“The Eddie” is a big wave surfing invitational in Waimea Bay that mandates waves have “forty to fifty to sixty-foot faces, minimum,” according to the 2024 director, surfer Liam McNamara.
Waimea Bay has only cooperated ten times in almost forty years. When it does, invitees are given twelve hours to travel to Oahu, Hawaii, and check in for the competition.
The invitational honors Eddie Aikau, who surfed and lifeguarded the bay in the 60s and 70s. He is credited with over 500 rescues and no lives lost.
When debating whether to raise the green flag for the inaugural Eddie in 1985, surfer Mark Foo watched the huge swells and said, “Eddie would go.”
In 1978, Eddie joined a sea journey honoring Polynesian traditions. Their double-hulled canoe capsized in rough waters, and after a night of clinging to the hull, Eddie attempted to paddle on his surfboard for help.
The crew were rescued a few hours later, but Eddie was never seen again, nor his body ever found.
There’s much more to the story. ESPN produced The Legend of Eddie Aikau as part of their 30 for 30 series, which is worth a watch, and Google honored him with a fun doodle in 2019.
