Eddie Aikau’s younger brother Clyde set the tone for this year’s event when he announced it would be his final year of taking to the hallowed lineup that he has ridden since first lifeguarding the Bay and riding giant waves with his big brother more than 40 years ago. Today, at 66, he describes himself as “the oldest, most serious big wave rider on the planet”. He has surfed in every Eddie Aikau event held since its inception in 1985 (except ’99), and won the 1986 event (Keone Downing Won 1990) (correction from original press).

This year’s selected Invitees gathered together in Waimea Bay Beach Park to first receive a blessing from Hawaiian Kahu Billy Mitchell. With a clear and deliberate voice, Kahu Mitchell reminded surfers of their duty first to the care of one another in the lineup, perpetuating Eddie’s legacy as a caretaker of the Bay, watching over the safety of other surfers ahead of pursuing the biggest waves themselves.

“This is a message of Aloha,” said Mitchell. “This is about how surfers will treat each other when under some of the greatest pressure of their lives.”

Following the official blessing, the Invitees collected their surfboards and paddled out the surf line at Waimea to gather together as a connected circle of one family of big wave riders and pay homage to those who came before and those who ride Waimea today.

“Just like the Aikaus are one family, big wave riders are one family,” said Aikau. “What I try to do each year when we make that circle is reach for the surfers’ inner soul, for their inner spirit. Because when you’re putting your life on the line, it’s what’s in your spirit that will pull you through. So I try to reach their passion… their reason for why they’re putting their lives on the line.”

In line with the call for enhanced big wave safety, more than 90% of the surfers in this year’s Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau have opted to accept the new Quiksilver Inflatable Ocean Safety Vest.

With a strong winter for giant surf taking shape, anticipation is high that the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau ~ the original big wave riding event ~ will run. The holding period extends from now through February 29, 2016. All will wait for one giant day of surf to roll into Waimea Bay, and when that happens, “The Eddie” will GO.