WAIMEA BAY, Hawaii (KHON2) — Tens of thousands of people gathered near Waimea Bay for the 11th Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 22.
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Officials warned parking would be extremely limited, with a line of cars beginning as early as 2 a.m. for parking at Waimea Valley. Many camped overnight by the side of the road to secure the best viewing spots.
Surfers charge, catch epic waves in The Eddie
“I was the first one to line up around here,” stated Julia Parrish, attendee. “Other people kept getting turned away. So, they realized what I was doing and followed the line.”
Growing crowds made roads dangerous as people spilled onto the road. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) closed Haleiwa and Kahuku bound lanes from Iliohu Place and the Catholic Church. HPD said roads would remain closed until the overflow was situated.
“I’m a competitor, I’m supposed to be in a meeting,” stated Mark Healy, a surf competitor. “Every time it runs it’s a headache this part. It’s a great surfing event but it’s just hard to deal with the crowds.”
For many small, local businesses on the North Shore, The Eddie gives them a big boost, especially for the holiday season.
“We’ve only been open once for it and last time it was our best day at this location,” stated Travis Smith, owner of the Sunrise Shack. “It’s like the Superbowl of surfing and we’re fortunate it’s just a ten-minute walk from up the bay.”
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