O’ahu: “The Eddie” big wave invitational surfing competition at Waimea Bay

The biggest surfing event in the world is a highly anticipated event each winter on the North Shore of Oʻahu. Officially “The Eddie: In Memory of Eddie Aikau”, the prestigious competition invites surfers, alternates, and legends to showcase their high-performance surfing on the massive winter surf at Waimea Bay. Because the wave conditions need to be right, the contest has only been completed a few times in the several decades since the first contest.

Winners of The Eddie (1984-2023) are Denton Miyamura (1984 at Sunset Beach), Clyde Aikau (1986), Keone Downing (1990), Noah Johnson (1999), Ross Clarke-Jones (2001), Kelly Slater (2002), Bruce Irons (2004), Greg Long (2009), John John Florence (2016), and Luke Shepardson (2023).

Big wave surfer at Waimea Bay on Oahu North Shore in Hawaii via Depositphotos_380814992

About “Eddie Would Go™”

Officially “The Eddie: In Memory of Eddie Aikau” but known locally as simply “The Eddie”, the big wave surf competition is held in memory of veteran big wave surfer Eddie Aikau (1946-1978).

Eddie was a championship athlete, a waterman, and a family man. Hired as the first lifeguard for the entire North Shore, over the course of his distinguished, though all-to-brief career, Eddie braved many treacherous waves that reached 30 feet or more—when no one else would go. He is known to have saved hundreds of people.

In 1978, on the first voyage of the historical Hōkūleʻa canoe, which traces the Polynesian migration route from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi, the canoe capsized. Eddie set out on his surfboard to get help. He was lost to the sea and never seen again. Eddie’s consistent demonstration of courage to help others gave rise to the slogan “Eddie Would Go” and can now found on everything from t-shirts to bumper stickers.

“The Eddie” surfing competition keeps his legacy alive and inspires the next generation to live like Eddie did, with courage, commitment, perseverance, and aloha.

2023-2024 “The Eddie: In Memory of Eddie Aikau”

• December 8, 2023: Opening Ceremony at Waimea Bay pays tribute to the legendary Eddie Aikau.
• December 14 – March 12, 2024: The Contest Waiting Period! Invited surfers will be on standby. Organizers wait for the perfect conditions for this thrilling contest.
• More info: The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational | Waimea Bay (theeddieaikau.com)

As in year’s past, the contest will run when surf heights consistently reach 20-feet any day during the waiting period. Many years, the waves never come, and the competition doesn’t happen.

2022-2023 competition includes women surfers for the first time

While women were invited as far back as 2019, the contests were called off in these years. The 2023 Eddie invitational welcomed women surfers in competition for the first time. The 2023 Eddie field welcomed 40 champions surfing board to board, including 34 men and six women. 

Of the six women, three of these surfing champions—world-champion Paige Alms, world record holder Andrea Möller, and multi-award-winning Keala Kennelly—starred in a feature documentary film, “She Change (shechangethefilm.com).” The movie is an intimate journey featuring several of the best female big wave surfers in the world, fighting for equal access and equal pay in one of the most dangerous sports on earth. The trailblazing athletes broke the glass ceiling of this machismo sport and laid the foundation for gender equity. Their surprising, history-making victory is only the beginning of what becomes their ultimate mission: equity for women in the world of professional sports – and beyond. 

Watch the 5-minute trailer, SheChange Sizzle on Vimeo or below:

Best ways to watch The Eddie big wave surf competition

The north shore is completely inundated for The Eddie. Traffic is a bad as it gets. Bring much aloha if you want to watch the competition live from Waimea Beach. Here are the general recommendations:

1. Get to north shore the day before the competition and spend the night. Turtle Bay Resort is the best-known hotel on the north shore. You can search for a hotel/lodging on sites such as Expedia, Booking.com, and airbnb. For reservations, it’s best to call hotels directly.
2. You can also try camping. There is only one campground reasonably close to Waimea Bay (Kaunala Trail). A permit and reservation is required (available 90 days prior): Hawaii Camping Reservation – Reservations (ehawaii.gov).
3. Next best option is to get to north shore early in the morning (3-4AM) and find parking “nearby”. Expect a 1-mile walk at a minimum. You can park at Sunset Beach (3-3.5 miles) or in Haleʻiwa (4-5 miles) and walk or take The Bus over to Waimea Bay. However, even if you find a spot to sit on the beach, you may not necessarily be able to see the competition from your vantage point. More info: Waimea Bay | Hawaii Beach Safety
4. So, another option is to watch from the bluffs around Waimea Bay with binoculars or a scope.

Finally, you can stay home and watch it via television or live stream.

Where to watch The Eddie (TV or live stream)

Over one million people around the world tune-in to watch The Eddie. You can watch The Eddie on Honolulu TV Spectrum Channel 5, (KHII HD 1005) or live stream (see list below). 

1. Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational | Waimea Bay (theeddieaikau.com)
2. Hawaii News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News & Live Video | Honolulu, HI | KHON2
3. SURFLINE.COM | Global Surf Reports, Surf Forecasts, Live Surf Cams and Coastal Weather

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