Eddie's spirit lives on at The Eddie Aikau Foundation. Our event planners and volunteers demonstrate his spirit and carry out The Foundation's mission through direct community involvement. We thank all those who help make our events possible.
2008 EDDIE AIKAU ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
The Eddie Aikau Foundation, in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education, is proud to announce the winners of the 3rd Annual Eddie Aikau Essay Contest. The contest was open to seventh, eighth and ninth graders around the State of Hawaii and the focus of the competition was the creation of an original essay.
That captured Eddie Aikau's influence on the student's own values and actions today. Entries were accepted in both English and Hawaiian.
An official awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2008, at the Elks Club, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., where the winner's from around the state will be presented with their awards.
"The essays we received were truly inspirational," said Myra Aikau, Eddie's sister. "From their writings, it is easy to see that what touched them the most is what stands out to all of us about Eddie: that he put other people's lives ahead of his own, and that his legacy continues to inspire and motivate people to this day - even if they never knew him personally."
Eddie Aikau was Waimea Bay's first official lifeguard and also emerged from there as one of the pioneer big-wave riders of the day. A Hawaiian who was deeply in touch with the roots of his heritage, Aikau embarked upon a journey to retrace the footsteps of his ancestors during the mid-'70s. His journey led him to the Hokule'a voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1978. Sadly for all, the voyage was never completed after the Hokule'a was swamped in heavy seas in the Kaiwi Channel. Eddie Aikau was last seen paddling away to seek help for his crew-mates.
While no longer physically present, Eddie's spirit and legacy live on today through the Aikau Family, events like this essay contest, the work of The Eddie Aikau Foundation, the KGMB documentary "Eddie Aikau: Hawaiian Hero", the Quiksilver In Memory of
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay, and the many lives he has touched and continues to affect with his countless acts of courage and Aloha.
The winners are:
7TH GRADE
Winners:
1st Place - Kayla Sagucio, Waimea Canyon Middle School - Hawaii
2nd Place - Nicholas VanDerKamp, Kailua Intermediate School - Oahu
3rd Place -Maria Leineweber, Kailua Intermediate School - Oahu
Honorable Mentions:
Rachel Tanoue, Moanalua Middle School - Oahu
Kristyn Iwane, Kailua Intermediae School - Oahu
8TH GRADE
Winners:
1st Place - Eliane Mathieu, Kailua Intermediate School - Oahu
2nd Place - Moana Klein, Kailua Intermediate School - Oahu
3rd Place - Shay Chun, Niu Valley Middle School - Oahu
Honorable Mentions:
Lauren Barina, Kailua Intermediate School - Oahu
Sara McAllaster, Kailua Intermediate School - Oahu
9TH GRADE
Winners:
1st Place - Angela Kent, Kalaheo High School - Oahu
2nd Place - Selina Crivello, Kalaheo Hich School - Oahu
3rd Place - Sara Beth Yurow, Kalaheo High School - Oahu
Honorable Mentions:
Angelica Crimmins, Kalaheo High School - Oahu
Natalie Sheffield, Kalaheo High School - Oahu
For More Information Contact: Ms. Linda Ipsen, Eddie Aikau Foundation at info@eddieaikaufoundation.org
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