Eddie Would Go

Edward Ryan Aikau was born May 4, 1946. The third of six children, Frederick, Myra, Gerald, Solomon III and Clyde, the Aikau family was rich in love and tradition. Eddies father, "Pops" Aikau took mother Henrietta and the family surfing nearly every weekend, plus on surfing holidays, helping the children drag a 75 pound wooden board to the beach. That early exposure nurtured a lifelong love and appreciation of surfing in the entire family.

Early in 1967, Eddie surfed 15-foot Sunset for the first time. On November 19 of that same year, Eddie shard one of the best and biggest days at Waimea Bay with some of the top big wave riders on earth. A virtual unknown, he took off deepest on the biggest waves to come through, stunning the beach when he rode a giant 40-foot set wave. There was no doubt about his heart and courage, Eddie would go. Surfing with a timeless Hawaiian style, Eddie didn't surf on the wave-he danced within it, fearlessly.

His extraordinary ability as a waterman made him the natural choice to be the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay. It was Eddie's favorite surf spot and he shared his knowledge about big waves with the young up-and-coming Hawaiian surfers, tutoring them through the fear and empowering them with knowledge that allowed them to thrive. Eddie courageously risked his life so that others would live. In the spirit of the Duke, he wasn't interested in rewards or thanks, he only filed reports on a small portion of those lived he saved. In 1971, his peers recognized him "Lifeguard of the Year".

Professional surfing got a boost from Eddie in 1976, the first year of the I.P.S. World Tour. Along with Hawaiian surf stars Barry Kanaiaupuni and Jeff Hakman, Eddie ranked 12th in the world ratings, helping to legitimize the fledgling pro tour. By this time the Aikau household was jammed with surfing trophies and photos of Eddie and Clyde riding waves. Eddie appeared in surf movies featuring Hawai`i, and a picture of him riding his famous red board was even printed on checks.

Eddie's strong connection to his Hawaiian heritage drove him to become one of the nine crew members chosen by the Polynesian Voyaging Society to sail the traditionally-built sailing canoe, "Hokule`a".

It was on this canoe and in the Hawaiian waters where Eddie would go for the last time. After launching from Magic Island on March 28, 1978, the Hokule`a ran into 12 foot surf off the coast of Lana`i in one of the most treacherous channels, the Kaiwi Channel. The canoe was started to take on water and capsized. Eddie decided to take his surfboard and paddle to Lana`i some 12 miles to the east. While the crew was found the next day, Eddie never was. It was a deep loss for the Hawaiian people. The largest air-sea rescue search in the history of the Hawaiian Islands was launched, but no trace was ever found. Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian, his body followed where his spirit had always been. (from:Quicksilver)