Eddie won't go...not this year anyway
Like a line-ball forecast - is it happening? is it not? - the Eddie Aikau contest has once again been shunted off track.
The latest word from Hawaii is that the Eddie Aikau definitely won't be running this season. With the season already underway, the family says they don't have sufficient time or resources to make it happen. AP Hawaii reports:
The Aikaus eventually obtained a permit for the event from Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation. But Cynthis Scrima [Aikau family spokesperson] said they don't have sufficient time and resources to plan and hold the event this winter.
"It really is the most prestigious surf contest in the world. And we did not want to compromise that because it ultimately would be compromising Eddie's integrity to not do something proper," Scrima said.
The family hopes to hold "The Eddie" during the 2018-2019 season. Scrima said the Aikaus have already applied for a permit for next season and have been searching for a new lead sponsor.
Scrima said it took longer for the organizers to get up to speed with permitting because Quiksilver wasn't involved. She said Quiksilver handled the permit application process in previous years. Scrima said the city has "been fantastic" since the permit paperwork got to the right people.
It was always going to be a squeeze to make it happen this year. Especially considering the green light for the Eddie was given on November 7th, over a week after the Peahi Big Wave Challenge ran.
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NOVEMBER 07, 2017 - "Even if we have to have coconuts for trophies and you come down with a can of sardines, Uncle Clyde will feed you rice and we'll have the event," Clyde Aikau told KHON2 news. “The main thing is that the family wants to continue to carry on Eddie's legacy and what he was all about.”
Guess Clyde couldn't find any coconuts after all....?!
Ha ha
I think Clyde found out that coconuts for prizes might work , but to pay for the rest of the event with Coconuts was probably a little over zealous if not at least the Aikau family have probably had a reality check in how much it costs and the need for a very solid infrastructure !