Eddie Aikau

Eddie Would Go (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B01cNcYnJNs/T9zA6D5UM8I/ ())

Have you ever had to get into 30 foot surf to save someone's life, or thought of doing something seemingly impossible? Crazy tasks were part of the everyday life of beach boy and surf legend Eddie Aikau. "Edward Ryon Makua Hanai "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 lives and became well known as a big-wave surfer. 'Eddie' was a true symbol of Aloha." (Eddie Aikau Foundation) Eddie was a lifeguard with a perfect record, the winner of the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surf Contest in 1977, and the savior of the Hokule'a and her crew in 1978, but the courage and selflessness are what make Eddie Aikau a true hero.

Eddie on the boat (https://sp.yimg.com/xj/th?id=OIP.M47b821f6c3cc30b1 ())

Being a hero doesn't come easy, and it's not for the faint of heart. Eddie Aikau is the definition of courage, and because of his boldness, he was able to be a hero. Eddie's first real opportunity at showing the world how brave he was was on November 19, "...1967, . , Eddie finally got his chance to take the stage. He was 21 and about to make his big wave debut in one of the largest swells of the decade. His performance that day would remain a vivid memory for those who witnessed it" (Coleman 22) Eddie had never ridden anything half the size, but he saddled up and rode these mountains of waves like no other. Everyone watching was shocked that a 21 year old could tame these beasts, but he didn't care what they thought. He had become the unofficial king of Waimea because he was gutsy enough to go out and take the throne. While growing up on the north shore, Eddie learned to love and learn the ocean. His knowledge and knack for the sea got him a job the he was perfectly suited for. "In 1968, he became the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. Not one life was lost while he served as lifeguard at Waimea Bay. Eddie braved surf that often reached 20 feet high or more to make a rescue." (Eddie Aikau Foundation) Eddie didn't care about the the risk of his life in the high surf, something needed to be done. He frequently and fearlessly leaped into the ocean to make a rescue. Near the end of his life, Eddie departed on a pilgrimage to Tahiti on a replica of a tahitian boat called the Hokule'a. Nearly 5 or so hours into the journey, "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. In an attempt to get to land to save his crew and the Hokule'a, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard. . Aikau was missing at sea. Despite great search efforts "Eddie" was never seen again." (Eddie Aikau Foundation) With the emergency radio out of function, all hope seemed lost for the crew of the Hokule'a. Eddie stepped up as the last resort. It was basically suicide to go out in the ocean in these conditions, but Eddie knew something had to be done. If not for the courage of Eddie Aikau, countless people would have lost their lives. Everyone who was saved by him should thank him and his audacity.

Eddie on Duty (http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/images/content/Eddie_Aikau_childrens_book/Eddie%20Aikau%20lifeguard.jp)

Another thing that Eddie had is selflessness. Without this trait, who would they be helping. They'd only be in the hero business for the fame and glory. Since Eddie had the desire to serve others, and he was very ocean minded, "In 1968, the city and county of Honolulu hired Eddie and Butch Artsdalen as the first lifeguards on the North Shore. As roving lifeguards, their daunting duty was to patrol the entire 7-mile strip of the North Shore and beyond. They would cruise up and down the beaches from Haleiwa to Sunset Beach, looking for accidents and waiting for the radio to crackle with sudden calls for help." (Coleman 34) Aikau was on duty for numerous beaches, just driving back and forth saving lives of everyday people who couldn't save themselves. He could've been surfing like all of the Hawaiian beach boys he was like, but he chose to do something that wasn't for himself. Eddie was the true spirit of aloha, always helping others before himself. While Eddie and Butch were lifeguarding, "... The two brothers worked together, for ten years up until 1978 and never lost one person." (The life.) Eddie worked 11 years as a lifeguard, and he never let anyone die. He just cared too much to allow anything bad to happen to anyone. He could've been surfing everyday for these 11 years, but he saved lives instead because he put others before himself day in and day out. Near the end of his short life, Eddie was selected to join the crew of the Hokule'a, to make a journey from Hawai'i to Tahiti and discover his Polynesian roots. " . disaster struck when the canoe capsized less than a day into the journey, and crew member Eddie Aikau vanished at sea trying to find help. It was a devastating loss, with some arguing that the canoe--and the program--should be suspended. But Thompson joined the voices arguing that it should continue to honor Aikau's sacrifice." (Star) Eddie vanished into the dark, stormy, and killer seas to save his crew when all hope was lost. This shows that he valued others lives enough to risk his own to save them. Charging against the massive swells and wind didn't daunt Eddie, he knew what he had to do and he set out to do it.Even though he died doing the impossible, the aloha of Eddie and the sacrifices he made everyday will forever live on because he never failed to put others before himself.

His will to serve others alongside his undaunting courage are what make Eddie a true hero. As a lifeguard, Eddie used his courage to help others when he would jump in the water to save them. On the hokule'a, he was pressed with the task to save people from their impending doom, and somehow, he was able to overcome the storm and paddle for help. Eddie Aikau has proven himself as a hero to me and numerous people all over the world because of his unshaken courage and that he, without fail, put others before himself. Everything he did had a positive effect on others. He rarely did things for himself, but when he did, he indirectly influenced thousands. His fearlessness in the water at the Duke invitational, boldness at the mega swell of 1967, and his suicide mission on the Hokule'a sent the message of confidence to the world. I know that Eddie's spirit of just doing the task at hand, no matter how hard it seems, has stuck with me. Eddie has planted the seeds of aloha in the hearts of millions, and whatever task you may be facing, be it climbing the highest mountain or helping the elderly cross the street, just know that Eddie Would Go.

Works Cited

Coleman, Stuart Holmes. Eddie Aikau: Hawaiian Hero. Honolulu: Bess, 2015. Print.

"Eddie Aikau Foundation." Eddie Aikau Foundation. Eddie Aikau Foundation, 2006. Web. 04

May 2016. http://www.eddieaikaufoundation.org/eddie.htm.

"Star voyagers: the Hawaiian navigator Nainoa Thompson hopes his next journey across the

Pacific will chart a course for sustainability." Spirituality & Health Magazine July-Aug.

2013:46+.Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.     

"The Life of Eddie Aikau Is the Incredible Story of the Ultimate Waterman. The Surfer,

Lifeguard,Family Man, Friend, Traveler, Musician and Hero Inspired Future Generations

of Wave Riders, All around the Planet." The Surfing Life Story of Eddie Aikau. N.p., n.d. Web.04 May 2016. http://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/8131-the-surfing-life-story-of-eddie-aikau.