THE EDDIE IS LIVE
Edward Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau (Kahului, Hawaii, May 4, 1946 – March 17, 1978) was a well-known Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. The words Makua Hanai in Eddie Aikau’s full name mean feeding parent,[1] an adoptive, nurturing, fostering parent,[2][3] in the Hawaiian language. As the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu, he saved many lives and became famous for surfing the big Hawaiian surf, winning several awards including the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship.
Life
Born in Kahului, Maui, Aikau was the third child of Solomon and Henrietta Aikau. Aikau first learned how to surf at Kahului Harbor on its shorebreak. He moved to Oʻahu with his family in 1959, and at the age of 16 left school and started working at the Dole pineapple cannery; The paycheck allowed Aikau to buy his first surfboard. In 1968, he became the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. The City & County of Honolulu gave Aikau the task of covering all of the beaches between Sunset and Haleiwa. Not one life was lost while he served as lifeguard of Waimea Bay, as he braved waves that often reached 30 feet (9.1 m) high or more.[4] In 1971, Aikau was named Lifeguard of the Year.[5]
Lost at Sea
In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30-day, 2,500-mile (4,000 km) journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. At 31 years of age, Aikau joined the voyage as a crew member. The Hokule’a left the Hawaiian islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized about twelve miles (19 km) south of the island of Molokai. In an attempt to get help, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard.[6] Although the rest of the crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, Aikau was never seen again. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history.[7]
The last person lifeguard Eddie Aikau rescued at Waimea Bay was a young TV producer named John Orland, who had just wrapped up production on a TV pilot called the “Hawaii Experience,” starring Bob Crane from Hogan’s Heroes. He was rescued on February 19, 1978, less than a month before Eddie Aikau was lost at sea.
Memorial surfing invitational
In Aikau’s honor, the surfwear company Quiksilver sponsors the “The Eddie”[8]—the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay. The idea of the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational was created by Bruce Raymond and Bob McKnight.
Since its inception (Eddie Aikau’s brother Clyde Aikau[8] won the first Eddie in 1985), the tournament has only been held seven times, due to a precondition that open-ocean swells reach a minimum of 20 feet (this translates to a wave face height of over 30 feet).[9] The most recent tournament was in December 2004, when waves in the bay reached 30 to 50 feet (15 m) high. The contest only invites 24 big-wave riders to participate in two rounds of competition. The event does not allow the use of jet skis to tow surfers into the waves.
Popular culture
In the 1980s, bumper stickers and T-shirts with the phrase “Eddie Would Go” spread around the Hawaiian Islands and to the rest of the world. According to maritime historian Mac Simpson, “Aikau was a legend on the North Shore, pulling people out of waves that no one else would dare to. That’s where the saying came from — Eddie would go, when no else would or could. Only Eddie dared.”[7]
Another variation of the aforementioned popular phrase is “Eddie wouldn’t tow.” This phrase is in reference to the method of big wave surfing in which one surfer must accelerate another surfer (the former on a jet ski, the latter towed on a surfboard) to the speed of a large, fast wave. It is also partially in response to the controversy over the “unnaturalness” of tow-in surfing; many surfers feel that being towed in to a wave, as opposed to paddling, is against the spirit of the sport.[10]
Other variations of the phrase include “Eddie would throw” (in support of the University of Hawaii’s passing attack by Colt Brennan under June Jones), “Eddie wouldn’t crow” (in opposition to boastful and egotistical surfers), and “Eddie would hoe” (in support of Native Hawaiian agricultural outreach programs). Another variation used recently during the 2008 election campaign for Honolulu rail transit was the slogan, “Eddie would ride.”
It’s rare that I post on non surfing related stuff, but I stumbled across a diamond in the ruff and I feel obligated to let the world know. I recently visited the baithouse bar / seafood restaurant in clearwater beach for a holiday party and was instantly mystified by the beauty of the location, the charm of the people and the quality of the food.
It is a breath of fresh air for clearwater dining. I have lived in pinellas county Florida for about two years and this place is my new favorite. All of the fish is truly fresh catch and the specials change with what fish are biting. Their assortment of beverages (particularly in the beer department) is quite impressive. In addition to food, bait and tackle they have several boat slips, so coming by boat is a great option. If you have been out fishing on your own, or on a commercial charter trip (all the big charter boats park next door) they encourage you to bring your fish in and they will prepare it for you however you like, while you relax and enjoy the view. All the food on the menu is made to order, and is truly unbelievable. I can’t wait to go back.
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