Dispute means ‘Eddie’ likely a no-go | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau invitational big-wave surfing competition will likely not be held this season, after the family of Aikau and surf company Quiksilver could not reach an agreement for unspecified reasons. Contestant John John Florence is shown during the contest held Feb. 25 at Waimea Bay. He went on to win the event.

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A breakdown between the family of Eddie Aikau and surf company Quiksilver likely means that the “Eddie” — the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau invitational big-wave surf competition — will not be held this season.

The Aikaus’ attorney, Seth Reiss, made the announcement Saturday at an awards luncheon for the winners of the Eddie Aikau Foundation’s student essay contest.

“The family is proud of the event and appreciated the role Quiksilver played,” Reiss said in the statement. “That relationship ended earlier this year. There were substantial discussions between the family and Quiksilver about how the relationship could be continued, but in the end, no agreement was reached.”

Clyde Aikau, brother of the legendary waterman, said the disagreement with Quiksilver “has nothing to do with money,” but rather unresolved concerns the family had about the relationship.

Aikau declined to say what those concerns were, but said more information would be shared on Monday at a scheduled news conference at the Aikau family home.

The surf competition was first staged in 1984 to honor Eddie Aikau, an accomplished surfer and the first lifeguard to work along Oahu’s North Shore. He died in 1978 while attempting to get help for fellow crew members of the voyaging canoe Hokule‘a, which had overturned in waters off Molokai.

The contest required a minimum of 20-foot wave heights, and invited surfers and surfing fans around the world would wait anxiously from Dec. 1 to the end of February to see whether the contest was a go.

The competition was staged just nine times in 32 years, the last time in February, when local surfer John John Florence took first place.

Clyde Aikau said his family still hopes to continue the competition but is trying to resolve ongoing permitting issues.

The city approved a permit for the upcoming December-to-February period but the application was specifically for the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest. With the two sides unable to come to terms on an agreement for continued sponsorship, that permit is not longer valid, Aikau said.