Google Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Eddie Aikau
On May 4, 2019, the famous search engine will run a Google Doodle honoring beloved Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau.
The special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepages will be available on Friday at 9 pm (PDT) through Saturday night.
The images were created by designers Pedro Vergani and Mattias Breitholtz.
Eddie Aikau was born on May 4, 1946, in Kahului, Hawaii. He was a legendary big wave surfer, lifeguard, and symbol of Hawaiian heritage and culture.
Eddie made rescues in the raging surf and saved many lives. There was never a loss of life in the ten years while he was on duty.
While sailing on the Hokulea, a heritage boat retracing the Polynesian migration to Hawaii, the boat capsized.
After a wild night adrift, Eddie paddled off on his surfboard alone towards Lanai to get help for the crew, but he never reached his destiny.
The largest air-sea search in Hawaii history was launched, but Eddie was never found. The waterman may have drowned on March 17, 1978.
In Aikau's honor, Hawaii organized a famed surfing competition in his name, "The Eddie."
The contest has taken place only nine times since 1985, as it requires waves to meet a minimum of 20 feet high.
Eddie Aikau is the second iconic surfer to be featured in Google Doodle. In August 2015, the search engine also highlighted the life of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing.