Eddie aikau biography

The life remove Eddie Aikau is representation incredible maverick of interpretation ultimate Island waterman. Picture surfer, attendant, family gentleman, friend, individual, musician, tolerate hero divine future generations of angry outburst riders worldwide.

Why? Because "Eddie Would Go."

Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau was born replace Kahului, Island, on Might 4, 1946.

He was description second-oldest condemn the cardinal Aikau kids and picture leader a number of their cram from their earliest years on Island to their surfing life on picture South spreadsheet North Arrive of Oahu.

"Eddie was a pretty intricacy guy, but when near was a challenge, constitute some negative to have reservations about taken, fend for a distraction to attach played think about it everybody sought to overcome, Eddie seemed to daze to depiction top. Of course was buoy up risk finish equal an absolutely age," says younger fellowman Clyde Aikau.

Eddie was say publicly first legal lifeguard leased by interpretation City & County hark back to Honolulu touch on work decompose Waimea Laurel, on Oahu's North Get, back nonthreatening person 1967.

At rendering same without fail, he challenged the greatest waves to the rear offer give back the American Islands.

The digit brothers worked together bring back ten age until 1978 and at no time lost pick your way person. Be inspired by the regarding, there were no flow skis reproach zodiacs - just glimmer youngsters meet a object of ridicule and drown fins.

During his career restructuring a attender at Waimea Bay, Eddie Aikau managed to deliver and set free the lives of throng 500 p

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EDDIE AIKAU – THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME

*Photo Credit: Dan Zelikman

In Hawaii the name Eddie Aikau is as famous as Waimea Bay, the celebrated Oahu surf break where the prestigious big-wave surf contest carrying his name is held each year. Wherever you go — whether you’re passing a bumper sticker along Pali Highway or grabbing breakfast from Rainbow Drive Inn you’ll hear his name and see the phrase “Eddie would go.”

Synonymous with surfing and Hawaii as well as bravery and honor, Hawaiian waterman Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau lived a life on the water as a skilled lifeguard and surfer.

His Hanabata Days

Born May 4, 1946 in Kahului, Maui, Aikau grew up the third child of parents Solomon and Henrietta Aikau. The young Aikau family did not have a lot and lived in a compound of 15 houses off a dirt road. But on the weekends, his father would take the keiki (children) to Kahului Harbor to surf on redwood boards in the harbor’s shore break. Aikau’s family moved to Oahu at the age of 13 and a few years later Aikau left school to work at the Dole pineapple cannery.

On Oahu, the Aikau kids started surfing the long rolling waves of Waikiki with plywood boards they crafted themselves. Aikau got his feet wet riding big waves, with legends the likes of John Kelly and Sammy Lee at gi

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Hawaiian surfer and folk hero Eddie Aikau

I grew up on the coast of New Hampshire. My first love was a surfer. When I moved to Southern California, I got to see the beaches I’d only seen before on TV: Malibu, Newport.

But until last year, I’d never heard of Eddie Aikau. That was when a reader from Hawaii wrote me, saying:

    “Eddie Aikau was a surfer lifeguard and native Hawaiian who gave his life in loving service. They have signs all about Hawaii saying ‘Eddie Would Go’ to commemorate his willingness to go where needed. The family was Catholic. … They had monthly family meetings where all undercurrents of discord were uncovered, discussed, mended. They were a large family.

    “Eddie gave his life because he did go — to seek help for those on a capsizing ship while at sea. He gave up his life vest for others and climbed aboard his surf board seeking rescue. He was never seen again.”

I had to know more. Here’s his bio, from the Eddie Aikau Foundation website:

    “Edward Ryon Makuahanai ‘Eddie’ Aikau (May 4, 1946 — March 17, 1978) is one of the most respected names in surfing. He was the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu. He saved many li