What occurred on January 22, 2023, at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu is nothing short of historical. We’re simply doing our best to document Hawaiian Surf History here.

Hands down, the most epic surf event in recent memory and other surf photographers, some of whom have been filming these events for a long time, agreed and said similar things. What a coincidence that exactly one year after 2022’s (Jan 22, 2022) biggest and most epic Waimea Bay Surf day, we have another epic day, just bigger, sunnier, more exciting, and better in every way!

Eddie Aikau was a Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. As the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu, he saved over 500 people and became famous for surfing the big Hawaiian surf, winning several awards. In 1978, He sacrificed his life trying to help the crew aboard the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa. In Eddie Aikau’s honor, “The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational” Waimea Bay Big Wave Surf Contest was held on Jan 22, 2023 for the first time since February 25, 2016.

Also, reported by Derek Rielly from Beach Grit about Luke Shepardson winning the contest:
HONOLULU COUNTY LIFEGUARD LUKE SHEPARDSON WHO WON WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS BIG-WAVE CONTEST ON “BEST DAY IN SURFING HISTORY” CUTS SHORT INTERVIEWS TO RETURN TO WORK, “I GOTTA GET BACK TO THE TOWER TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS OKAY!”

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– Mahalo

If you know who an Unidentified surfer is, pls help us with mention in the comments. Mahalo

Dawn Patrol Surfers (Pre-contest free surf) (7am-8am)

02:09 Kai Lenny (Maui, HI)
02:16 orange & black (Unidentified)
02:42 red (Unidentified)
02:52 Kai Lenny (Maui, HI) & (Unidentified)
03:13 Bodyboarder? (Unidentified)

2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Surf Contest (8am-4pm)

03:53 Shane Dorian (Kailua-Kona, HI)
04:20 Grant Twiggy Baker (blue) & Michael Ho (orange)
04:31 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
04:45 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
05:02 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
05:29 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
05:55 Michael Ho (Oahu, HI)
05:57 Paige Alms (Maui, HI)
06:01 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
06:55 Landon McNamara (Oahu, HI)
07:19 John John Florence (Oahu, HI)
07:46 Kai Lenny (red) & Aaron Gold (blue)
08:43 John John Florence (yellow) & Jake Maki (orange)
09:12 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
09:23 Aaron Gold (Hilo, HI)
09:42 Chris Owens (Oahu, HI)
10:02 Mason Ho (Oahu, HI) & Lucas Chianca (Brazil)
10:30 Ezekiel Lau (red) & Taio Shipman (orange)
10:50 Ezekiel Lau (Oahu, HI)
10:55 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
11:02 Keali’i Mamala (Oahu, HI)
11:22 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
11:39 Ezekiel Lau (Oahu, HI)
11:55 Nic Von Rupp (white) & Ezekiel Lau (red)
12:11 Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Brazil)
12:22 Keali’i Mamala (Oahu, HI)
12:35 Shane Dorian (purple) & Peter Mel (black)
12:38 Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Brazil)
12:45 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
12:50 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
12:56 Makani Adric (Oahu, HI)
13:01 Jamie Mitchell (Australia)
13:09 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
13:18 Tikanui Smith (white) & Grant Twiggy Baker (orange)
13:27 Kohl Christensen (Oahu, HI)
14:07 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
14:18 Tyler Larronde (Maui, HI)
15:12 Michael Ho (orange) & Ross Clark-Jones (yellow)
15:30 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
15:44 Mikey Red (Oahu, HI)

To watch similar videos check out our 2022 North Shore Drone Playlist:　

To watch a our follow up edit to this video with some of the unused footage and extended scenes of this event click here: “The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Revisited 4K”


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