Eddie Aikau

Eddie Aikauhttps://www.adventure-journal.com/2016/07/eddie-would-go-is-about-so-much-more-than-sending-it/“I think the image of Eddie, what he stood for-to give your life for somebody else-has come through the event. I feel very honored when the younger surfers really recognize what he was about. To help someone in need and not expect anything back was what Eddie was all about,” (Coleman). Eddie Aikau was a well known Hawaiian surfer that many people looked up to. He was one of the most respected names in surfing (Eddie Aikau Foundation). Being born in Hawaii and known as the first official lifeguard at Waimea Bay, he lived most of his life in the water (Eddie Would Go). Aikau has acquired the title of a hero by doing the things nobody else would. He saved over five hundred people and lost not one person (Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau). A hero must be endowed with fearlessness and passion. One can’t succeed without loving what they do and having courage to pursue the unexpected. A surfing legend, Waimea Bay lifeguard, and a man who dared, Eddie Aikau was not only a kind hearted man off the job but a fearless hawaiian lifeguard who saved hundreds of lives in the ocean containing twenty foot waves and a passionate young man who sacrificed his own life to save his people (Eddie Aikau).  

The Hawaiian Legend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qhnDCPPPgYAs a Waimea Bay lifeguard, Eddie Aikau faced dangerous situations everyday. Causing him to risk his own life to save his community. Aikau’s fearlessness personality was shown when Isaiah Helekunihi, the author of “Waves of Resistance”, states, “His reputation as a big-wave expert not only brought him fame, but also opened the door to a career change—from canning pineapples to being a North Shore lifeguard. After receiving awards by the City and County of Honolulu for rescuing hundreds of people in dangerous North Shore conditions, Eddie was revered as a quiet giant. But his confidence in the ocean was rooted in his rising pride in being Hawaiian, in a kind of symbiotic balance,” (115). Aikau was not only known as a big-wave surfer but a lifeguard hero, for saving many lives in the perilous waters of Hawaii. No matter the conditions of the waves, even at heights of twenty feet, it didn't stop Eddie from saving the lives of people at Waimea Bay (Remembering Eddie).  Because of his fearlessness, in the twenty years of him working as a lifeguard, he never lost one life (Walker). The Hawaiian community had a famous quote they would all refer to as a remembrance of the greatness Aikau accomplished in his short life, “The local saying, ‘Eddie Would Go,’ refers to his stoke to take on big waves that other surfers would shy away from and his courage to make a rescue in impossible situations,” (Eddie Aikau Foundation). In this quote, his fearlessness shines through by the locals referring to all the success he has conquered. They compare him to the other surfers that would never do what Eddie has done. Aikau took risks that no one else wanted to and would constantly sacrifice his own life. The average person wouldn’t have the courage that he did (SurfingToday). The term fearless fits the profile of being a hero for Aikau because he was the first one to jump out of his seat and help people in danger he didn’t even know.

Doing what you love and always giving it 100% shows you are truly passionate about it. Eddie Aikau posses this trait and showed it in his everyday life. Isaiah Helekunihi shares his thoughts by explaining, “Aikau was not only revered as a Hawaiian who sacrificed his life for his crew, but his sacrifice was also seen as an offering on behalf of his people,” (Walker). Eddie Aikau showed his passion his for his job by the actions he took. On a daily basis, Aikau never gave anything but 100% in everything he would do. His actions portrayed the difference between him and an average hero. His brother Clyde stated, “‘Eddie’s legacy is there to inspire the next generation to do great things and to do great things for others,’ his brother says in the book. ‘You may not have to give your life to save someone, but helping other people is what Eddie's all about,’"(Eddie Aikau Memorial: Surfing stars chase big waves in Hawaii). Eddie took his job seriously and all his hours spent watching the surf payed off in the end. Aikau had a younger brother named Clyde who he partner with when lifeguarding, Clyde Aikau states, “‘Eddie Would Go to me doesn't necessarily mean involvement with only the ocean. I believe Eddie Would Go if nobody else would go. Eddie Would Go where people wouldn't go. Eddie Would Go and help people in the water when he didn't even know them. Eddie Would Go on the biggest waves that would pull through Waimea Bay when most people wouldn't go. I think the phrase Eddie Would Go is really a phrase that would ultimately say that one would put themselves out there for the betterment of others. That could relate to anybody - a person from Waikiki, a tourist, or some extreme surfer. Just helping out somebody else is what Eddie Would Go is about.’” (Eddie Would Go). In this quote, Clyde Aikau is talking about what “Eddie Would Go” truly means to him (Eddie Would Go). He states that is doesn’t mainly have to do with the ocean but more importantly his personality. Eddie is the kind of guy that steps up for people he doesn’t even know. He does the unthinkable, what nobody else would do. The things he has done for his community and the actions he took showed that he is a hero to many people. Passion fits the profile of being a hero because Aikau showed his people would much their lives meant to him and he made a difference. Aikau’s passion towards what his does has made a strong impact on many lives and because of that his legacy will live on forever.

Eddie Would Go https://huckberry.com/journal/posts/eddie-would-goEddie Aikau is portrayed as a fearless and passionate young man due to the sacrifices he has made to save other people and the way he shows his love for his job. He not only known for the mounturos waves he caught and winning the biggest surf competitions, but for the reliability he showed his community they could have for him (Quicksilver). “Aikau earned his legendary status. ‘People often describe champion surfers as heroes, but while they may be risking their lives, they do it for fun. Eddie was different. Waimea was his bay,’”(Tomalin). Aikau has inspired so many people and does the things they wouldn’t normally do. He is always the first one to get up and help someone in need and better his community. Due to Aikau’s selflessness, he put people before himself. In just his short years of living, he has accomplished more than an average person has in their entire life. He is the kind of young man people strive to be like and the one person to ever have a giant smile on their face while surfing a twenty five foot wave (Eddie Aikau- Legend, Lifeguard, and Young Man Who Dared). Eddie Aikau is a name that will forever linger in the minds of the Hawaiians as a true hero.