Edward Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Aikau)

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Eddie would go?" If you have, then you know who I am talking about. However, for those of you who haven’t heard it, this phrase is referring to Eddie Aikau. However, his whole name is Edward Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau. Eddie is a well-known Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer, who first learned how to surf on Kahului Harbor shore break. He was a brave surfer who wasn’t afraid of the big waves.

Eddie was born in Kahului, Hawaii, on the island of Maui on May 4, 1946. He lived in Kahului, Hawaii till he was 12 or 13 years old. At that time, he and his family moved to the island of Oahu. At the age of 16, Eddie quit school and worked at the Dole pineapple cannery. Because of the paychecks he received, he was allowed to buy his first surfboard.

In the year 1968, the City & County of Hawaii hired Eddie to become the first lifeguard on the North Shore. Aikau was given the task to cover the beaches from Sunset Beach to Haleiwa. During his time as the lifeguard, not one life was lost because he was brave enough to go into waves more then 30 feet high. Eddie was named lifeguard of the year in 1971.

In 1978, when Eddie was 31 years old, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was looking for volunteers who wanted to go on an ancient Polynesian migration route between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. On March 16, 1978, the Hokule'a (the double-hulled voyaging canoe) left the Hawaiian Islands. About 12 miles south of the island of Molokai, the canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later tipped over. Since Eddie wanted to seek help, he paddled his surfboard towards the island of Lanai.

After time passed by, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the crew. However, Eddie was never seen. They say that Eddie passed away on March 17, 1978. The search for Eddie Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaiian history.

Eddie Aikau is my hero because he was a brave, caring, and a courageous person. He wasn’t afraid to surf big waves, which most people would be scared of. He’s also a noble person because when the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s canoe got capsized, he was determined to paddle his surfboard all the way to Lanai. Although being brave, caring, and courageous are heroic things, that is not the only reason why Eddie Aikau is my hero. During his years as a lifeguard, he would put others before him, which is the most heroic thing about him.