It was a slow day at the tutor's desk. Shopping was a drag. The highlight of my town trip today was a bumper sticker that read:
Militant Agnostic:
I'm not sure and neither are you
It's funny, in a heady, heretical sort of way, right?
Then later, walking on campus, I spotted a young woman, so brave in her political incorrectness, sporting a t-shirt that said, Fearless Haole. Fearless Hawaiian and Hawaiian Pride are emblazoned on windshields and chests and biceps everywhere you look. There are Fearless Filipinos and Fearless Potagees. Never have I seen a Fearless Haole. I thought about getting a Fearless Norwegian-Irish-German-Scots Irish-Native American-poi dog-whatevah decal, but couldn't see where that might fit. No, the back of my pants is not an option. That would require removal of my Wide Load sign and endanger everyone.
The Eddie went today. That's the Eddie Aikau Invitational big wave surfing competition. Eddie was a renowned big wave rider and the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on O'ahu's famous North Shore. He pulled dozens of surfers safely from the thunderous torrent over the years, heading into the giant breakers when no one else would go.
In 1978, Eddie volunteered as a crew member on the Hokule'a crew. Hokule'a was (and is) a voyaging canoe, a full scale replica fashioned after the canoes sailed by the first Hawaiians across the vast expanse of ocean from Polynesia 2000 years ago. The late seventies mark the start of The Hawaiian Renaissance, the birth of a resurgence among Hawaiians' and others in awareness and appreciation of Hawaiian culture. Almost home, the Hokule'a '78 sprung a leak. It capsized 12 miles off the coast of Moloka'i. Eddie swam toward shore for help. The crew was rescued by the Coast Guard, but Eddie perished. He was never seen again.
Today, the slogan Eddie would go graces bumpers, shirts, mugs. Over the years, several variations on the phrase have emerged. During the June Jones/Colt Brennan era of UH football, Eddie would throw came to represent the team's pass-oriented offense. In another manifestation, those who support the notion of a surfer being pulled out by a WaveRunner to catch giant waves rather than swimming to them, espouse, "Eddie would tow." Purists in the surf community aren't keen on this one. They think towing is cheating and are confident that Eddie would not tow. Here are some of my own adaptations: To get him to kick the football, Lucy might tell Charlie Brown, "Eddie would toe." Wondering whether or not to move into that home near the nuclear power plant? Hey, Eddie would glow. Maybe you want to sneak onto a freighter and travel the world on the cheap. Sure. Eddie would stow. Know a pensive rooster? Tell him, "Eddie would crow." Tempted to drive 65 in a school zone? Eddie would slow. Venturing out to the lawn, I've been known to say to nobody in particular, "Eddie would mow." In its most traditional sense, the mantra is used as encouragement, whenever someone faces a scary, risky or challenging proposition in life. No guts? Feeling apprehensive? Unsure? Seriously. Eddie would go.
A hui hou. Aloha.
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