Legendary Hawaiian waterman Clyde Aikau has passed away
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The surfing community lost another legend as Clyde Aikau passed away Saturday evening in his Waimanalo home, surrounded by his sister, Myra, wife, Eleni and son, Ha'a.
The Aikau family said his death came 'after a long hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.'
Video: Salt + Air Studios
'While that road was a difficult one, he never allowed it to get in the way of his eternal optimism and zest for life. He continued on with his family duties, supported his wife's dog boarding and training business, and ensured the success of his brother's event,' the Aikau family said in a statement.
Born in 1949 on the island of Maui, Clyde was the youngest of six children.
The Aikau family, known across the world as expert watermen, lost Clyde's older brother, Eddie when he set off to get help for his crew aboard the Hōkūleʻa in the 1978. He was never seen again.
'Incredible,' familiar and young faces show up for The Eddie opening ceremony
A big wave invitational was created to commemorate the memory of Eddie and Clyde has lovingly honored him, sharing countless stories of his beloved brother with the world and ensuring that Eddie's heroic nature was never forgotten.
Clyde won the inaugural event in 1986, becoming the champ of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. He continued to ride in subsequent events over the years.
In 2016, just before calling the competition on, Aikau told KHON2, 'It's just a privilege for me to ride one more time, and ride one more big one for Eddie,' he said. It was the last invitational that he competed in.
'Clyde and Eddie were the closest of brothers, sharing a passion and commitment to family, Hawaiian culture, and the ocean. They both served as North Shore lifeguards; voyaged on Hokule'a (separate voyages); rode giant winter waves at Waimea Bay; and were famous for their impromptu slack key guitar sessions that they shared with family and friends around the Islands and the world,' the Aikau family said in a statement.
Clyde Aikau was 75 years old.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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