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:
• Laniakea Firing 🔥(Octo...
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"
• The 2023 Eddie Aikau B...
6:00 WHAT!!!?? Dude rode it out for like three different waves that all meshed together. That was amazing, happy for that surfer.
amazing!
This made my day never been so happy for a random surfer on youtube😂
Ikr!!??.. wow man. He rode it all the way in, each wave was like a bucking bronco
Born and raised one city over from Huntington Beach. Spent a goodly amount of time watching my brother surf. He never made it to Hawaii, he died in an auto accident at age 22 in 1984. I still have his surfboard. I watch these videos and talk to him, might seem silly but it's my thing. This was beautifully edited, the photography was amazing. Loved every minute of it.
Very unfortunate that he passed so young. I hope the memories help with your pain along with seeing things like this. May he rest in peace.
Not silly at all. Talk to my amazing grandmother weekly...her picture with a letter she wrote me sits safely on my dresser in my closet... when I start my day, I'll often share a thought and think how she'd respond. Bonds, love and memories are ours forever and can't be sold, stolen or purchased. Peace and take care.
Your brother sounds like a cool dude. Sorry he had to go so soon!
It's not silly at all. God Bless
.
Man this is so wonderful. The music, the awesome videoquality, all the editing, the surfers, the saviors. Wow, just Mindblowing
Can I just say, besides the great footage, thank you for not slowing down every single wave/ride to slo-mo like so many surf videos these days.
INSANE shots. That shot of Billy Kemper riding it all the way into the shorebreak with the knee brace was amazing. We were over by the judge's tower and we thought he fell when the wave broke on the shore and then a second later he comes out with his arms up. Such a great moment.
Absolutely sublime ride.
START AT 6:02 for that ride....
I straight up had tears in my eyes after that 45 second run!!! ❤️ 🇺🇸 🏄
You can’t win without showing airs though🤷🏻♂️
6666
Once again, EHHL and Reveal Hawaii Media, hands down best videography, editing, so many angles, video speeds, takeoffs, close outs, wipe outs, beach and crowd views, crystal clear images, dramatic audio, nobody puts you there like EHHL. Congrats!
Agreed, These guys need a contract to stream the next one.
100%
watching this in person was actually insane! shoutout to surfers and jetski people.. Absolute legends
I've vvzlosx5 y c
Yeah, north shore is epic. But watching it, I also get that "I could never do that" feeling which is sad too. I also wonder why they don't bust more equipment.
not a single native in sight
@@justtube true. you coulda one-for-alled them right over tho.
I’ve only been in small wave season (September). Waimea Bay/the north shore is arguably one of the most beautiful places on Oahu! Awesome that you were there! Definite shoutout to these brave surfers and rescuers! I certainly could never surf that!
I experienced more nail biting suspense in this 16 minute video than any movie I’ve seen in the theaters the last 5 years! Major respect for these athletes/artists!
Da best big wave video ever. Ace drone pilots, editing, soundtrack, crowd shots. Eddie is smiling big. EHHL, mahalo and aloha from an expat, 40 degrees outside but feels like back home.🤙🏽
Thanks for sharing this. All us surf nuts that whish we could be there appreciate it!
Crying... I watched as much of the live stream as I could.. this capture of the event is awesome. Thank you so much! It matters.
You are so welcome!
Whoever worked on this soundtrack need a raise!
Is it a song?
Name of artist?
Yeah he do
Balls of steel. Massive respect for all the guys and girls out there.
and skills to match. Quite the experience.
0:20 I like watching how the Surfers make these last moment important decisions on whether they paddle over the wave, dive off their board laying down or standing, slide off their board and push it through the wave etc. Any errors can be very costly. 3:24 14:50
Yep.. the choice we make will have different outcomes. It feels so good..... but do I pull out... Hmmm??
@@drophammer776oi bom dia @lessandro de Souza Brasileiro Baeta Neves axé
This is easily hands down the best edited overall version of that day. Fantastic job.
The drone pilot is exceptional
@@davida4375 The drone shots are amazing
Surfing holds a special place in my heart. There’s a purity to it that no other sport has.
Truly the best Waimea footage I've ever seen. Excellent editing work. The drone visuals are a game changer. Epic day at the bay. 💙🏄♀️🐬🌊
🌊🌊🌊🔥🏄 Surfing the North shore of Oahu in January ❓❓❓ you got to be suicidal ❓❓❓
Totally agree, off the charts!
Bigger and better wave in the winter
@@harrywhite9599Maholo, 🌴🏖️🌋 Howzit ,❓ Absolutely , Dude , I wiped out on North shore , 🌊🏄 , The wave was about 30 footer , for about 10 seconds I was on top of the crest , getting ready to get into the tube , I looked down ,Big mistake , after I Hit the Coral reef , It was lights out Thank God Pepper ,( Tammy ) was with me ,247 stiches and 50.years later, I still have a coral infection that pops up every now and then, , that's a great reminder who actually rules, And Brhadda it isn't us 🤙 Shaka Da kama Ina kine ,🦅🌍⚓ The phantom of North shore
@@davidstaudohar6733 wow love surfing 🏄♂️
Another EPIC amazingly brilliant production. You are right this was " nothing short of historical." Thank You so much for your tremendous capture of this event and for sharing it. Mahalo!!!
hey man this is all fun and games, but you never know when your end on this earth is and than it matters is your soul forgiven from the sins you did? so you can be saved from hell and go to heaven. only trough the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST GODS SON you can be cleaned and forgiven trough believe . IN JESUS NAME AMEN/////
Mavericks and Mavics were out in force! Respect to anyone who had the guts to get out there. Not just surfers, but those towing too. Ohh..... and also all the drone pilots risking their craft for these amazing shots.
hey man this is all fun and games, but you never know when your end on this earth is and than it matters is your soul forgiven from the sins you did? so you can be saved from hell and go to heaven. only trough the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST GODS SON you can be cleaned and forgiven trough believe . IN JESUS NAME AMEN///
Best surfing video I've seen in years. Great work!!!
this was the best coverage i watched of the event, was awesome thank you!
Thank you for these new perspectives! You show Not only the hight of the waves but also the lenghs - how the whole ocean seems to fold over. The wonderful colours and the positioning of surfers and jetskis. How they hurry towards the huge sets. Great job, I love it.
Really captures the spectacle that was the Eddie this year… Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t recall seeing Waimea as out of control as this!!
The editing here is simply epic. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Ya, really jaw-dropping video. Great camera work, production and editing. What a day, too, you know it's gnarly when surfers fall off the wave and skip on the face of the water!
This is the most insane camera and camera work I think I have ever seen….so crisp,clear,clean….almost like 3d…..you have truly captured the insanely of these watermen and these giant mountains of water….congratulations….I think on the off season you need to go look for bigfoot…..holy cow just wow…..amazing
Thanks a lot for this beautifull footage ...So awesome , Great views of this unbelievable Spot of Waimea the Duke🤙🌊🌊🌊🌊
F'ng epic! This is how you document the greatest sporting event using the latest and greatest filming and editing equipment. Outstanding.
Awsome footage of a Super Epic day. Excellent variety of views , pov's, angles ,crowd, the air Great Work Mahalo 4 Sharing👍🤙✌️
Always exceptional footage and the highest resolution looks simply incredible many thanks 🙏
A masterpiece captured and created from an amazing day at Waimea. Outstanding!
I could watch this for hours! Epic
7:03 and so many people together, just mindblowing and i would love to be there having good vibes. greets from Italy
The shots and the edit were just insane, I can't even put words on that! Incredible video, I loved it.
Did you watch the live Eddie on Surfline? Was incredible just as good if not better: Plenty of wonderful aloha💖🌺🌈🌴
🌊🌊🏄 you have to be suicidal to go surfing, on the North shore of Oahu in January, pause thing in honorable memories of Eddie ❤️‼️
kzhead.info/sun/m9ydipSoon93a4k/bejne.html
Incredible footage 👌 & the music blended with the situation totally 🤙
Mahalo! Best Eddie ever! So much incredible footage from so many people, but these drone shots are UNBELIEVABLE! Capturing the sheer scale and majesty of Hawaii's legendary wave ridden by legends and won by a quiet lifeguard who became an instant legend himself. So beautiful on so many levels, and so wholesome. Thank you from the gloomy UK winter 🤣✨️🤙
Thanks again!
Super plage super fille
Man I miss Oahu. I was there from August 2011 to March 2016. Best time of my life. Waimea in the winter was epic.
Sitting in cold rainy Berlin/Germany, this gives me an idea of whats going on on a perfect surf day at Waimea Bay - thanks for this video, I think it's the best surf-video I've seen so far
Thank you for sharing this Hawaiian history ,and epic day of real raw Hawaiian energy !
Waimea!!! Always Faithful to produce, Miss the days when I lived there!
Watched loads of vid's over the years and this tops them all. Amazing what you get when someone actually knows what is going on. 10/10
The best. The full form of the whole wave is here, again and again. Beautiful. This is a magnificent vision you have shared.
Best highlight package have seen, thank you and you deserve millions of views on this, phenomenal work.
6:00 best bit of surfing I've ever seen and Ive watched alot of surfing vids.
More people watching than surfing. Respect to each person surfing and watching.
This is the best surfing video I’ve ever seen. I normally can’t stand music in surf videos, but this music is amazing… and to make sure the sounds of the waves are louder than the music is 👌. Well done.. thank you for uploading
Best video of The Eddie. Captures the scope both onshore and offshore. Spectacular. Thank you
Everything about these waves is amazing. It's hard to comprehend that they exist like this. Wonderfully filmed and edited.
The drone footage is unreal. Excellent perspective!
Well done awesome video! I watched the event live on youtube and new it was EPIC, but this really brought it home!
Beautiful video; Mahalo for putting it together & sharing with us!
Wow....Eddie and the surf gods were blessing that day.
Wow. Miss the north shore so much. Thanks for the memories
Holy shitake!!!! this iz one movie in itself!.. I watched the Eddie, but it didn't look like this.. the perspective stays mind blowing!.. mahaloz Eimy and crew🤙🏽🤙🏽 yeeeee
Amazing Footage! Great Job!!
Incredible coverage!! Captured the essence of these giant waves with a front seat perspective and slowing the footage down to truly admire all the details of the ride.
Thanks for the awesome footage of the Eddie. The drone footage makes you appreciate how hard it is to paddle into a 50 foot wave without getting smoked. Outstanding job with the filming and editing. Well done!
Thanks so much! 😊
Where are the 50 foot waves? Maximum 30 feet!
Great video of Waimea Eddie Aikau surf meet! Music added so much excitement and drama to the whole scene and action! Great job, guys ! 😂🌴🏄
Well Done! Nice crowd coverage. Really caught the vibe of the event. Mahalo
Unbelievable footage and the symphonic music is perfect!
Thank you so much. Just outstanding job. You have done.on this video. I was right there on that sand in 1978 . Though 1980. So many great memories. I am 64 Now . Just to see the bay . Wow. Never went out to the big ones. Did mostly the 10 footers close to the beach. Body surfing. I remember when we used a thing called a hand gun. Like a tip of a surfboard where your hand went in the middle it. Worked great Great. This is before boogie boards. Thanks again. Lived at tomspsion corner. Right before Haliviea. God Bless.
Best video ever. Mahalo for your hard work and sharing with the world. 😊
4K that is what I was waiting for to watch it on the projector to really feel the waves fear power..Thx !
Great footage, thanks for sharing
This was soooooo well put together. True artistry.
WOW absolutely incredible footage.
Another fantastic production by Reveal Hawaii Media. Love watching your videos. You get my vote for an Academy Award!
Most of those waves were over 20+ feet. Many were 30+ feet! Just insane surf and crazy cool surfers. Loved this video!
Took my 81 VW van up to Eddy back in '16. Camped out the night before, no sleep cuz the bay was SOOO LOUD! Eddie went hard that day!
Amazing. Thanks for the footage. You guys are all so blessed to b watching this.
Fantastic. And the music is majestic...like the waves. When the surfer gets a great ride it makes you smile.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic footage, gives you a sense of depth and perspective you usually don't get in surfing footage. Kind of 3d, where it usually looks 2d. Well done.
So good to see it in high quality, amazing.
Do you have the clip of John John all the wave to the shorebreak? Love to see that.
@@peacepuffz We're missing a lot of footage from 8am-12:30pm, Kyle's partner filmer couldn't make it so Kyle had to search for a better spot to shoot all the footage himself which took him a lot of time. So no John John 😔
@@revealhawaiimedia808 Hey no worrys you guys did a great job. It's a dream of mine to one day come to Hawaii! Just got out the sea here now full winter boots, gloves & hood but still stoked. Keep up the great channel.
This made me feel like I was there! I could feel their hearts pounding!
Great video 🤙🏼
Epic footage 👏🏽
They look so epic and graceful when they wipe out, dudes going for it, full commitment. Great video, the music gave it a quality
All I can say is- holy shit! That was awesome!
Gnarly
OUTSTANDING video footage, courageous surfing and cool music. ❤️🤙🏼Eddie Aikau
Insane quality!!! Give me goosebumps fr! Congrats!
Mahalo'!! That was an epic video.
I've watched this many times. Still can't get enough.
Phenomenal angles in the film. Epic!
As a cinematographer that shot Kelly's first Eddie, this by far is some of the best footage I've seen. Great work! Thanks for sharing!
Incredible footage and sound track. Wow.
Brilliant editing and music. Santa Cruz surf here... I really enjoyed this 15 minutes of marvelous magic !
Amazing footage!
So fun to watch now that I’m older…😂brings back memories of surfing 🏄♂️ Huntington Beach when I was younger ❤🎉!
Wow! This is the best shall I say photography, cinematography etc forgive me for lack of proper verbage on this but it’s better than the Surfline live! So clear and crisp! Thank you so much for the excellent quality in this video! Fantastic!
Dude, this is unbelievable... This guys are fearless.
Holy shit. This footage is AMAZING!! Waimea riders covered my bedroom walls in the eighties when i first got into surfing. My surfing heroes. The images from the mags were unbelievable. This footage really shows how hard these waves are to catch & ride & how hard & brave these surfers really are. Fantastic work!
Fantastic amazing images!!!
Tons of respect. I can't even imagine how anyone even makes it out there.
Instinct
me，either
I've got to say, drones have changed everything in regards to footage. 30 years ago this footage would have been unthinkable. well done everyone, surfers, jet skis and cameraman.
Now this looked like a GREAT TIME!!!!!
Great camera work and edit! Love the slo mo! Mahalo for sharing!!
Fantastic footage. Thanks for putting it together. Much respect fro these guys.
Good video ❤
Oh my lord they are Monsters 😮...Loved the drone shots of that boiling sea 👍
Billy Kemper is my favorite surfer hands down. The man charges when no one else will. Always the last one standing when the waves get big.
Absolutely insane shots we couldn’t be here this year so this made my day coming across your channels 🤙🏼