting event that can have no set date, be held just eight times in a span of 27 years, and still gain strength. But the lifeblood of the big wave Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau lies in what one man’s life represented: the best that surfing and Hawaii have to offer the world. The story of Eddie Aikau, a Hawaiian hero who saved and inspired lives as Waimea Bay’s resident lifeguard and big wave charger, continues to touch generations. Hawaiian kahu (priest) Billy Mitchell said, “Eddie had a passion. He had a passion about living and loving the ocean. Whether you surf or you don’t surf, you are drawn to people like Eddie in life. People with big mana (spirit). We have to remember, and we cannot forget, someone who lived this way. Eddie never left people behind. It was his way. We need that in this life, especially now. It’s a way to surf; it’s a way to live.”
The holding period for the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau starts December 1st, and runs through to February 29, 2012. The defending champion is California’s Greg Long. Past champions are Denton Miyamura (Hawaii), Keone Downing (Hawaii), Clyde Aikau (Hawaii), Noah Johnson (Hawaii), Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia), Kelly Slater (USA), and Bruce Irons (Hawaii).
Eddie Invitees 2011
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the most venerated big wave surfing event on Earth, held at Waimea Bay, Oahu, on a single day during the Hawaiian winter when, and if, waves exceed the 20-foot minimum requirement. The official holding period for this year is December 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012. This event gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe for the ultimate challenge, employing unassisted manpower to physically paddle into and ride giant waves. It began in 1984 as a local tribute to one of Hawaii’s favorite surfing sons Eddie Aikau, who has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man.
Invitees:
Brock Little – Hawaii
Bruce Irons – Hawaii
Clyde Aikau – Hawaii
Dave Wassel – Hawaii
Greg Long – USA
Jamie O’Brien – Hawaii
Jamie Sterling – Hawaii
Kala Alexander – Hawaii
Kelly Slater – USA
Keone Downing – Hawaii
Kohl Christensen – Hawaii
Makua Rothman – Hawaii
Mark Healey – Hawaii
Michael Ho – Hawaii
Nathan Fletcher – USA
Noah Johnson – Hawaii
Peter Mel – USA
Ramon Navarro – Chile
Reef McIntosh – Hawaii
Ross Clarke – Jones – Austrailia
Rusty Keaulana – Hawaii
Shane Dorian – Hawaii
Sunny Garcia – Hawaii
Tom Carroll – Hawaii
Carlos Burle – Brazil
Grant Baker – South Africa
Jeremy Flores – Europe
Takayuki Wakita – Japan
Alternates:
Kalani Chapman, Garrett McNamara, Ian Walsh, Kahea Hart, Alex Gray, Chris Bertish, Mark Mathews, Shawn Dollar, John John Florence, Danilo Couto, Jamie Mitchell, Evan Valiere, Gabriel Villaran, Danny Fuller, Keoni Watson, Ben Wilkinson, Diego Medina, Rusty Long, Derek Dunfee, Anthony Tashnick, Ken Collins, Kealii Mamala, Ross Williams, Tav Hannemann.
The Eddie Opening Ceremony 2010
The world’s most celebrated big wave riders gathered at Waimea Bay for the opening ceremony of the In Memory of Eddie Aikau. December of every year the world’s longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational asks a list of 28 surfers to ride mammoth waves at Waimea like Eddie did in his time. Among those gathered were defending event champion Greg Long, and former Eddie winners Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons, Ross Clarke-Jones, Clyde Aikau, Noah Johnson, and Keone Downing.
Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe. The Eddie is a surfer’s ultimate challenge, employing unassisted manpower to physically paddle into and ride giant waves. The Eddie will be held on one day between December 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011, when waves exceed the 20-foot minimum threshold.
Eddie Aikau has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man. But this year it is the fresh loss of former invitees Andy Irons and Marvin Foster, both from Hawaii, that has the surfing world reflecting upon the importance of gatherings like these and the role they play in honoring the past, respecting the present and looking forward to the future.
“It is the passing of these brothers that once again reminds us of the life and loss of Eddie,” said Hawaiian Kahu Billy Mitchell, flanked by the Aikau family. “But as we stand in this circle, we realize that this circle, like life, is a continuum of those who have gone on already, those who are here, and those young brave surfers yet to come.”
Eddie Aikau Invitees 2010
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surfing event will be held on one day between 12/1/10 and 2/28/11 when waves exceed the 20-foot minimum threshold. The traditional opening ceremony will take place 12/2/10, at Waimea Bay. This event gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe for the ultimate challenge, employing unassisted manpower to physically paddle into and ride giant waves. It began in 1984 as a local tribute to one of Hawaii’s favorite surfing sons Eddie Aikau, who has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man.
Invitees:
Clyde Aikau, Hawaii
Kala Alexander, Hawaii
Tom Carroll, Hawaii
Kohl Christensen, Hawaii
Ross Clarke-Jones, Australia
Shane Dorian, Hawaii
Keone Downing, Hawaii
Sunny Garcia, Hawaii
Mark Healey, Hawaii
Michael Ho, Hawaii
Bruce Irons, Hawaii
Noah Johnson, Hawaii
Rusty Keaulana, Hawaii
Brock Little, Hawaii
Greg Long, California
Reef McIntosh, Hawaii
Garrett McNamara, Hawaii
Peter Mel, California
Ramon Navarro, Chile
Jamie O’Brien, Hawaii
Makuakai Rothman, Hawaii
Kelly Slater, Florida
Jamie Sterling, Hawaii
Dave Wassell, Hawaii
Grant Baker, South Africa
Chris Bertish, South Africa
Carlos Burle, Brazil
Takayuki Wakita, Japan
Alternates:
Kahea Hart, Ross Williams, Nathan Fletcher, Mark Mathews, Sion Miloski, Kalani Chapman, Keoni Watson, Anthony Tashnick, Ian Walsh, Koby Abberton, Danny Fuller, Kealii Mamala, Ken Collins, Myles Padaca, Laurie Towner, Jamie Mitchell, Paul Patterson, Andrew Marr, Rusty Long, Tony Ray, Derek Ho, Taylor Knox, Tau Hannemann, Manoa Drollet.
Honorary Invitees:
Donny Solomon, Jay Moriarity, Lester Falatea, Mark Foo, Peter Davi, Tiger Espere, Todd Chesser, Andy Irons.
Eddie Aikau – The Legend
Eddie was a direct descendant of Kahuna Nui Hewahewa, the highest priest of Hawaii in the early 1800s. Hewahewa retired to Waimea Valley later that century, taking up the role of caretaker of Waimea Valley, from the mountains to the sea. One hundred years later, Aikau picked up the family torch as caretaker of the Bay – its first official lifeguard. Eddie Aikau had a relationship with Waimea that would become legendary – saving countless lives and surfing for up to eight hours at a time.
The big wave surfing event in memory of Eddie Aikau began in 1984 as a local tribute to one of Hawaii’s favorite surfing sons. This event gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe, and only takes place if wave heights are in excess of twenty feet. 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.
Waimea was deemed to be the soul of big-wave riding. In the late 1980s, when contest officials were in the midst of deciding whether to run the event in huge waves they were asking the surfers if they wanted to go out and surf, and one surfer looked out and said, “Eddie would go.” The phrase spread throughout the world on bumper stickers, posters, caps, and T-shirts.
Clyde Aikau says, “Eddie had a great life and we’re thankful for that. As a family, we’re so proud and humbled that after so many years, so many people still recognize him for what he did, which was to give the ultimate give of his life to try and save others.” Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero
Eddie Aikau – The Hero
Following his win of the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational at Sunset Beach in the winter of 1977, Eddie’s focus shifted. The Hawaiian cultural renaissance was in full swing and Aikau was feeling the pull to go deeper into the roots of his Hawaiian heritage. The cultural connection Eddie was seeking came in the form of the Hokule’a, a traditional double-hull voyaging canoe that was the symbol of Hawaiian pride.
The Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30-day, 2,500-mile journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. Eddie leapt at the chance to be part of the crew who would sail Hokule’a by traditional celestial navigation. The Hokule’a set sail on a stormy afternoon in March of 1978, in strong winds that were whipping up heavy seas.
Not far into the journey, Hokule’a developed a leak in one of her hulls and eventually capsized during the night in the Moloka’i Channel. The crew hung on and hoped for a quick rescue, but after weathering the night, and with the physical state of crewmembers deteriorating, Eddie volunteered to paddle for help on a surfboard to the Hawaiian island of Lana’i, estimated to be 19 miles away. It would be the final rescue attempt of his life. While the crew aboard Hokule’a were later spotted by a passing plane and rescued, Aikau was never seen again.
“There was a lot of blame going on that the captain was responsible and so forth,” Clyde Aikau said. “I want to make sure that the captain knows that no matter what he did that day, no matter what anybody in that group did that day, Eddie would have found a way to leave the Hokule’a and go get help. That’s just the kind of guy he was.”
