Customer Reviews

Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero

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How's this for a myth? A handsome young man grows up on a beautiful island, living close to nature. He finds a slab of spear-like board and discovers he can use it to challenge waves bigger than anyone thought could be tamed. He rides them flawlessly as they thunder and crash around him. Even his daily life is extraordinary: He patrols beaches to save those who venture out too far --- and no one dies, ever, on his watch. Then comes a mythic opportunity to recreate an ancient voyage. Soon after the double-hulled canoe sails, however, it runs into trouble. Our hero volunteers to swim 12 miles across choppy water to get help for his mates. He sets off --- and is never seen again.

But this is no myth. It's the life story of Eddie Aikau, the 32-year-old Hawaiian waterman who died in l978 trying to save his shipmates (who, as it happened, were all rescued a few hours after he started swimming for shore). And what a story! Start with a kid as handsome as Jason Scott Lee, as athletic as Duke Kahanamoku and as soulful as Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He loves the water so much he drops out of school at 16. At 21, when he's not much known as a surfer, he shows up at Waimea Bay and triumphs over 40-foot waves. Suddenly he is in the Pantheon of big-wave surfers. And stays there until his death.

It was inevitable there would be a book about Eddie. And that it would be called EDDIE WOULD GO --- the phrase other watermen used to describe Aikau's unrelenting willingness to leap into deadly surf to save swimmers in trouble. What was not inevitable? That EDDIE WOULD GO would be written by someone as gifted as Stuart Coleman. A writer, teacher and surfer, he strikes just the right balance between Eddie's life on land and his heroics on the water. He tells a double story well: courage and integrity on the water, a spiritual quest on land, as Aikau pondered what it meant to be a Hawaiian in a rapidly changing world.

How's this for a myth? A handsome young man grows up on a beautiful island, living close to nature. He finds a slab of spear-like board and discovers he can use it to challenge waves bigger than anyone thought could be tamed. He rides them flawlessly as they thunder and crash around him. Even his daily life is extraordinary: He patrols beaches to save those who venture out too far --- and no one dies, ever, on his watch. Then comes a mythic opportunity to recreate an ancient voyage. Soon after the double-hulled canoe sails, however, it runs into trouble. Our hero volunteers to swim 12 miles across choppy water to get help for his mates. He sets off --- and is never seen again.

But this is no myth. It's the life story of Eddie Aikau, the 32-year-old Hawaiian waterman who died in l978 trying to save his shipmates (who, as it happened, were all rescued a few hours after he started swimming for shore). And what a story! Start with a kid as handsome as Jason Scott Lee, as athletic as Duke Kahanamoku and as soulful as Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He loves the water so much he drops out of school at 16. At 21, when he's not much known as a surfer, he shows up at Waimea Bay and triumphs over 40-foot waves. Suddenly he is in the Pantheon of big-wave surfers. And stays there until his death.

It was inevitable there would be a book about Eddie. And that it would be called EDDIE WOULD GO --- the phrase other watermen used to describe Aikau's unrelenting willingness to leap into deadly surf to save swimmers in trouble. What was not inevitable? That EDDIE WOULD GO would be written by someone as gifted as Stuart Coleman. A writer, teacher and surfer, he strikes just the right balance between Eddie's life on land and his heroics on the water. He tells a double story well: courage and integrity on the water, a spiritual quest on land, as Aikau pondered what it meant to be a Hawaiian in a rapidly changing world.

Forty foot-high waves. Normally brave surfers standing on shore. And one surfer --- Eddie Aikau --- smiling as he and his board become one with the water. It's an image that will warm you on cold winter nights. And, in summer, make you just a bit more respectful of kids on surfboards, dreaming of glory.

--- Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth

What can a high-school dropout, hooked on surfing, raised by a poor family in a remote cemetery out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean have to say to me? This is what I was thinking as I started "Eddie Would Go." In fact, for the first 100 pages of Coleman's book I continued to ask myself the same question.

But the more I read about Eddie Aikau and the more I got to know him, the more my respect grew. In a way, Coleman kind of sets you up. He lures you into Eddie's humble life only to help you better understand his greatness -- his purely selfless heroism.

Not only is "Eddie Would Go" one of the better biographies I've read, it flows along with profound undercurrents. Many of them are quickly grasped - poverty, altruism, struggles with cultural inferiority. Others are more subtle and lingering - the complexity of racism and the Buddhist concept of "dukkha."

Unforgettable, important book.

"Eddie Would Go" was recommended to me by a friend who is an avid surfer. He insisted that Mr. Coleman's biography of Eddie Aikau was an engrossing page-turner.

I must admit that I agreed to read this book with a great degree of skepticism. Not only do I know little about the sport of surfing, I have never visited Hawaii, and I had certainly never heard of Eddie Aikau.

It did not take long for my skepticism to disappear. Mr. Coleman's wonderful abilities to bring Eddie and the customs of Hawaii and its surf culture to life immediately had me transfixed. His brilliant account of this Hawaiian legend/myth is a true page turner.

I urge all readers out there to spread the word about "Eddie Would Go". If it does indeed "catch a wave" of popularity, it may well do for surfing what "Seabiscuit" recently has done for the sport of horseracing.

Stuart Coleman is truly a gifted young writer that we should continue to watch in the future. I cannot wait for his next book, regardless of subject matter!

Like about a million other surfers I had heard Eddie's story.

But foolishly, probably cynically, my first impression was to assume that he became famous more from his tragic death (which stemmed from his heroic attempt to save his fellow boatmen) than from what he had done with his life.

After all, no one can deny that the circumstances of his death alone were deserving of icon status.

Instead I found that Eddie was a hero way before he died. A man of phenomenal spirit, accomplishment and selflessness. I hang my head that it took so long for me to know the true story of Eddie and I praise the author for telling it so well.

If you think you know Eddie, read the book, you will find you only knew a sliver of what was really there.

This book is a classic and brings you back in time to the untapped virgin north shore of hawai'i. Eddie was a true hero with physical courage in the surf saving many lives, on land making peace and take care of his friends and family and in his passion of riding giant surf. His accomplishments are many and awe inspiring.

It's great reading about life back in the day, everybody surfing spots for the first time, talk of Jose Angel, the aussie's kicking down the door, the drama, swipe parties and the generosity of the Aikau's. I don't think anything like the times they had then will ever happen again in the surfing world.

This is a book to pass on to your kids.

Sad to say, and said with the utmost respect, I think Eddies passing was so fitting and emblematic of who he was as a man.

I liked the commentary and collected anecdotes in the book. Eddie was the kind of guy that is typical of Hawaii. Holmes describes his character as self-effacing, humble, generous... always giving of himself to others. These are attributes which are valued in the local Hawaiian culture and also,universally. Sadly, the very things which locals in Hawaii value the most, are taken advantage of by outsiders looking to capitalize or commercialize the "Aloha," shown to them. This is demonstrated continually in the book.
Overall, a very interesting biography written with respect and conviction to the legacy that Eddie "lived" during his short life. Many details in the book encourage self-introspection within one's own life.

An intriguing tribute to hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau, "Eddie Would Go" explores the life journey of a true native legend. From big-wave surfing, to saving countless lives as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay, Eddie epitomized the true essence of Hawaii and the spirit of "aloha." This book embraces the strong family connection that is so inherent in hawaiian culture, while focusing on the characteristics that made Eddie a local hero, a surfing icon and a dedicated waterman.

Author Stuart Holmes Coleman explores Eddie's lifelong connection to the ocean, while also giving a glimpe of life as it was and is on the ever famous North Shore. Always the adventurer, Eddie's passion for the water would bring him across infinite miles of ocean over the course of his lifetime, and in the end would serve appropriately as his eternal resting place. This book transcends all genders, ages, races, surfers and adventure seekers alike, a thrilling gem of a read for all. An epic tale, it will stir your emotions and touch your soul. Eddie was an inspiration to many and a friend to all, and his spirit lives on in this book just as it will forever in the ocean.

This book is a true story with many messages. Eddie Aikau was a hero many times over, a warrior waterman. He was a hero to the many whose lives he saved. He was a hero to the Hawaiian culture. He was a hero to his crewmates on the Hokuleia.

He wasn't perfect, however. Author Stuart Coleman worked very hard to find the true Eddie, separating the man from the myth, the sinner from the saint.

If you like reading about surfing, the Hawaiian culture, and people who have influenced the reputation of the Hawaiian North Shore, this is the book. The photos are terrific, but the story is sad. I thank Coleman for pulling it all together.

I had never heard of Eddie Aiku until 2 months ago when I went to Hawaii and read a sidebar about him in a "blue book." At first I thought "Eddie Would Go" was just a macho mentality and I thought I was going to read a story about someone daring and tough. After reading I know the meaning behind "Eddie would go" is so much deeper...

What a gripping tragic story of an incredible man. The book really captures the higlights and impact of Eddie's actions and does a good job of translating the emotions and feelings around the events that happened through interviews of people that were there and first-hand witnesses. Coleman often gives multiple viewpoints from multiple interviewees and it is interstesting to see the different interpretations of events.

If we all had the humilty, self-sacrifice and wisdom of Eddie Aikau we'd all be better off.