![]() For hours airplanes flew overhead between the islands but did not spot them. I must tell you about Eddie, because he had, and still has, great influence on me he's one of my great teachers." Nainoa tells of how Hokule'a, a few hours after leaving Honolulu harbor, capsized in the Moloka'i Channel and floated upside down, the crew clinging to her overturned hulls. "It's only fair to mention that it wasn't all perfect and glorious. Speidel, Editor of The Kamehameha Journal of Education, and Kristina Inn, Associate Editor Remembrance of Eddieįrom an Interview of Nainoa Thompson in “The Ocean Is My Classroom,” written by Gisela E. Despite great search efforts "Eddie" was never seen again. Hours later a commercial airplane spotted the Hokule'a and the rest of the crew was soon rescued by the U.S. In an attempt to get to land to save his crew and the Hokule'a, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized in stormy weather about twelve miles south of the island of Molokai. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian Islands on March 16, 1978. At 31 years of age, Aikau was selected for this voyage as a crew member. In 1978, a second voyage of the traditional sailing canoe was planned. In 1976, the Polynesian Voyaging Society sailed the Hokule'a on a successful 30-day, 2500 mile journey following the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands. "Eddie" became involved in perpetuating his Hawaiian heritage. The local saying, "Eddie Would Go," refers to his stoke to take on big waves that other surfers would shy away from and his courage to make a rescue in impossible situations. He became very famous for surfing the bigHawaiian surf and won several surfing awards including First Place at the prestigious 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship. Eddie braved surf that often reached 20 feet high or more to make a rescue. Not one life was lost while he served as lifeguard at Waimea Bay. In 1968, he became the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. "Eddie" was a true symbol of Aloha.īorn on the island of Maui, Aikau later moved to O'ahu with his family in 1959. He saved many lives and became well known as a big-wave surfer. He was the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu. “I wish all the participants the best of luck,” she said.Eddie Aikau (from the Eddie Aikau Foundation Website)Įdward Ryon Makuahanai "Eddie" Aikau (– March 17, 1978) is one of the most respected names in surfing. She urged visitors to carpool and take the bus because the roads will be congested. Kathleen Pahinui, the chairperson of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, said it will be good for businesses, restaurants and shops. ![]() The contest is expected to attract tens of thousands of spectators to the two-lane highway winding through the North Shore and the small towns that dot the coastal community. “To see women - not only women surfing Waimea but women and men sharing the same event together, with mutual respect and equality - I’m just really thrilled at the thought,” Pennybacker said. She said they’ve had to fight to be included and have meanwhile shown that they could handle big waves in spots around the world. ![]() Mindy Pennybacker, a surf columnist for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and author of the upcoming book “Surfing Sisterhood Hawaii: Wahine Reclaiming the Waves” said there’s long been an assumption that Waimea was too dangerous for women and they couldn’t surf there. Keala Kennelly of Kauai, a women’s big wave surf champion, is among the female invitees. John John Florence, who hails from the North Shore and who has won two back-to-back world titles, has also been asked to join. This year organizers have invited 40 competitors and 18 alternates from around the world, including Kelly Slater, who has won a record 11 world surfing titles. We’re surfing in the spirit of Eddie,”′ Coleman said. “They always say at the opening ceremony, where they gather to launch the holding period, ’This is not just a contest. Coast Guard rescued the remaining crew a few hours later after being alerted by a commercial plane that spotted the canoe.Ĭoleman said The Eddie is about the best of big wave surfing and the best of Hawaiian culture. Aikau volunteered to paddle several miles to nearby Lanai Island on his surfboard to get help for the rest of the crew but was never seen again. Just hours out of port, the giant double-hulled canoe known as the Hokulea took on water and overturned in stormy weather. Aikau died in 1978 at the age of 31 during an expedition to sail a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe from Honolulu to Tahiti.
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