Eddie would go, would you?

EDDIE WOULD GO is the only biography of one of Hawaii's greatest heroes. Eddie Aikau was a humble man who was larger than life. As a surfer, he rode the biggest waves in the world; as a lifeguard, he saved hundreds of lives from the North Shore's treacherous waters; and as a proud Hawaiian, he sacrificed his life to save his fellow sailors aboard the voyaging canoe Hokule'a.

The Hawaiian Islands, like the mainland, have there seasons also. The summer months bring in the occasional south swells and the 2-6 foot waves. Great for boogie boarding and surfing. The winter months bring in swells that only an expert could even think of challenging. That expert was Eddie. The winter months are when all the professional surfers from all over the world, come to the Islands to catch those perfect monster waves. And Eddie was waiting. We have all seen life guards at our local ponds, pools, and beaches. There eyes and ears are tuned into the body of water they have been assigned to watch over. As the winter swells roll in, there was one who would never question what to do in a serious situation. Eddie was that one.. He risked his life everyday to save another. These swells that would come in, were not your 2-6 foot waves. No, they were your winter swells of 20-35 foot waves. Sometimes even bigger! To understand the enormity of these swells, one must lie down on the ground and look up. This is how a wave is measured. Go home and lie down at the side of your home and look to the top peak of your house and this will give a slight understanding what Eddie faced every day. Surfers knew that with Eddie watching every move of each surfer, they were safe. There is no records on file today that would say that Eddie never entered the water because of it’s surf or dangerous conditions. Hense the Saying – EDDIE WOULD GO. No other life guard could come close to what Eddie would do. As the surf pounded surfer after surfer, there Eddie would wait to enter as needed. Eddie loved the water, the challenge, and most important, his love for people.

In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30-day, 2500 mile journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. At 31 years of age, Eddie joined the voyage as a crew member. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian Islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized about twelve miles south of the island of Molokai, in a stretch of water known to be the most treacherous in the world. In an attempt to get help, Eddie paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard. Although the rest of the crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. That would be the last time anyone ever again saw Eddie Aikau. Hence the saying – EDDIE WOULD GO.

The story of this Hawaiian legend, asks the simple question. Can you put your name on this saying….. ___________ WOULD GO. What a sacrifice, without hesitation what one man did for many. As I sit and contemplate his life, I asked myself would Kevin Go. I have learned over the past many years that, because of my own selfish reasons, I could not put my name into this phrase. However early on in ministry, God gave me the ability to rise above my own issues and take on the responsibility of leading others to Him. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me, is the ability to truly Love my brothers. If I know nothing else, I know this, that being a true brother, is to never judge, or have anything but Love towards my teammates and fellow men. For it is from there, all other blessings flow, without it nothing works. The question of “ would you go” challenges us as brothers to really check ourselves and understand the true meaning of brotherhood. As you meet each week, you have the ability and responsibility, to enter into a bond between one another. It is simple to say, but even harder to do. I can tell you honestly, that when you attain that bond, it will feel like you won the biggest prize of your life. You can know your Bible inside and out and still live an empty life. You can go to service every weekend and still live an empty life. You can come every Saturday morning to Bible study and yes, live an empty life. It’s only when you begin to build into each others lives, with an honest, dedicated and clean heart, you will begin to fill that emptiness with the most rewarding gift your true Heavenly DAD will ever give you. Fellowship and Brotherhood. How can I say this? Because for the past 13 years, God has placed wonderful men into my life, who I still have fellowship and brotherly bonds with, and over time, many have moved, began other ministries, and some have just gone into other directions, yet, our bonds will never be broken. Our love for God and each other, will always be there. Time may pass, but TRUE friendships NEVER die, when built on Godly principles. We all have the opportunity as a group, and as individuals, to feel and embrace every area of God’s true Friendship with one another. As Eddie did everyday of his short life, he put himself before others. Why, because it’s all he knew. It was HIS GIFT. In a single moment, God may put you in a situation as he did Eddie. You really need to ask yourself and check your heart…….Would YOU go…….., would you really go for your brother, would you really go for your neighbor, would you really go for the helpless and hopeless, would you really go for the one who wronged you, would you go….would you…..really!..You may say yes, but God knows. The only one I know for sure that went for me, was My heavenly DAD. Check your heart, and your life, and you may find there are many out there that would love to put your name in that phrase, for a selfless act of Gods love. REMEMBER – The opposite of Love is not Hate….It’s selfishness.

Let’s take a test by comparison. Ask yourself this, and be honest. It’s between you and God.

1. Your all dressed up for an event. You’ve planned for months. Your excited and really want to go. – A friend in need calls and says he is in trouble and needs you. What do you do?
2. You’ve made plans with your buddies from work, your child is struggling at school with issues that only you as a dad can help with. – What do you do?
3. Your invited to a party where everyone you know will be. The “A” list is there, including the guy who you need to see, to make the big business deal with. But right before you go, a friend who’s down on his luck and beaten up by life says he needs to talk. – What do you do?

EDDIE'S BODY FOLLOWED WHERE HIS SPIRIT HAD ALWAYS LEAD!

Living for HIM,
Kevin Mahoney
Founder – NEHIM
1994
www.eddiewouldgo.com