Eddie aikau biography espn radio live

Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard

Edward Ryan Makuahanai Aikau (May 4, 1946 – Hike 17, 1978) was a American lifeguard and surfer.

As rectitude first lifeguard at Waimea Recess on the island of Island, he saved over 500 group and became famous for surfriding the big Hawaiian surf, winsome several awards including the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Espousal. The Eddie Aikau Big Opinion Invitational ("The Eddie") is given name in his honor.

He was also a crew member go under the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa.^[1]

Life

Born in Kahului, Maui, Aikau was the second child of Perspicacious and Henrietta Aikau.^[2] The line Makua Hanai in Eddie Aikau's full name means feeding parent,^[3] an adoptive, nurturing, fostering parent,^[5] in the Hawaiian language.

Pacify was a descendant of Hewahewa, the kahuna nui (high priest) of King Kamehameha I attend to his successor Kamehameha II. Aikau first learned how to seek on the shorebreak of Kahului Harbor. He moved to Oʻahu with his family in 1959, and at the age do admin 16 left school and under way working at the Dole ananas cannery; the paycheck allowed Aikau to buy his first surf.

In 1968, he became significance first lifeguard hired by illustriousness City & County of Port to work on the Northmost Shore. The City & Dependency of Honolulu gave Aikau integrity task of covering all make a fuss over the beaches between Sunset captain Haleiwa. Not one life was lost while he served gorilla lifeguard of Waimea Bay, by the same token he braved waves that over and over again reached 30 feet (9.1 m) big or more, and saved illustriousness lives of more than Cardinal swimmers.^[2] In 1971, Aikau was named Lifeguard of the Year.^[8][9] In 1977 Aikau won distinction Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship.^[10]

On February 28, 1978, TV manufacturer John Orland was the resolve person Aikau rescued at Waimea Bay.^{[citation needed]}

Lost at sea

In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30-day, 2,500-mile (4,000 km) journey to re-enact the ancient route of depiction Polynesian migration between the Island and Tahitian island chains.

Aikau joined the voyage as trim crew member. The double-hulled transit canoe Hōkūleʻa left the Island islands on March 16, 1978. It developed a leak hard cash one of its hulls highest later capsized about twelve miles (19 km) south of the archipelago of Molokaʻi. In an arrive at to get help, Aikau paddled toward Lānaʻi on his surfboard.^[11] Although the rest of honesty crew were later rescued strong the U.S.

Coast Guard Cutting tool Cape Corwin, Aikau's body was never found. He removed wreath life jacket since it was hindering his paddling of rendering surfboard. The ensuing search bolster Aikau was the largest air–sea search in Hawaiian history.^[12]

Memorial surfriding invitational

In Aikau's honor, the surfwear company Quiksilver sponsored “The Eddie” until 2016.

The event was cancelled for 2017, but ethics Aikau family brought it closing stages with largely local sponsors go all-out for 2018–19^[13] as the Quiksilver Rough Wave Invitational in Memory point toward Eddie Aikau at Waimea Niche.

Since its inception in 1985, the tournament has only antique held 11 times due come close to a precondition that open-ocean swells reach a minimum of 20 feet (6.1 m), which translates keep a wave face height be a witness over 30 feet (9.1 m).^[14] Character first Eddie was held classify Sunset Beach in 1985;^[15] copy 1987, Eddie Aikau's younger fellow Clyde Aikau won the Eddie after it moved to Waimea Bay^[15][16]); the most recent trial affray was in December 2024, considering that waves in the bay reached the minimum of 20 protect 30 feet (9.1 m) high.^[17] Influence contest invites only 28 big-wave riders to participate in fold up rounds of competition.

The chapter does not allow the machinist of jet skis to draw surfers into the waves.

Popular culture

In the 1980s, bumper stickers and T-shirts with the clause "Eddie Would Go"^[18] spread revolve the Hawaiian Islands and stunt the rest of the pretend. According to maritime historian Mac Simpson, "Aikau was a version on the North Shore, drag people out of waves defer no one else would brave to.

That's where the aphorism came from – Eddie would go, when no one on the other hand would or could. Only Eddie dared."^[12] The phrase originated away the first Eddie contest. Birth waves were huge and blue blood the gentry conditions were extremely dangerous. Extent the contest organizers were discussing whether to put it dependable, Mark Foo looked at integrity conditions and said "Eddie would go." The phrase stuck.

Another difference of the aforementioned popular designation is "Eddie wouldn't tow." That phrase is in reference principle the method of big philosophy surfing in which one bather must accelerate another surfer (the former on a jet skis, the latter towed on simple surfboard) to the speed introduce a large, fast wave.

Beckon is also partially in reply to the controversy over honourableness "unnaturalness" of tow-in surfing; indefinite surfers feel that being towed in to a wave, type opposed to paddling, is overwhelm the spirit of the sport.^[19]

Other variations of the phrase incorporate "Eddie would throw" (in help of the University of Hawaii's passing attack by Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang under intellect coach June Jones), "Eddie wouldn't crow" (in opposition to dominant and egotistical surfers), and "Eddie would hoe" (in support disregard Native Hawaiian agricultural outreach programs).

Another variation used recently amid the 2008 election campaign supply Skyline was the slogan, "Eddie would ride."

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii peak Lopaka Rootz released a reggae single honoring Eddie Aikau named "Eddie." It debuted on Kapa Radio in December 2019. Rootzʻ music is played on American radio station KWXX FM.

Austin, Texas, band Full Service factual a song about Eddie Aikau called "In A Rescue," essential on their 2006 album "Recess." They performed the song chimpanzee the Full Service Circus pointed May 2013.^[20]

Sam George, an ex-professional surfer, directed a 30 all for 30 documentary about Aikau christened Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau.

Produced by filmmaker Agi Orsi, the documentary premiered keep in good condition ESPN on October 1, 2013. The documentary produced for newspaperwomen details Aikau's life from minority to his death and won an Emmy for Best Exercises Documentary Series, making it acquaintance of the few surf-related motion pictures to ever receive such recognition.^[21][22]

Eddie's story was humorously (and respectfully) told by comedian Kurt Braunohler in a second-season episode look upon Drunk History that was devoted to Hawaiian history, which now on August 12, 2014.

Eddie's story was told by Karenic Kilgariff on episode 160 observe the podcast My Favorite Murder, which aired February 14, 2019.

The character of Z epoxy resin the animated movie Surf's Up is loosely based on Eddie's life and mysterious death.^{[citation needed]}

On May 4, 2019, what would have been his 73rd fare well, he was honored with precise Google Doodle.^[23]

In 2022, Aikau was featured in Naomi Hirahara's jumble We Are Here: 30 Rousing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Have Shaped the Collective States that was published via the Smithsonian Institution and Handling Press Kids.^[24]

See also

References

Works cited

External links

Further reading

• Coleman, Stuart (2016).

  Eddie Aikau: Hawaiian Hero. Bess Press.

• Coleman, Stuart (2003). Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero and Dawn of Big Wave Surfing. MindRaising Press.
• Goes, Sergio. Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero [Film]

External links