Thank You, Clyde...
- Anthony Esteves
- May 8
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 13
Clyde Aikau, the Hawaiian legend and younger brother of iconic surfer, lifeguard, and Hōkūle’a crew member Eddie Aikau, has passed away. He was 75.
I learned of the news on Instagram through his son Ha’a’s account. I had been following him for several months, as I was one of many infatuated with the Aikau legacy. Witnessing the news was a strike through the heart. While Clyde had been battling cancer for quite some time, the news still sent a shockwave through me, which could be odd because the Aikaus and I do not know each other.
I did not know Clyde personally. I never experienced the honor and privilege of being in his presence. I wish I could have, and I may have been close once. My only trip to those beautiful islands in the Pacific was during my honeymoon in Maui in 2009. Maui was the original home of the Aikaus until they moved to O’ahu in the 1950s. However, at this time, I was too ignorant of Hawaiian culture to be considered worthy of his time. That was not something told to me. It is something I know now, looking back.
Before the trip, Hawai’i was only a few things in my mind: a filming location for a few of my favorite motion pictures (like Jurassic Park and Forgetting Sarah Marshall), the location where my idol Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson grew up, and a paradise of the utmost beauty. It was on this 2009 trip that my brain began to comprehend the importance of those islands. It was where my journey through the history of Hawai’i and its people began.
Immediately after our return, I began educating myself on Hawaiian history and other Polynesian cultures. I learned of words like āina, mana, and kanaka. I even learned of my status as a “Pukiki”—the term Hawaiians used for people of Portuguese heritage. I have yet to know if there is a specific one for Azoreans, so until then, I will gladly wear the “Pukiki” title.
I learned of the arrival of Captain Cook and then his bloody Valentine's Day execution, King Kamehameha’s uniting of the islands, and creating the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Its partnerships with the United Kingdom and other nations. Granting land and work to immigrants, including Portuguese, on the islands. Then, I learned of the greedy haole industrialists who sunk their claws into the āina, fueling a Bayonet Constitution that stole the power from the Hawaiian people. The missionaries who prohibited the Hawaiian language and culture in an attempt to erase it. Queen Liliuokalani’s final attempts to save her kingdom only to see it ripped from her by the United States and turned into a territory and eventually a state.
Learning the TRUE history of Hawai’i made me a better student of world history and the United States. However, I had yet to stumble upon the Aikau family. In 2013, that would change.
One night, scrolling through channels, I landed on ESPN just as a new installment of their 30 for 30 sports documentaries was starting. Curious what epic hybrid adventure of sports and cinema the ESPN crew was about to take me on, I set the remote down. The title of this particular documentary was Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau, directed by acclaimed surfing filmmaker Sam George and produced & narrated by Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin.
I was in awe of the life of this Hawaiian hero. The story of a descendant of Hawaiian royalty devoted not only to an athletic art form, but also to the perseverance of his culture. The life of the first lifeguard ever assigned to the North Shore of O’ahu. A lifeguard who not only made over 500 saves, but never lost a single soul on his watch. A fearless wave rider who mastered the massive, 30-plus-foot waves of Waimea Bay and claimed the top prize at the prestigious Duke surfing competition. A crew member of the Hōkūle’a who made the ultimate sacrifice doing what he did best: saving his people.
I was mesmerized, heartbroken, and greatly inspired by the life of Eddie Aikau. This documentary had a grip on my mind and heart. Hearing the tale told by Brolin and the Aikau family, primarily by his younger brother Clyde, was an eye-opening, personal one about this young man and his devotion to his culture. I became so infatuated with this story that I purchased the film to experience it again whenever I desired. With every viewing, the same thought filled my mind:
How has the true story of Eddie Aikau not been made into a motion picture?
This thought would stick in my mind for years. Having scribbled random stories as a kid for fun, I decided to chase the art of screenwriting. I wrote episodes and pilots for original ideas, all while the life of Eddie Aikau occupied a significant spot in my mind. Eventually, a copy of Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero and Pioneer of Big Wave Surfing by Stuart Coleman ended up in my possession. Taking notes as I read, I gained a new insight into this amazing life story. I also learned more about Clyde.
From the first college graduate in the family to winning The Duke before Eddie, my knowledge of Clyde increased. Moreover, the bond between Eddie and Clyde was undeniable. A strong brotherhood that was unbreakable—even after the disappearance of Eddie in the Pacific, when he tried to paddle out for help to rescue the capsized Hōkūle’a and its crew. Clyde became the rock of the family after the passing of his brother. He also honored his brother by creating a big wave surfing competition in his memory, calling it "The Eddie" Big Wave Invitational.
Feeling the presence of Eddie throughout the tournament, Clyde won "The Eddie" Big Wave Invitational in 1986. Clyde also became a symbol and defender of Hawaiian culture, joining the crew of the Hōkūle’a like his brother before him. He worked as a Homeless Concerns liaison in Hawai’i for the Department of Education and would give surfing lessons with the Star Beachboys of Waikiki. As memorable a legacy as Eddie has, Clyde crafted his own while continuing to honor his older brother.
Having read the book and grown somewhat more comfortable with screenwriting, it was time to attempt my biopic screenplay on Eddie Aikau. As added inspiration, my friend Curtis would text me, cheering me on. He, too, knew the Eddie Aikau story and was excited to hear I was pursuing this endeavor without any promise of it ever being produced. Curtis is one of those friends who makes you feel like you can do anything, and he will continuously remind you of that, no matter how often you may second-guess yourself.
Sadly, my friend Curtis never saw the completed project. He lost his battle with cancer in June of 2023.
At his celebration of life, I promised him and his family that I would complete the project in honor of him, knowing he would want me to finish it. One year later, I did just that. A 130-page script inspired by the life of Eddie Aikau and his relationship with his brother Clyde. A story that not only honors the Aikau family legacy and the art of wave riding but also places the spotlight on the resilience of the Hawaiian people and the beauty of their culture.
So, I now find myself emotional over the passing of Clyde Aikau due to how much I learned about him. I feel like I lost a close family friend, even though I never met him. I was never physically present for the family celebrations at the Aikau compound, yet in a way, I have experienced the love and joy shared at each of them. I have never physically ridden a big wave at Waimea Bay, yet feel like I have witnessed the superb excellence of Eddie and Clyde taming the ocean with their longboards.
The world knows Eddie would go because of Clyde's love for his brother. And in that love, Clyde advanced his Aikau legacy. A legacy that continues with his son Ha'a. Just like Eddie, Clyde is a shining example of what it means to be a proud Hawaiian.
Eddie went, and so did Clyde. The Aikau brothers reunited, once again riding the moana waves and watching over the āina and its kanaka.
In memory of the legendary Clyde Aikau.
Oct. 24, 1949 - May 3, 2025.
