The Eddie Goes...

The Eddie Aikau goes today.

Well, the gigantic WNW swell that we have been expecting hit today. It is huge - what more can be said?

I went up to Lai'e point this morning, and the wrap-around surf was unbelievable. Waves were breaking up over the point, the little islands were getting completely covered with surf. There is talk about 50 foot waves hitting the North Shore. And, just so you know, here in Hawaii they measure surf very differently than they do in places like California. A 4 foot wave can be over head...

Well, just to tantalize - I pulled the above picture off of Surfline's webcam for Waimea. They are lined up and ready to go for the Eddie Aikau.

Eddie, you will remember, is the famed local boy - life guard at Waimea, etc. - that was a fearless big wave surfer. Since Eddie died, the local culture has revered him. When it is big, really big, the locals know, "Eddie would go."

Well, today, I am not going (it really is just too crazy for anyone my age to even think about it). But the legends of today are going, and the contest that they hold in remembrance of Eddie - it goes too. I will at least go watch.