After a battle with pancreatic cancer, surfing legend Clyde Aikau passed away at his Waimānalo home on Saturday, May 3. He was 75.
Aikau's death went public Monday afternoon after his family announced the news.
Clyde Aikau is the younger brother of iconic Hawaiian Eddie Aikau, the former lifeguard, surfer, waterman and namesake of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.
Clyde Aikau worked to preserve his brother's name and legacy as part of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, also known as The Eddie and regarded as the world's most iconic surfing competition.
In the second edition of The Eddie held on Dec. 21, 1986, Clyde Aikau won The Eddie. He even competed in it at the age of 66 in 2016. Because of the unique conditions of the event, which requires waves of at least 20 feet from the beginning of December to the end of February, The Eddie has only occurred a total of 11 times.
Landon McNamara, who won the most recent competition on Dec. 22, 2024, paid tribute to Clyde Aikau in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
