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| The Bay Calls the Day: Eddie Aikau |
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Event: 23rd annual Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational, in Memory of Eddie Aikau Opening CeremonyDate: Nov. 29, 2007 Contest Holding Period: Dec.1, 2007- Feb. 29, 2008 Location: Waimea Bay Conditions Needed: The Eddie requires a minimum of 20-foot Hawaiian surf (30-40 foot face waves) and is a one-day-only event. "Surfing is fragile. Hawai‘i is fragile. The Hawaiian culture is fragile, and Eddie knew that," Hawaiian Kahu (priest) Billy Mitchell told the crowd at the 2007-2008 Eddie Aikau opening ceremony. "[Eddie] knew the privilege of taking and the importance of giving back. He understood what it means to keep things pono - balanced. We gather here to give thanks for the values, the thoughts, the mana (spirit) that came through this man. May we live with the honor we saw him dance with through life. Surf in his honor." Mitchell kicked off the ceremony with a moving talk about Eddie Aikau, the big wave pioneer and revered North Shore lifeguard who tragically disappeared in 1978 when the traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hokule'a capsized in the night and Aikau paddled on his surfboard toward land to seek help for his crew, never to be seen again. All 28 invitees, alternates, members of the Aikau ohana (family) and close to 1,000 spectators and media were on hand for the formal ceremony. After the prayer and photo opp with all the surfers standing in front of their big wave guns, the invitees paddled out adorned with lei and holding ti leaf and formed a circle out on the water. After a blessing for this year’s contest and competitors, the boys caught some waves at Pinballs and made their way in to enjoy the epic spread (you could smell the food grilling from the water).—Tiff Hervey 40 average age of an Eddie invitee 28 number of invitees 20+ Hawaiian number of feet in order for the Eddie to go 23 number of years the Eddie has existed 7 number of years the Eddie has ran WINNERS LIST: 1985 Denton Miyamura (HAW) 1986 Clyde Aikau (HAW) (Eddie Aikau's younger brother) 1990 Keone Downing (HAW) 1999 Noah Johnson (HAW) 2000 Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS) 2002 Kelly Slater (USA) 2004 Bruce Irons (HAW) 23rd ANNUAL EDDIE INVITEES [PIE CHART] Hawaii: 15 Australia: 4 USA: 4 South Africa: 1 Brazil: 1 Spain: 1 Japan: 1 Prize Bones: Total prize money: $86,800 First place: $55,000 2nd: $10,000 3rd: $5,000 4th: $3,000 5th: $2,000 6th: $1,000 7th through 24th place each receive $600 INVITEES Andy Irons (HI) Brian Keaulana (HI) Brock Little (HI) Bruce Irons (HI) Carlos Burle (BRZ) Clyde Aikau (HI) Darryl Virostko (CA) Greg Long (CA) Ibon Amatriain (SPN) Jamie O'Brien (HI) Jamie Sterling (HI) Keone Downing (HI) Jason Ribbink (ZAF) Kelly Slater (FL) Makua Rothman (HI) Mark Healey (HI) Michael Ho (HI) Noah Johnson (HI) Paul Paterson (AUS) Peter Mel (CA) Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS) Rusty Keaulana (HI) Shane Dorian (HI) Sunny Garcia (HI) Takayuki Wakita (JPN) Titus Kinimaka (HI) Tom Carroll (AUS) Tony Ray (AUS) ALTERNATES Darrick Doerner (HI) Chava Greenlee (HI) Kalani Chapman (HI) Pancho Sullivan (HI) Taylor Knox (CA) Reef McIntosh (HI) Tony Moniz (HI) Garrett McNamara (HI) Ross Williams (HI) Dave Wassel (HI) Ian Walsh (HI) Braden Dias (HI) Myles Padaca (HI) Anthony Tashnick (CA) Kala Alexander (HI) Keoni Watson (HI) Derek Ho (HI) Tom Curren (CA) Nathan Fletcher (CA) Danny Fuller (HI) Dustin Barca (HI) Koby Abberton (AUS) Laurie Townend (AUS) Manoa Drollet (TAH) HONORARY Mark Foo (HI) Todd Chesser (HI) Tiger Espere (HI) Jay Moriarity (CA)
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