Eddie Aikau Pro Surfers Stoke Out the Locals

This past Saturday, something special and deeply meaningful to the surf community filled the center court at Ka Makana Aliʻi. From the moment people began lining up, some hours before the event began, it was clear this night was about more than a meet-and-greet with some of surfing’s most dedicated watermen and women. It was about honoring a legacy that still moves Hawaiʻi’s surf community at its core.

Eddie Aikau has always represented more than a name or an event. Eddie was a waterman in the truest sense, Waimea Bay’s first lifeguard, a fearless big-wave surfer, and a man whose life was defined by his connection to the ocean and service to others. His courage, humility, sacrifice, and the aloha he embodied continue to set the standard. That’s why the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational remains unlike any other contest in the world. It’s reserved for the watermen and women who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of big-wave surfing, most specifically at Waimea Bay. It is held only when The Bay calls the day and waves reach truly historic size. And it honors those surfers who answer the call when the ocean demands everything. That spirit carried us throughout the evening.

On behalf of the Eddie Aikau Foundation, we at T&C were honored to welcome some of the world’s most respected big-wave surfers, including Billy Kemper, Nathan Florence, Mark Healey, Ha’a Aikau, and past Eddie winner Luke Shepardson, to name a few. Even more meaningful was seeing how they showed up, not as celebrities, but as approachable, grounded watermen taking time to connect with everyone who came through.

The energy was high from start to finish. Fans packed the space, many holding onto their spot in line with a grom-like excitement to meet their heroes. There were prize giveaways for those who answered Eddie-related trivia questions, quizzed by our master of ceremonies, Chris Latronic. One lucky fan entered our social media post challenge and walked away with a custom T&C surfboard. All who attended received an official Eddie event poster and for most, the highlight was watching it come alive with autographs from some of their favorite surfers. But the connection that was shared and the memories made will hopefully stay with them long after the ink fades. Nights like this remind us that surfing has always been about that shared experience of being in awe with nature, feeling alive, and that connection to the ocean and others, something Eddie’s spirit continues to bring people together around in the most genuine way.

Hawaiian waterman and event invitee Dr. Cliff Kapono remarked on what it meant to him to see the community that showed up for the meet-and-greet:

“For me, it’s really overwhelming to see the support of the community, and how so many people came out for this and who believe in the same values of what the contest and the Eddie Aikau Foundation stand for. And it’s an honor to be a part of it in a small way.”

Billy Kemper, a lifelong member of the T&C family and a true embodiment of modern big-wave surfing and the passion that fuels it, summed up the evening perfectly, saying “People are saying thank you to me, and I’m thanking them right back for coming here. For me, just supporting this event is one thing, but being invited and just being a part of it, whether an alternate or an invitee, it’s honestly the biggest accomplishment of my career. I think most of us are still living the dream as these kids who once entered that circle as fans of all our uncles, and now being in the circle, it’s honestly the biggest accomplishment of my career. And it’s not something that I put on the wall. It’s something that’s a part of my legacy. And when all is said and done, I hope this is something I’m remembered for. So thanks to everyone who came out and were a part of it, and to all those involved, the Aikau ʻohana, everyone. It’s truly a blessing.”

Beautiful words to close out a wonderful event, a sentiment that reflects the heart of The Eddie and why its meaning endures.