Big-wave surfers gather in Hawaii for prestigious event

For the first time in six years, the surf conditions on the North Shore of Oahu are expected to meet the organizers' strict minimum requirements on Wednesday, with waves of around 40-feet tall.

According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, the swell that is approaching the islands this week is being fueled in part by the ongoing El Nino conditions in the region.

According to organizers, however, the event is about much more than just surfing.

Event spokeswoman and longtime friend of the Aikau family Jodi Wilmott told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday that while there is a prize for the winner of the competition, the surfers involved are really there to honor the legacy and generous spirit of Eddie.

[...] when the surf got to be too big for most and the crowds would leave the ocean, Aikau would grab his surfboard and take on the biggest waves around.