Eddie Aikau

Eddie Aikau was born as Edward Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau on May 4, 1946 and died on March 17, 1978. He was a Hawaiian surfer and Coast Guard.

 Eddie Aikau was born on the Hawaiian island of Maui, but moved to Oahu with his family in 1959.

Eddie was the first lifeguard of Waimea Bay, Hawaii. As a surfer was noted for his ability to surf big waves.
He won awards such as Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship in 1977 where  participated the best surfers in the world at that time as Kanaiaupuni Barry, Terry Fizgerald, Mark Richards and Shaun Tompson (world champions these last two).
Eddie took part in an expedition in 1978 that covered the crossing between Hawaii and Tahiti to rescue the traditions and culture of the Hawaiian people and redo the path made ​​by the Polynesians, in an attempt to reassess traditions and Hawaiian culture. The " Polynesian Voyaging Society " organized the expedition and built the Hokulea , canoe - catamaran of 18 meters replica of the ancient boat used by Polynesians to port from Magic Island with destination to the South Pacific . Already at sea , Captain David Lyman (member of the first expedition in 1976 to the same destination ) noted that too much water was coming into the boat. The crew went to work to get rid of as much water as possible and any merchandise that was not vital , since it began to be in serious danger of sinking . The winds and waves were increasingly dangerous until one of those big waves overturned the Hokulea . Eddie used to any situation at sea , volunteered to go for help because he thought he saw the night before lights that were believed Molokai Island . Eddie went for help with two athletes, but rejected at a time wearing the lifejacket because it bothered him to row , but eventually agreed. A few hours after his departure approached a coastal vessel towards the Hokulea . Everyone thought that Eddie had gotten help , but the vessel remains stationary and resumed their march without noticing the presence of the castaways . The next day they were rescued by the U.S. Navy . The search for the body of Eddie Aikau and his colleagues was suspended weeks later. Only table found floating in the area. 

Eddie Aikau Hawaiian and nature were one, interact and faithfully represents the surfer philosophy of harmony between The Wave and The Man.

In Waimea Bay was created a championship to honor one of the most beautiful stories of the mythology of surfing, including memorial Quiksilver The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational In Memory of Eddie Aikau, which has been held since 1986 by the company Australian. The event begins with a ceremony where guests surfers head for the sea, and shouting the name of the Hawaiian form a circle and throw their garlands downtown. The tournament lasts only one day and is performed when the waves reach a height of 25 feet (7.5 meters). It is a great tribute to the man who lost his life trying to get help to save his comrades. 

You can know more about Eddie Aikau and also about the origins of surfing going to this blog or my article.