HALEIWA, Hawaii (AP) - The wait is over for a select group of big-wave surfers as "The Eddie" big-wave competition is set to get underway at Oahu's Waimea Bay.
For the first time in six years, the surf conditions on Wednesday are expected to meet the organizers' strict minimum requirements, with wave heights around 40 feet high.
According to organizers, however, the event is about more than just surfing.
Native Hawaiian Eddie Aikau, one of the best big-wave surfers of his time, is credited with saving hundreds of lives as Waimea Bay's first lifeguard. According to organizers, there were no fatalities under Aikau's watch.
However, Aikau died in 1978 after leaving a group of men in search of help when their traditional canoe capsized in rough seas off Hawaii. Aikau was never found, but the rest of the crew was later rescued.