Clyde Aikau Paddle Out Waikiki
Unequivocally, since the latter part of 1978, Clyde Aikau has been the voice and presence of his brother Eddie. As the Aikau family representative and Eddie Aikau Foundation spokesperson, Clyde always spoke with authority for his family and the foundation’s work in the community. Although a great big wave surfer and expert in ho’oponopono himself, Clyde always deferred credit to his older brother Eddie. Clyde won The Eddie the first year it was held at Waimea Bay in 1986.
When he took it on himself to compete in the 2016 Eddie Big Wave event, despite disconnecting from a wave, free falling, and injuring his shoulder, he insisted on competing in his second heat. Clyde was as much the living embodiment of Eddie that a brother could ever be.
We send him back to the ocean to join his brother and to join all of the other brave Hawaiian watermen who fished, dove, surfed, paddled and voyaged. May he be carried by the voice of Kahu Dennis Sallas on his new ocean journey above.
Thank you to Bill Brooks for the use of his music on this video.