Edward 'Eddie' Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau was a celebrated Native Hawaiian waterman, a renowned big-wave surfer, and the first lifeguard on the North Shore of Oʻahu. Born in Kahului, Maui, on May 4, 1946, he became a symbol of courage and altruism, saving over 500 people during his tenure at Waimea Bay, a place known for its treacherous and massive waves. It is a testament to his skill and bravery that not a single life was lost while he was on duty.
His willingness to charge into dangerous surf that others would not dare to enter cemented his legend and gave rise to the enduring local phrase, 'Eddie Would Go.' Beyond his lifeguarding duties, Aikau was also an accomplished surfer, winning the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship in 1977.
In 1978, at the age of 31, Aikau was selected as a crew member for a significant cultural expedition aboard the Hōkūleʻa, a traditional Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe. The journey was intended to re-enact the ancient Polynesian migration route between the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands, a voyage of 2,500 miles. On March 16, 1978, the Hōkūleʻa departed from the Hawaiian islands, but several hours into the voyage, it encountered tumultuous seas in the Kaiwi Channel, between the islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. The canoe developed a leak in one of its hulls and ultimately capsized, leaving the crew clinging to the overturned vessel about twelve miles from land.
As hours passed with no sign of rescue, and with the crew's situation growing more dire, Aikau made a courageous decision. A highly skilled waterman, he resolved to paddle his surfboard towards the island of Lānaʻi to summon help for the others. Despite the immense distance and dangerous conditions, his fellow crew members agreed it was their best hope. He was last seen paddling away from the crippled canoe. The remaining crew of the Hōkūleʻa was eventually rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, but tragically, Eddie Aikau was never seen again. An extensive air-sea search, the largest in Hawaiian history at the time, was launched but failed to find any trace of him or his surfboard. Though he was lost at sea and presumed to have drowned, his selfless final act transformed him into a legendary figure in Hawaiian culture, forever remembered for his bravery and his ultimate sacrifice to save others. His case is no longer actively investigated by law enforcement, but his memory and legacy continue to inspire.Last Seen: Mar 16, 1978
