It is with a heavy heart that Surfer learned of the passing of Clyde Aikau, legendary big wave surfer and North Shore community icon.
Born in 1949, Clyde and his younger brother, the late, great Eddie Aikau moved from Maui to the North Shore and quickly came to exemplify modern Hawaiian watermen—gifted surfers, strong swimmers, and more than capable ocean navigators. The first lifeguard at Waimea Bay in the early 1970s, Eddie famously disappeared trying to swim to shore while aboard the Hokule’a, a traditional double-hulled Polynesian canoe that was trying to retrace the original Polynesian migration routes.
A formidable talent on the North Shore already, after his younger brother’s passing, Clyde continued to carry forward the family tradition, charging Waimea, winning the Eddie Aikau Invitational in honor of his brother in 1986. Almost more impressive, Clyde continued to surf in the Eddie all the way up to 2016, at 66.
Throughout his life, Clyde was a constant presence within the North Shore community, whether through the Eddie Aikau Invitational, or just on a day to day basis looking out for the multiple generations of surfers who he’s mentored over the years.
More to come as this story continues to develop.