Though known as a fearless waterman, Aikau was also a talented musician. Each rescue gave him a sense of meaning and purpose.ģ. During his career as a lifeguard, he saved hundreds of lives. As the first lifeguard on Oahu’s North Shore, Aikau knew how dangerous the ocean could be and anticipated accidents before they happened. As a Hawaiian waterman, he felt calm in his element - even in huge waves that still scare the best big wave surfers today.Ģ. Though shy and quiet on land, Aikau found a sense of joy and confidence when in the ocean. As a young boy, Aikau discovered a love of the ocean that would guide his life as a surfer, lifeguard, and sailor. Here, Coleman shares five of the most valuable lessons he has learned from studying and writing about the life of Eddie Aikau and getting to know his extended family:ġ. Though lost at sea, Eddie Aikau has come to embody the spirit of the Hawaiian Renaissance and the Hokule’a’s ongoing voyages.Ĭoleman feels he has learned many valuable lessons from sharing the story of Eddie Aikau's life.

His final and most heroic action was trying to rescue his fellow sailors aboard the Hokule’a, which capsized in a storm on March 16, 1978. He talked about how Aikau’s selfless actions as a lifeguard, big wave surfer, and sailor transformed the humble, Native Hawaiian man into a mythic icon. In early November, Coleman gave a keynote address at the Kauai Writers Conference about Eddie Aikau’s extraordinary life and enduring legacy. The contest is unique in that it runs only when surf reaches above 20 feet in height within the three-month waiting period. As the oldest and most prestigious big wave contest on earth, “the Eddie” is not just a surf competition it is a global event drawing millions of viewers. In addition, as of December 14, 2022, we are now officially in the waiting period for the world-famous Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational, hosted by the Aikau family at Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore.

Eddie aikau 30 for 30