Clyde Aikau passed away peacefully at his Waimanalo home in Oahu, Hawaii, on Saturday, surrounded by his family. He was 75.
Born in Kahului, Maui, on October 24, 1949, Clyde was the youngest of six children of Solomon "Pops" and Henrietta Aikau.
His siblings, in order, were Fred, Myra, Eddie, Gerald, and Solomon III. The Aikau family moved to Oahu in 1959, planting new roots on the North Shore.
At age 15, Clyde paddled out at Waikiki for the first time under the watchful eye of his older brother Eddie.
Before that year ended, he claimed Hawaii's junior surfing title.
In 1967, Clyde asked his brother," 'Hey, Eddie, can you take me out there and show me how to surf the Bay?' So we went out, and he showed me exactly where to go and where not to go and what to watch for."
The two brothers quickly became fixtures at all North Shore surf breaks.
In 1971, both Clyde and Eddie reached the finals of the Smirnoff Pro and the Duke Kahanamoku Classic.
Two years later, Clyde won the Duke, the first surfing contest ever held at Waimea Bay. He had also become the first native Hawaiian surfer to win the prestigious event.
Eddie would capture that same title in 1977, just months before his tragic loss at sea.
Clyde carried on Eddie's spirit in and out of the water.
He served as a lifeguard on the North Shore - just like Eddie - and later joined the crew of the Hōkūle'a voyaging canoe on an ocean passage in 1995.
On land, the regular footer missed the thrill of rough seas and the wonder of a sky full of stars.
A Life Dedicated to Surfing and Hawaii
In 1986, the inaugural Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest at Waimea Bay paid tribute to his brother's daring big-wave legacy.
Clyde and Mark Foo finished tied, but Clyde's next-best wave gave him the victory. He went on to place fifth in 1990, tenth in 2001, and, at age 52, eighth in 2002.
Beyond competition, Clyde ran a beachboy service at Waikiki and founded the Aikau Pure Hawaiian Surf Academy.
He earned a sociology degree at the University of Hawaii and worked as a liaison linking the Department of Education with unhoused families, making sure children had what they needed for school.
In recent years, Clyde faced heart issues and a battle with pancreatic cancer, but with the same optimism, he rode big waves.
He stood by his wife, Eleni, supporting her dog-boarding business, and nurtured his son, Ha'a.
Ailkau is also survived by his sister, Myra, and a circle of nieces and nephews.
As news of his passing spread, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi noted Clyde's spirit.
"(He) lived a remarkable life, defined by courage, commitment, and aloha," stressed Blangiardi. "He was a fierce competitor who always carried himself with humility.
"He carried Eddie's legacy with pride, helping to preserve and share Hawaiʻi's deep connection to the ocean, to each other, and to the culture that unites us."
"Clyde's legacy as a guardian of our shores will live on for generations. He will be deeply missed."
His family also remembers the connection between the two iconic surfing brothers.
"Clyde and Eddie were the closest of brothers, sharing a passion and commitment to family, Hawaiian culture, and the ocean. They [...] were famous for their impromptu slack key guitar sessions that they shared with family and friends around the Islands and the world."
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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