A moment in remembrance of Eddie Aikau

All photos by Gavin Shige 

The 31st annual Eddie Aikau opening ceremony kicked off yesterday. A contest that honours one of the greatest watermen in Hawaiian history. The event has a three month long holding period that ends February 29th and in the 31 years it’s only ran nine times. The competition’s a one day event that sports a strict height requirement. The waves need to be no-fucking-around big: 20 foot Hawaiian. If it hits that height this year (come on El Nino), Waimea Bay will hold the event as it always does. Eddie was the first official lifeguard at Waimea and one of the best big wave riders of his time. He along with his younger brother and fellow lifeguard Clyde surfed every big swell event to swing through the North Shore from 1967 to 1978. Clyde announced at the ceremony yesterday that this will be the very last Eddie he’ll be compete in. Eddie passed away trying to save a stranded crew of a capsized canoe adrift outside the Hawaiian Islands. He was part of the crew selected to voyage from Oahu to Tahiti as part of a Polynesian cultural expedition. Eddie grabbed a paddle board and headed towards the coast to save his comrades. He was never seen again, and he’s never been forgotten.

This will be Clyde Aikau’s last Eddie to compete in. However he will remain an integral part of the event for years to come.

The 2015/2016 Invitees are:
Aaron Gold, Albee Layer, Bruce Irons, Clyde Aikau, Dave Wassel, Garrett McNamara, Grant Baker, Greg Long, Ian Walsh, Jamie Mitchell, Jamie O’Brien, Jeremy Flores, John John Florence, Kala Alexander, Kelly Slater, Kohl Christensen, Makua Rothman, Mark Healey, Nathan Fletcher, Noah Johnson, Peter Mel, Ramon Navarro, Reef McIntosh, Ross Clarke-Jones, Shane Dorian, Sunny Garcia and Takayuki Wakita

The new gen of Hawaiian big wave thrill. From Left to right: Ian Walsh, Albee Layer, Billy Kemper and Kai Lenny.

Official Alternates:
Mason Ho (Aikau Pick), Danilo Couto, Mark Matthews, Koa Rothman, Ben Wilkinson, Jamie Sterling, Billy Kemper, Shawn Dollar, Carlos Burle, Kealii Mamala, Gabriel Villaran, Michael Ho, Kai Lenny, Kahea Hart, Nathan Florence, Damien Hobgood, Kalani Chapman, Ryan Hipwood, Danny Fuller, Nic Lamb, Anthony Tashnick, Rusty Long, Derek Dunfee and Brock Little,

Event past winners:
1985/1986 : Denton Miyamura, 1986/1987 : Clyde Aikau, 1989/1990 : Keone Downing, 1998/1999 : Noah Johnson, 2000/2001 : Ross Clarke-Jones, 2004/2005 : Bruce Irons, 2001/2002 : Kelly Slater and 2009/2010 : Greg Long

The annual celebration of life has concluded, now we wait for swell… a lot of it.