Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 1, 1 January 2020 — HE'E NALU [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HE'E NALU

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The traditional Hawaiian sport of surfing exploded in popularity after being introduced to the world in the early 20th century by Kanaka Maoli ieon and three-time olympian, Duke Kahanamoku. In the decades that followed, the sport has been adopted by athletes and oeean enthusiasts the world over, taking on a life of its own. Today, the annual revenue generated by the global surfing industry exceeds $7 billion, and by 2022 it is expected that industry sales will reach $9.5 billion. Surfing is big business - and an aspect of Hawaiian culture appropriated by the rest of the world. As surfing has been commodified, traditions associated with this maoli cultural practice were left behind. In November 2018, OHA and a coalition of Hawaiian organizations stepped forward to support the Eddie Aikau Big Wave lnvitational after long-time event sponsor Quiksilver and the Aikau 'ohana parted ways in 2016. And in doing so, Native Hawaiians have taken an important step towards reclaiming surfing as a maoli cultural practice and re-establishing surfing as Hawai'i's national sport. Established in 1984 by the Aikau 'ohana to honor their lost son, legendary waterman Eddie Aikau, the Big Wave lnvitational at Waimea Bay, O'ahu, has become the world's preeminent surf contest. OHA views support of the Big Wave lnvitational as an opportunity to encourage more Native Hawaiians to participate in their national sport, and a way to promote the history and traditional aspects of surfing to remind the rest of the world of its cultural heritage and origins. Invented in Hawai'i centuries ago, surfing, or he'e nalu, was enjoyed by both maka ainana and ali'i. The commitment to reclaiming surfing as a maoli tradition and reconnecting the sport with its cultural roots was manifested in the November event's opening ceremony protocol whieh included oli, pule, ho'okupu, and an 'awa ceremony. Native Hawaiian scholar and surfer, lsaiah Helekunihi Walker said, "l'd like people to recognize that surfing is still very mueh a part of our culture and to inspire younger kōnaka to take more ownership of it as a way to express their cultural identity as Native Hawaiians." Eddie Aikau was among the best big wave riders ofhis time. Known for his fearlessness, as a lifeguard at Waimea BayAikau rescued more than 500 people from frequently treacherous surfwithout losing a single soul. It was his preturnatural courage and eoneem for his crewmates whieh compelled him to venture out alone on his surfboard in rough water after the Hōkūle'a capsized 12 miles south ofMoloka'i in 1978. He was lost at sea and never seen again.

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