Eddie Aikau
Surfer/Waterman
May 4, 1946-March 17, 1978
Age 32
Manner of Demise: Lost At Sea
In Hawaii, written on walls, seen on bumper stickers, and on the lips of locals
when up against long odds, is the phrase, “Eddie would go.”
“Eddie” is Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau. One of the first to surf
the massive 30’ waves of Waimea Bay on the North Shore of O'ahu, and the
first lifeguard stationed at Waimea Bay as well, Eddie Aikau in death became
an icon in the renaissance of Hawaiian culture.
In March of 1978, Eddie was selected to be a crew member on the Hokule’a,
a twin hulled Polynesian sailing canoe scheduled to sail from Hawaii to
Tahiti. On the first night of the 2500 mile voyage, the Hokule’a ran
into a storm and capsized. After hours of waiting and drifting farther out of
shipping lanes and flight paths, Eddie volunteered to paddle his surfboard to
Lana’i, one of the smaller Hawaiian islands and more than 20 miles in rough
water.
One of the principal rules of sailing is never leave the ship. A boat, even
upside down, is still easier to spot than a lone person in the water. But after
much debate, the crew felt Eddie would be able to make the 20 mile journey.
Eddie would go. In his foul weather gear and armed with a knife, whistle, bag
of sugar cubes, and strobe light and wearing a life jacket, Eddie paddled toward
help.
After a short distance, many crew members saw Eddie stop and discard his life
jacket. He then continued to paddle toward Lana’i
Within 24 hours, the crew was spotted by a passing plane and rescued. Eddie
Aikau was never seen again.