Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 9, 1 September 2013 — Aikau film to show on ESPN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aikau film to show on ESPN

By Sarah Paeheeo Eddie Aikau the man heeame Eddie Aikau the legend when, on March 16, 1978, he paddled out on his surfboard into the night in an

attempt to save his crew after the voyaging eanoe Hōkūle'a capsized in the waters between Moloka'i and Lāna'i. Though Aikau was never seen again, his bravery and selflessness live on through tales told throughout

the Islands, and now, for first time, his amazing story will be shared with millions around the world in the film Hawaiian: Hie Legend of Eddie Aikau . Narrated by Josh Brolin, the documentary showed to a crowd of 4,000 at the Maui Film Festival in June; next month, it will play for a mueh larger audience as the opening pieee for ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series. "We're really gratified by ESPN's support of this film," says writer and director SamGeorge. "This is really a departure fromtheir normal 30for 30 sports documentaries, but right off the bat, they were attracted to the cultural aspect of this story." A longtime surfer and former Hawai'i resident, George was inspired to take on this massive endeavor after being asked by good friend and eollaborator Stacy Peralta (director of 2004's Riding Giants, whieh George also wrote) if Aikau's story would translate onto the big screen. "I said, 'There's a great movie in the Eddie Aikau story,' and the

remarkable thing is, it's a story that's never been told before in film," George says. "The other thing that was really important to me," he adds, "was to illustrate how singular surfing is as a sport - it's an ancient sport, it's a sport steeped in ritual and it was intrinsic in the Hawaiian lifestyle." The film also dives deeper into Aikau's personal journey to carve out his identity during the cusp of the Hawaiian renaissance, a eonundrum that resonated with other young Hawaiians of the time. "In the 20th century, surfing was the one plaee where a Hawaiian could be Hawaiian," George says. "In the context of so many other things Hawaiians had lost - their language, their culture, people dying from disease - surfing lived on as a purely Hawaiian activity, whieh Eddie embodied," adds eoproducer Paul Taublieb. "Going into the waves and being who he was wasn't just an athletic expression; it was an expression of his Hawaiian culture." Heartfelt interviews with the Aikau 'ohana - father Sol, brother Clyde, sister Myra and wife Linda - and a cast of surfers, university professors and master navigator Nainoa Thompson only add to the impact Hawaiian will no doubt have with viewers from Hawai'i shores and beyond. "The family was very supportive of this project," says Taublieb. "Without their approval, none of the other people in the film would have talked with us." Hawaiian: Hie Legend ofEddie Aikau airs Oct. 1, with repeat performances expected on ESPN and its sister networks. Check loeal listings for times and channels. The fulllength feature also will be available for purchase on DVD and iTunes. "This film will be viewed by millions, and I'm hoping viewers will get a better appreciation for surfing as a sport and at the same time a better appreciation for Hawai'i as a culture," George says. "This is a very personal story, a poMeal story, a surfing story and a Hawaiian story," adds Taublieb. "We started off making a movie about a heroic surfer, and we ended up making a story about a heroic Hawaiian." "Eddie Aikau was a true hero,

and not because he rode big waves," George agrees. "What we actually found out was that Eddie Aikau was even more of hero than his reputation, and this really made us feel good about making this film." ■ Sarah Paeheeo, an 0'ahu-based freelance writer, is aformer assistant regi.onal editorfor MidWeek

ESPN Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau will airOct. 1 on ESPN at 2 p.m. Hawai'i time as part of ESPN Film's 30 for 30 series. The film is scheduled to rebroadcast Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. Hawai'i time on ESPN2. O'ahu screenings Screenings are planned for two O'ahu venues leading up to the ESPN showcase. The first showing is Sept. 18 at Turtle Bay Resort's Surfer, The Bar, with a talkstory session with Clyde Aikau and film producer Paul Taublieb to follow. Fortickets and information, visit turtlebaysurf.com/ surferthebar. The second screening is scheduled for Sept. 22 at Hawai'i Theatre. Visit www. hawaiitheatre.com fortickets and details. Ticket sales from both events will benefit The Eddie Aikau Foundation and its programs.

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Big wave rider Eddie Aikau, who died at the age of 30, is further immortalized in a film to be showcased in the upcoming season of ESPN's Emmy-nominated documentary series "30 for 30." - Courtesy photo