How Eddie Aikau Became One of Surfing’s Most Legendary Figures - Drunk History

Legendary surfer Eddie Aikau saved the lives of hundreds in Waimea Bay and much more.
About Drunk History:
Based on the popular web series, Drunk History is the liquored-up narration of our nation's history. Host Derek Waters, along with an ever-changing cast of actors and comedians, travels across the country to present the rich tales that every city in this land has to offer. Booze helps bring out the truth. It's just that sometimes the truth is a little incoherent.
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[@johancakep]

"Eddie would go.. because if you attempt life, you might die, but you'll live on. And Eddie has." That was one of the most inspiring drunk statement I've ever heard.

[@rezbarbie24]

It really is!! But I'm still confused... and drunk... 🤷‍♀️

[@Global00Vintage]

It made me cry.

[@Deinhaato]

“Dying happens to everyone, even stars. Even the stuff between the stars. But if you believe in yourself and achieve your goals, you can die so hard that no one will ever forget you, and that’s almost as good as not dying at all. Well, it isn’t, really, it isn’t at all, and believing and achieving is just something sportscasters say, but what are you gonna do, not die? Try it. I’ll wait.” ― Catherynne M. Valente, Space Opera

[@johancakep]

@@Deinhaato is this from Drunk History too?

[@filthyloops9821]

@@johancakep No. It's a book... just type "Catherynne M. Valente Space opera" (or cut & paste it) in KZbin's searchbar 😉 Eddie is alive!!! Legends never die...

[@bizzoid2621]

Another thing to add is that when they held the first "Eddie" competition, Eddie's younger brother, Clyde won the event.

[@nicheler2989]

I was seriously hoping that they would add this detail..... but again, he’s drunk LOL

[@dkewlguy]

Didn’t he win the Duke tournament? They didn’t call it the Eddie til he passed I thought?

[@brettcomstock1156]

And now; two years later - another addition. The Eddie was won by a lifeguard on The North Shore. It’s a very special event, and it was again, this year.

[@lilyluney6015]

Eddie isn’t only a huge surfing legend but a lifeguard legend too. All lifeguards should aspire to be him. A man with 500+ saves is godly in my line of work.

[@anthonygordon9483]

He saved 500 people because people were dumb enough to try to swim or surf on some of the most dangerous waters in Hawaii. In florida your barely going to get that cause florida has no waves. And California waves are nothing compared to Hawaii.

[@seoulglo1999]

@@anthonygordon9483 Also in Florida, you can walk out 100 yards and the water is waist high. In Hawaii, 100 feet out is 20 feet deep.

[@dannynysus]

@@anthonygordon9483 California waves are nothing compared to Hawaii??? You obviously have never seen the waves that Joe has surfed.

[@anthonygordon9483]

@@dannynysus Dude, I think all waves are dangerous lol

[@canadianbacon5474]

@@anthonygordon9483 u never seen Mavericks?

[@remisica]

"So the Australians get beat up a few times. Probably made them better people." I died laughing, this was the point at which this rapidly became my favourite drunken history video.

[@user-tb5pq9ml8m]

Kids in Hawaii are taught to never go out on your own if your boat gets stranded because of Eddie. I don't even know when I learned it, but I've heard his story a million times just growing up.

[@raincoathaveli]

Thats awesome! I am glad they made this video because I had never heard of him.

[@yuhboris304]

Wait is this actually based on a true story?

[@user-tb5pq9ml8m]

@@Tryo707 Dude... that was uncalled for.

[@vinny5638]

That's such a cool thing though man, how he lives on even as a cautionary tale for the schoolchildren of Hawaii. I respect that so much

[@user-tb5pq9ml8m]

@Tryo707 Look man. It doesn't matter if you're disabled or healthy. It was a totally innocent question, and it was their way of finding out the answer. @Vinny is right- this is a really nice thread. No need for it to go sour. Just back off a little and go find something good to listen to, and take a breather. We're not trying to attack you, we just want to let you know that we don't share the same zero tolerance policy. Edit: users

[@renoblaauw783]

Pimento is back babyyyy!

[@joshuakurian3233]

cool cool cool cool

[@AssarksMovies]

Title of your sextape

[@ChuckRage]

Noice

[@rustyshackleford2792]

That's rafi

[@binodyumnam2562]

Nuclear Nadal 😆

[@libbyc7741]

"Hey, I don't have a tennis racket. Please put those away. Also, why do you have so many?" LOL

[@drampaman9370]

Libby C yeah we all heard it in the video. No thanks on the recap.

[@THICCMando66]

@@drampaman9370 Haha appreciate the callout maine, cracked me up. Always blows my mind when a comment on a video gets 80,000 likes just because they quoted a line from the video I just watched lmao

[@wegarmonsen4168]

How hater you guys have to be?! Recaps? Really?! Thats what make you comment hatefully? You must be miserable xD

[@banjobanjington2344]

@@wegarmonsen4168 You are a stupid person.

[@WR3ND]

I have one of those old woodies. And trust me, you don't want to mess with it.

[@aubryellaotero1064]

I’ve looked up to Eddie my whole life. “Eddie would go” has been something my dad’s told me since I was a child and I’ve always cherished his story.

[@AtarahDerek]

Eddie has a plaque dedicated to his memory on Hokule'a, the canoe whose crew he died trying to save. Hokule'a completed a global voyage in 2017, and Eddie was one of the people the crew thanked and honored at their homecoming.

[@Tryo707]

Eddie would go! If you ever see on of those bumper stickers, know you understand. One of the biggest local heroes the islands have ever known.

[@JefferyBlue]

Eddie would go. 3 words. That's it. But it tells the story of a man who literally gave his life for everything he believed was right. I only know of Eddie from working one summer in a surf shop here in Texas but this is the exact same story the owner told me almost verbatim. Speaks to the power of Eddie's story and how he lived his life.

[@DemitriBrownComedy]

I'm pretty sure the movie Surfs up was inspired by Eddie. Like in a Tupac is still alive conspiracy kinda way.

[@ChristinaLouise27]

I grew up lifeguarding at the beach in California. We learned about him as junior lifeguards ❤️

[@matthewdavis1752]

Wait... Texas has surf shops?

[@TheRealLTJRH512]

@@matthewdavis1752 bruh we on the Gulf of Mexico

[@sumanitutankaowachi5389]

I mean, Eddie Aikau was a great man and saved a lot of lives as a lifeguard, and restored the legacy of Hawaiian surfers. But let’s be real, what was the guy thinking? Eddie definitely should not have gone.

[@graziaszczerbanov6925]

I love my Hawaiian history! Thank you Comedy Central and drunk history for bringing this story to so many viewers who may not have known about an amazing man!

[@dinglebarry528]

Grace Zerba - I had not heard of this story before, so you are right, now I will know what ‘Eddie Would Go’ means when I visit your beautiful state! You should be extremely proud of your rich history. Thank you for sharing. And thank you Drunk History.

[@808fishman8]

Dingle Barry we are illegally occupied and illegitimately made a state, according to international law

[@DemitriBrownComedy]

Ku Kia'i Mauna

[@dinglebarry528]

808 fish man - I live in Alaska, while I am not a Native Alaskan, I am able to understand your point, as much as an outsider is able to do. I am sorry that your land has become overrun with outside influence. E pili mau na pomaika`i ia `oe. Welina, Dingle Barry.

[@Tryo707]

@@808fishman8 Brah is that Papio/Ulua in your profile pic? Miss the islands so much, can't wait until I'm back home.

[@thormendez6139]

My teacher at my High school was a student of Eddie's. In class we were taught Eddie; story and this retelling was surprisingly accurate. Eddie Aikau was a humble Hawaiian, a visionary, and a man who cared. All reasons why he was a legend.

[@kinny3021]

this story has me tearing up so wholesome

[@KEEPitMAYJ]

Eddie aikau = Legend #EddieWouldGo 🤙🏽

[@johnnybgood7442]

Eddie would tow

[@ShmooyShmoo]

Eddie would go, but he shoulda stayed...

[@Alex.Kaleipahula]

Cheeeee pono

[@dorothyhoskin6250]

Jason Mantzoukas is kind of their on-call guy when they have a brown historical character. They should do a greek story so he can represent his own heritage.

[@deepabanapur111]

Right? I was looking at the actual Hawaiian extras for this sketch - wouldn't it have been better for them to reprise the role of Eddie Aikau? You can't just use Jason to fill in on roles bc of his seeming ethnic ambiguity.

[@vinny5638]

@@deepabanapur111 He played the main character because he's a regocnizable name in the business. A nameless hawaiian b reaks the tradition of having actors we know fill these roles all for some bullshit equality olympic idea of "pErFeCtLy aCCuRaTe rEpReSenTaTiOn"

[@deepabanapur111]

@@vinny5638 idk man I can think of jason mamoa and Dwayne Johnson before this comedian mate. There have been more famous actors than them who've been on drunk history and hundreds more Hawaiian actors exist besides them too - including the very ones sidelined in this sketch. Bottom line is, culturally respectful representation isn't that hard of a goal; rather, it's people like you who uphold the myth that it is by resigning yourself that the best people of color can get is an ethnically ambiguous greek actor pretending to be us. Gl mate.

[@vinny5638]

@@deepabanapur111 I guess you're emotional because he's the main character in the story? Because just about every other person who is meant to be is accurately hawiian. You're clearly just ethnically sensitive, and thats fine but its obvious because we dont see any austialians bitching about how the three brothers were all white americans. Literally none of them were accurately represented, so they have something to cry about, whereas you're just emotional because the main characters actor wasn't hawiian in this irrelevant youtube video lmao. Its adorable/hilarious that you think this is remotely close to a debatable issue.

[@WhiteNoiseWes]

@@vinny5638 ya cause white australian culture hasn't been systematically wiped out the way hawaiian culture has? did u even watch the video?

[@kaziula8042]

Oh it's only 11:30? LET'S HAVE ANOTHER DRINK lmao

[@jjsvizard75]

That's me every night🤣

[@flashpunk7333]

@@jjsvizard75 That's actually sad 🤣

[@diegolarrea7932]

that's such a relatable statement

[@GoodGollyTisMolly]

I saw the Eddie when it went in 2016, It was honestly one of the most amazing competitions I have ever seen. The opening ceremony was beautiful, the Surfers were so talented, truly an inspiring tribute.

[@shawnarthur5921]

I know zero about surfing. But this guy sounds like an amazing human being.

[@Suerte_Pepe]

“Eddie would Go” that will stick with me

[@christinabanegas972]

I'm not even drunk, and I'm crying..."Eddie would go."

[@sam21skin]

I don’t think the guest narrator is either tbh

[@conservat1vepatr1ot]

Hey bud! You don’t have to be drunk to be a giant pussy. I love you 🤣.

[@travisgrant5608]

Actually I was living in Hawaii at the time this REAL story took place. The sad truth is Eddie died trying to help save his fellow seafarers. Now he belongs to the ages a true HAWAIIAN hero. 🌊🌴🌸🤙

[@alecwilson5629]

100% thought this was Chris D'elia before I read the title

[@monkeyman12328]

Sammeeeeee3ee holy shit

[@mahoney1360]

The 2016 Eddie contest had John John win, Slater getting barreled and Clyde Aikau handling business in his 60’s. It was incredibly fun and inspiring to watch.

[@jzen1455]

I only attended to 2001 one. I knew traffic was going to be insane, so I decided to take the bus. Waimea has a small parking lot, so lots of people illegally parked around the bay. Tow truck companies were towing cars left and right. I recall seeing Pam Anderson there while she was dating Kelly Slater.

[@racoonzattack]

If it weren’t for Drunk History I would’ve never known the story of Eddie Aikau! Gnarly dude!

[@Raisa-gb4fh]

Damn Pimento, so this is what you've been doing

[@neiliaadolph9475]

Why'd I read this in Gina's voice 😭

[@Bissrok]

I was really expecting Eddie to come back and dominate The Eddie. Still time, I guess.

[@flurbmadoogle]

A new movie coming out next year. It's the 100th anniversary of The Eddie, and Eddie Aikao's ghost has appeared, riding waves and taking out all the competition with his board one at a time. The only ones that have a chance at stopping him are a group of hippy surfers and their dog that all live in a van. So they fly from California to the islands to put an end to the deaths. Why? Because #EddieWouldGo.

[@dinglebarry528]

Flurb Madoogle - oh dear, Hawaiians being rescued by the white man won’t go over well at all.

[@Anna-xh6fk]

Flurb Madoogle scooby doo?

[@soieatlizards9340]

@@flurbmadoogle Out of all the internet names I've ever seen, yours was the first I did a double take to read again. I was no where near ready ready for the name that is Flurb. And quite honestly, I don't think the world is ready either. Have a flurby day!

[@mrbee4882]

Legend has it that Eddie made it to the mainland, changed his name to Rafi and started making porn with his friend Randy. He even joined a fantasy football league.

[@mr.naptime]

This was the most stable sober history lesson ever.

[@timpower4922]

That was the single most touching Drunk History I’ve ever seen. And I’ve damn near seen them all.

[@kui_maina]

Mantzoukas...dear lord I LOVE THIS MAN

[@fredrainey3038]

I know The Zouks can get it

[@kui_maina]

@@fredrainey3038 get it...and then some more

[@fredrainey3038]

@@kui_maina Ive had a crush on him since the League

[@djkb125]

Lived in hawaii for 10 years and this is the my favorite depiction of thay story I've ever heard! Id be crying with him during that story

[@andrewedwards2211]

I love how this is humerous to the extreme, yet at the same time serious and respectuful to the man. Eddie would go, and he is surfing in heaven 🥲

[@MrTubs911]

We love Eddie here! RIP Eddie and Mark. The Ania will never forget you guys!

[@mikegrand4181]

I think he meant to say the Aina.

[@howzit9397]

Can’t forget Michael Ho

[@andilearthursangoni5317]

Been afraid to approach my crush but #EddieWouldGo . . .So am going in tomorrow!

[@ArturGlass.C]

Good luck I hope it goes smoothly and update us.

[@TheDeadWelcome]

Good luck

[@Lutfi.H.Abdullah]

good luck, updates yeah?

[@sarabowseebowgo7367]

You got this!

[@rachelfox8108]

That's the Eddie Aikau way! Good luck to you

[@tanyawade5197]

What a tragic story! My heart is crying. Eddie is a hero! A superhuman, through & through. I’d never heard of him before this, but I’m glad to have learned his name & who he is. Live on, Eddie! 🌈

[@nickpietri7884]

So Pimento became a surfer after Rosa dumped him?

[@flashpunk7333]

Yeah and he didn't die, he had an accident with a shark and came back with amnesia 🤣

[@hk415]

Knowing him, he is such a huge surfing icon in the Native Hawaiian community and always will be. Definitely one of the reasons why I wanted to surf.

[@vikio452]

Next please: story of Hokule'a sailing voyage, and how after that bad start, it really did go around the world, and brought a rebirth of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture.

[@VeeAmericanEagle]

*EDDIE WOULD GO*

[@TheAMEN111]

Yea, Eddie would go

[@okilydokily995]

BUT BULA'IA WENT 🤙

[@bsmbB]

Pu in real slo while i get into da baro

[@mrstewart6903]

I just realized where,”living like Larry,” came from

[@tinalouise2203]

i'm not crying, you're crying!

[@JefferyBlue]

NGL was going to write this exact thing. =)

[@kingsmokes4437]

No there's something in my eye. 😢

[@slimecicleclips7897]

It's not sad really.

[@adampineda882]

Ah don't worry girl I gotchu #EddieWouldGo

[@TJfromEarth]

@@JefferyBlue because its a low effort, over used meme comment?

[@syeraharris6234]

I can't wait to turn 21 so I can be in a Drunk history episode. I've been watching them since they started

[@iverkjellkken6569]

what stories do you got?

[@dr.rexbutts2986]

I'm not hopeful judging by the original comment that you could deliver a story worth listening too..

[@ExploreLearnEnglishWithGeorge]

I was trying hard to stay away from this concept of drunk history.. until last night and binchwatched like 100 of these, am addicted to it now lol

[@mkrzizike]

When Mark Foo said "Eddie would go" I lost it 😭😭😭

[@mbalimafuya1878]

I’m sobbing This story is so inspiring

[@pabstadventures]

Surprised it wasnt mentioned that Mark Foo died surfing big waves a few years later at Mavericks.

[@lmh7450]

Mark Foo is legend status.

[@MareShoop]

Maybe because it wasn’t about Mark Foo

[@alexthebatgirl]

Tears started rolling @5:41.. i’d never expect to cry on a comedy central video..

[@jadedmoon]

Out from nowhere, this is the inspiration I really needed.

[@dustypartition]

I love Jason Mantzoukas so much. He's like a scary uncle to me.

[@yelenabaykova7419]

Bawling my eyes out... Eddie Would Go!

[@Aluke5460]

This has got to be my favorite drunk history EVER

[@garrettcarter5622]

What the hell Comedy Central?! Why are you making me cry?

[@WaitingForRevolution]

Got goose bumps over a Comedy Central vid..

[@LearningFast]

Tragically Mark Foo would die surfing 🏄 a wave at Mavericks years later. Two greats, lost to the sea.

[@Trilingualeks]

Janet out on the beach looking for Derek, but Derek's out surfing 😆

[@MChief118]

Such a good story.

[@wetpaint3026]

lived in hawaii for 7 years of my life, i always saw “eddie would go” everywhere and i never knew why until now.

[@JAHRONMON]

Eddie was a nutz banga.

[@deebanks6477]

His story has everything! Made me laugh, cry and Inspired me so!! "Eddie would go" is my new "get 'er done" 🖤

[@lily-hazy8823]

He left out some stuff but I'm a surf nerd but just for reference - they don't even have The Eddie surf competition until the waves are a minimum of 20 feet tall consistently. If you ever hear that The Eddie is happening, look at the live feed and appreciate it because it doesn't happen every year. It's a rare gem! Appreciate it! EDDIE WOULD GO

[@MSGtJimator]

That was actually a nice heart-warming story:)

[@roproart6529]

That was so inspiring. I'm going to try to be more like Eddie.

[@anayajones223]

lol the punches took me out

[@rosecityremodel2015]

I love that! “If you attempt life, you might die, but you’ll live on!”

[@glennsouthard9208]

Eddie Aikau was a surfing legend and an all around good guy.

[@roxxylala26]

Yeah definitely never heard of him due to I'm not a surfer & I'm from the East Coast but thank u drunk history. "Eddie would go".

[@LeilaniAndMarielle]

The canoe Eddie Aikau and his crew were on was the Hokule`a. It was a recreation of the canoes the Tahitian used on their voyage from Tahiti to Hawai`i using only the stars. After Eddie Aikau’s voyage, the Hokule`a was rebuilt and had a worldwide voyage from 2013-2019!!

[@teamthoth]

It was so cool seeing them greet people all over the world 😍

[@migueltrujillo9200]

Wow Eddie Would Go. This is Beautiful. I Love This and May Eddie Live On In Peace and Love For Sure !

[@zac3740]

Ahhh, never knew that Mark Foo coined "Eddie Would Go"

[@smokeytreebone]

rip Marky

[@MzClementine]

This made me all emotional 😭

[@mrsd8769]

Today, they announced that the Eddie is on!! RIL Eddie ❤️

[@cozycare1655]

2:59 flashing that shaka! LOL got me dying!

[@PurnceNMe]

Damn Mantzoukas. Looking good!

[@svrsha]

Remember when Pimento said in Brooklyn 99 “Rosa were going to hampa” or something like that, Eddie is him when he went he changed uwu

[@N-JOEI]

my favorite drunk history episode

[@sequoiacaldwell3742]

This story is so wholesome and makes me what to cry😭💜

[@Peranak-Samaa]

Damn...first ever drunk history that keep my eyes 😭😭😭..in a good way...erm...eddywooooolldddgoo

[@StuHolmes]

Man that was a sweet story

[@jamesparker6447]

This was great

[@creatinotionchannel2680]

Now it happened. Drunk History actually made me tear up.

[@thelegendsrtru]

This shit made me cry might be over thinking it but I'd love to see the the entire movie of this like a biography The part where he goes to rescue them idk normally I'd say that's dumb but this sounded genuinely sounds like a great dude.

[@walkermckee5442]

The guy talking is callmecarson in 20 years

[@younow9139]

yes

[@doctorcrypto3048]

Great production lol 😂

[@todydn]

This is a good episode

[@ghost245353]

Lol, all those people dying and the beach was still open to the public.

[@guyolive1071]

the Eddy is only held in 40 + clean waves

[@gageclark1279]

Thank you, very cool Carson!

[@woodieboyette6872]

Best drunk history story ..I've seen

[@jacesaces15]

Eddie was a rare case of a 'Brave Idiot' that lived on as a legend... that's dope.

[@teamthoth]

Shut up..... He was a hero. The end.

[@jenns.3596]

They could have done a better job. Eddie is a legend.

[@marcshields3677]

Yea, this was tasteless garbage. A disservice to the mans memory.

[@Akaya7777]

Marc Shields you can say that about the whole show but you’d be missing the point. Obviously drunk people explaining history isnt going to be the most detailed exposition. It does however make it funnier and help connect to an audience that might otherwise have never even known about Eddie. As a native Kanaka Maole who is a huge admirer of Eddie Im stoked to see all these people discovering Eddie and the power and Aloha within his story.

[@TheSubmissionChannel]

@@marcshields3677There is always one. Why don't you produce your own short film? Shut up.

[@LuckyJujube]

@@Akaya7777 Yaaaaaasss!

[@89Valkyrie]

What a tear jerker. I was crying a bit.

[@zpSean]

This was a badass episode❤️ mahalos 🤙🏽

[@dr3wtube144]

Woah I thought that was Chris D’Elia for the first full minute

[@brooksbrooks6805]

Eddie would go... one of the most amazing stories i have heard while living in Hawaii. What would Eddie Do?... well Eddie would go...

[@Youngbuckinnacut]

Beautifully told

[@sallybradshaw4576]

Eddie Aikau is like the coolest person ever. Hands down, favorite part of my Hawaiian history class.

[@bananashaveice]

Yep. Eddie would go.

[@ecyorrr8991]

He actually went looking for Rosa Diaz.

[@ivydoll804]

Why did this bring tears to my eyes?!?!

[@roberth7894]

Love this story! What a guy!