WAIMEA BAY (HawaiiNewsNow) – Organizers of the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational have given the green light for Sunday.
While the forecast looks promising, the final call will be made after daybreak once event organizers confirm the swell has arrived.
Tens of thousands of people are expected on Oahu’s North Shore for the historic event, and Hawaii News Now will be tracking the action live online throughout the day.
If you’re planning to head to Waimea Bay Beach Park, be aware that the city will implement procedures to ensure the safety and enjoyment of surfers, staff, and spectators.
THE EDDIE IS ON: View our complete coverage
Public safety
First responders, including police, fire, ocean safety, medical services, and emergency management personnel will be stationed or on alert to ensure public safety during this popular big-surf event.
If you are not an experienced ocean-goer, stay away from the ocean and shorelines along the north and west-facing shores during this high surf period.
The North Shore is expected to see waves exceeding 40 feet in face height, while the Leeward Coast could experience waves reaching 25 feet or more through the weekend.
Honolulu Ocean Safety and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are ramping up resources to ensure public safety during this period of extremely elevated surf. Ocean Safety will deploy three rescue watercrafts (jet skis), including an additional jet ski rescue unit specifically patrolling the North Shore, and will staff Waimea Bay with extra lifeguards beginning at 6 a.m.
Honolulu EMS will mobilize three EMS crews with ambulances, one EMS SUV with a paramedic, and one EMS command vehicle to provide comprehensive medical coverage throughout the event.
Honolulu Police Department officers will be joined by private security to provide traffic control and event management starting Saturday evening.
It is extremely important for access along Kamehameha Highway to be maintained for emergency vehicles, so please pay attention to barriers restricting parking along the highway to ensure passage for these vehicles.
To ensure public safety, event organizers are urging no personal drones operate in the Waimea Bay area during this event.
Additional emergency personnel from the City will be on stand-by should the high surf present other hazardous conditions either in Waimea Bay, the North Shore, or Leeward Oahu.
Parking restrictions
The parking lot at Waimea Bay Beach Park will be closed to the public beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. The lot will be reserved for authorized event participants (staff and contestants) and official city vehicles only. Pick-up and drop-offs will be allowed for those who require ADA-access.
Starting Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at 10 p.m., public parking will be prohibited on both sides of Kamehameha Highway from ‘Ili‘ohu Place to the Mission of Saints Peter & Paul Church for the duration of the event.
Temporary barriers will be installed along the shoulders to prevent parking and ensure safe pedestrian access. Police officers will patrol the area to enforce the parking restrictions. Vehicles parked in the restricted zone will be subject to citation and/or towing at the owner’s expense.
If the event is canceled, the barriers will be removed promptly, and parking restrictions will be lifted.
During The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, Waimea Valley, which is on the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway, will open its parking lots and services to those attending the competition.
Limited parking at Waimea Valley for beachgoers will be $50 in the front lots and $30 in the rear lots beginning Sunday at 4 a.m. until the lots are full.
Cars may not enter before that time, and no lines are permitted outside of the gates.
The valley’s visitor operations will remain open during its regular hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with limited parking for valley visitors. Restrooms are also open at Waimea Valley’s visitor center along with their food and drink concessions beginning 4 a.m. on Sunday.
Public transportation
Traffic around Waimea Bay will be significantly impacted during The Eddie Big Wave Invitational, including parking in and near the beach park.
To help alleviate congestion, the city will provide four additional early-morning buses on Route 52 from Honolulu to the North Shore.
These special Route 52 trips will operate directly to Waimea Bay, departing from the mauka (mountain) side of Ala Moana Center at Kona Street and Kona Iki Street at the following times:
- 4:30 a.m.
- 5 a.m.
- 5:30 a.m.
- 6 a.m.
The buses will display signs reading: “52 HALEʻIWA-WAIMEA BAY.”
Regular Route 52 service
- Regularly scheduled Route 52 buses will operate every 30 minutes starting at 6:20 a.m.
- Passengers on regular Route 52 trips must transfer at Weed Circle to Route 60 to reach Waimea Bay.
- Travel time to Waimea Bay may exceed two hours due to expected heavy traffic. Please plan accordingly.
Park and ride options
- Passengers may consider parking along Route 52 at these locations:
- Kalihi Transit Center
- Mililani Park and Ride
- Wahiawa Armory
- Wahiawa Park and Ride
Shuttle services
- TheBus will operate special shuttles between Haleiwa and Waimea Bay:
- Shuttles marked “60 WAIMEA BAY” will travel from Haleiwa to Waimea Bay.
- Shuttles marked “60 HALEʻIWA” will travel from Waimea Bay to Haleiwa.
- Shuttle service will run every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but traffic conditions may cause delays.
Return travel options
- Passengers returning after the event may:
- Ride Route 60 to Honolulu and Ala Moana Center via Kaneohe.
- Ride Route 60 back to Haleiwa and transfer to Route 52 at Weed Circle.
Regular fares and passes will apply. Transfers and day passes allowed with valid HOLO cards. For more information, click here or call (808) 848-5555.
Park facilities
Officials urge the public to dispose of waste properly and comply with park rules. While additional restroom facilities and rubbish bins will be provided, pack out what you pack in. Also, be sure to secure your belongings if you are located on the beach, as the high wash of waves can sweep away loose items at any given moment.
Other rules will be enforced, including no alcohol, no smoking, no large canopies (unless permitted with the event), no drones, and no fully enclosed tents in the beach park.
There are no authorized food concessions scheduled at the beach park for this event, so please bring the necessary supplies should you intend to spend the day in the bay. This includes food, sun protection, and plenty of water. Park showers and drinking fountains will also be available for fresh water needs.
When in the bay during this event, please plan on having limited to no telecommunication abilities. Waimea Bay’s geography can often interfere with telecommunications, particularly with tens of thousands of spectators utilizing cell phone and internet services simultaneously.
Previous Coverage:
The Eddie has only run 10 times in the last 40 years, and participation is by invitation only.
The contest was last held in January 2023. City lifeguard Luke Shepardson etched his name into the history books after beating out the world’s best big-wave surfers.
Spectators can also stream the contest on rogue.tv or ripcurl.com.
For more information:
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