These photos are from the Kohala coast, which is somewhat screened from big Northwest swells by the other islands. I took them around the time of the 31st Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surf event at Waimea Bay on Oahu. Eddie Aikau was a legendary big wave surfer and lifeguard at Waimea Bay.
It’s the 31st year for the event, but only the ninth time it’s actually been held because the waves have to be big enough for it to ‘go.’ Apparently, the surf this year was the biggest ever. I watched on my computer, which is about as close to waves of that size that I’d want to get, unless I wanted to test just how comprehensive my health insurance is.
There’s a common expression that has emerged from this event. While discussing the dangerous size of the waves before the first Eddie contest, Mark Foo, a professional surfer said, “Eddie would go.” It’s a phrase that resonated and is now applied to many things in Hawaii.
For more information about Eddie Aikau and The Eddie event, go to quiksilver.com/surf/events/eddie-aikau/.
Graham's Island 
That looks scary. We watched the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, North Shore (Oahu) back in 2010, hubby had dreamt of seeing some of those pros surfing. What I remember best, though, was the crowd of paparazzi parked a bit to the side, hiding under their t-shirts to capture a shot in the blazing sunlight…
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It is scary of you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. I tend to be very careful about where I am in relation to the ocean. I do enjoy the big surf events. One in Hawaii is The Eddie, named after Eddie Aikau, a famous local surfer. It only gets held if the waves are above 20 feet so it doesn’t go often. I watched the 2016 event online and it was bonkers, these little surfers getting destroyed by humongous waves.
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Great photos!
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