Eddie Would Go

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, thousands of people are gathering to watch what is considered to be the most prestigious surfing event in the world. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational matches some of the top surfers on the planet with swells towering higher than many of our houses. In fact, the event does not even take place if the waves do not exceed heights of twenty feet. It is for this reason that the event has only been held nine times in last 31 years. Organizers refuse to sacrifice the purity of this competition for the sake of simply making it an annual spectacle. It is in this light that they choose to honor the event's namesake, Eddie Aikau.

Eddie was the first official lifeguard at Waimea Bay on Oahu's north shore, where the event is held. During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, he solidified himself as one of the foremost big wave surfers in world. It was, however, his work as a lifeguard that made him legendary. There was not a single death on the bay while he was on duty during his ten years of service. He and his brother, Clyde, are credited with over 500 saves. This was all done without jet ski or boat. They simply paddled out into the swells on their surf boards. While conditions were by no means ideal for many of these saves, Eddie would paddle out anyway. To this day, the local mantra is still "Eddie Would Go."

Sadly, his service to the north shore ended in 1978 when he disappeared after his canoe capsized during a voyage through Polynesia.

Aikau's life proved that dedicated service can touch lives well beyond the specific individuals he pulled out of the water. Can the same be true for those in the fire service? Absolutely. Each of us has the opportunity to impact our communities in countless ways. I firmly believe that Eddie's passion for the water and the people he protected can be replicated in our chosen profession. Eddie made the conscious decision to risk his safety so that no one would die on his watch. The fire service would look dramatically different if each one of us was to make the same decision. Our searches would be more aggressive, our tactics would be more calculated, our EMS responses would be more patient-focused, and our training would be more impactful.

It was no accident that Eddie saved hundreds of lives. He was physically capable of performing his duties. He was intimately familiar with water and shoreline for which he was responsible; this included every tide, every reef, every rock, rip-current, and every storm. Perhaps, most importantly, he was willing to sacrifice of himself.

The aforementioned should sound redundant to what is preached in the fire service. Our own response districts are deserving of the same treatment. Each of us is responsible for our own fitness. Firefighters should know every hydrant, every street name, every dead end, and every target hazard. The badge on our chests represents our calling to sacrifice for others. Sacrifice is built into many department vision statements and into the oath of office taken when that badge was given out. It's time we remind ourselves that no one is going to die on our watch. If "Eddie Would Go," shouldn't we?

*Update: The "Eddie" that was set to occur the morning of February 10, 2016 did not take place as planned. The 40-50 ft. swells that were expected did not reach the island until later in the day. The event has been postponed with optimism that it will be held before the end of the month. Regardless, Eddie's story is always worth sharing.

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