Waimea Bay, North Shore, Oahu · usually early December to early March
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
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Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
When is Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational 2026/27?
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational usually runs early December to early March. It's a natural season, so the best days change from year to year.
How the dates are set: A waiting period announced each season; the contest runs only on a day when waves meet the standard.
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational schedule
- December 3, 2026: The opening ceremony takes place at Waimea Bay, officially kicking off the contest window.
- December 6, 2026 to March 4, 2027: The event window. The contest runs only if conditions meet the standard.
Source: ripcurl.com
Getting to Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
- The contest is held at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore.
Source: ripcurl.com
History of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
The Eddie is a tribute to Eddie Aikau, a lifeguard. His brother Clyde Aikau won the inaugural contest at Waimea Bay in 1986. As of the 2025-2026 season invitations, it had been held 11 times in its 41-year history. Landon McNamara won on December 22, 2024.
Source: theinertia.com
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational: questions people ask
Where is the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational held?
It is held at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
When is the Eddie Aikau contest window in 2026-2027?
The event window is December 6, 2026 to March 4, 2027, with the opening ceremony on December 3, 2026.
How big do the waves have to be for the Eddie to run?
Waves at the Bay must reach and sustain heights of at least 20 feet Hawaiian.
How often has the Eddie been held?
As of the 2025-2026 invitations, it had been held 11 times in its 41-year history.
Sources: ripcurl.com, theinertia.com
About Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
The big wave contest at Waimea Bay that runs only when waves reach 20 feet Hawaiian, on one day's notice.
The Eddie honors lifeguard Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore. It has a waiting period each winter and runs only on a day when waves at the Bay reach and sustain at least 20 feet Hawaiian. Because of that standard, the contest has been held only 11 times in its 41-year history. The catch is that nobody knows the date ahead of time.
Know before you go
- The contest only runs if surf meets the standard, so there may be no event in a given season.
- Be flexible: the green light comes on short notice.
- Waimea Bay is about an hour by car from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu.
Planning the trip
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