Review

WL Rating

For many mainlanders, the depth of knowledge about Eddie Aikau probably stops with two facts: 1) He was a big wave rider, and 2) Quiksilver named a big wave competition after him.  As you start reading Eddie Would Go, it quickly becomes apparent that Eddie was a lot more.  The author, Stuart Coleman, draws upon extensive interviews with North Shore veterans, the Aikau family, friends, and long-time Hawaii residents to slowly craft Eddie’s story from his humble beginnings to his tragic end upon the capsized Polynesian catamaran the Hokule’a. One of the more poignant recollections comes Rabbit Bartholomew during the 1975/1976 North Shore season (known as the Bustin’ Down the Door years). For those who have seen the Pipeline Masters DVD with Shaun and Rabbit talking nostalgically about those times, what you don’t get from the DVD is the incredibly negative Hawaiian reaction to the Aussie boasting. It got so bad, in fact, that Rabbit was forced to live as an outcast after getting beaten to a pulp by some of the locals who were infuriated by what they deemed a lack of respect. As another group of local Hawaiian’s prepared to cook the Rabbit, Eddie stepped in and managed to make peace between all sides. Rabbit’s warm and candid recollections of Eddie are a tribute to Aikau’s ability to bring people together, while at the same time offering them redemption both in and out of the water. Definitely a book worth owning. (September 2008)

Eddie Would Go - Stuart H. Coleman

Details

Category: Non-Fiction

Reading Style: Medium

Pages: 272

Pub Date: 2002

Tags: Surfing, Bio