HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Organizers of the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational have given the green light for the competition to begin at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Although the forecast looks promising, the final call will be made after dawn on Sunday, once event organizers confirm the swell has arrived.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to grace Oahu’s North Shore for the historic event, and Hawaii News Now will follow the action live online throughout the day.

If you are planning to visit Waimea Bay Beach Park, please know that the city will implement procedures to ensure the safety and enjoyment of surfers, staff and spectators.

THE EDDIE IS ON: Check out our full coverage

Public safety

First responders, including police, fire, marine safety, medical services and emergency management personnel, will be posted or on alert to ensure public safety during this popular big surf event.

If you are not an experienced sea enthusiast, stay away from the ocean and shorelines along north and west facing coasts during this period of high surf.

The North Shore is expected to experience waves exceeding 30 feet in height, while the leeward coast could see waves reaching 25 feet or more over the weekend.

Honolulu Ocean Safety and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are mobilizing resources to keep the public safe during this period of extremely high surf. Ocean Safety will deploy three lifeboats (jet skis), including an additional jet ski rescue unit patrolling the north coast specifically, and staff Waimea Bay with additional lifeguards from 6 a.m.

Honolulu EMS will mobilize three EMS teams with ambulances, an EMS SUV with a paramedic, and an EMS command vehicle to provide full medical coverage throughout the event.

Honolulu Police Department officers will be joined by private security guards to provide traffic control and event management beginning Saturday evening.

It is extremely important that access along Kamehameha Highway is maintained for emergency vehicles. Please be aware of barriers restricting parking along the highway to ensure the passage of these vehicles.

To ensure public safety, event organizers strongly recommend that no personal drones be operated in the Waimea Bay area during this event.

Additional city emergency personnel will be on standby if high surf presents other dangerous conditions in Waimea Bay, on the north shore or leeward of Oahu.

Parking Restrictions

The Waimea Bay Beach Park parking lot will be closed to the public from 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 21. The lot will be reserved only for authorized participants in the event (staff and competitors) and official city vehicles. Pick-up and drop-off will be permitted for those who require ADA access.

Beginning Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 10 p.m., public parking will be prohibited on both sides of Kamehameha Highway from ‘Ili’ohu Square to Saints Peter and Paul Mission Church for the duration of the event.

Temporary barriers will be installed along the shoulders to prevent parking and ensure safe access for pedestrians. Police will be patrolling the area to enforce parking restrictions. Vehicles parked in the restricted zone will be subject to a fine and/or towing at the owner’s expense.

If the event is canceled, barriers will be promptly removed 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 competition participants.

Limited parking at Waimea Valley for beachgoers will cost $50 in front lots and $30 in back lots starting Sunday at 4 a.m. until lots are full.

Cars cannot enter before this time and no queues are allowed outside the gates.

Valley tourism operations will remain open during regular hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with limited parking for Valley visitors. Restrooms are also open at the Waimea Valley Visitor Center as well as their food and beverage concessions starting at 4 a.m. Sunday.

Public transport

Traffic around Waimea Bay will be significantly affected during the Eddie Big Wave Invitational, including parking in and near the beach park.

To help ease traffic 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 travel 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.

Buses will display signs stating: “52 HALEʻIWA-WAIMEA BAY”.

Regular Route 52 service

• Regular Route 52 buses will run every 30 minutes starting at 6:20 a.m.
• Passengers on scheduled 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:
  • Shuttle buses marked “60 WAIMEA BAY” will run from Haleiwa to Waimea Bay.
  • Shuttles marked “60 HALEʻIWA” will run from Waimea Bay to Haleiwa.
• The shuttle service will run every 30 minutes between 06:00 and 18:00, but traffic conditions may cause delays.

Round-trip travel options

• Passengers returning after the event can:
  • Take Route 60 to Honolulu and Ala Moana Center via Kaneohe.
  • Take Route 60 back to Haleiwa and take Route 52 to Weed Circle.

Regular rates 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 are urging the public to dispose of their waste properly and obey park rules. Although extra toilets and trash cans are provided, pack what you pack. Also make sure to secure your belongings if you are located on the beach, as the strong breaking waves can sweep away loose items at any time.

Other rules will be enforced including no alcohol, no smoking, no large canopies (unless permitted at the event), no drones, and no fully enclosed tents in the beach park.

There are no permitted food concessions at Beach Park for this event, so please bring necessary supplies if you plan to spend the day on the bay. This includes food, sun protection and plenty of water. Park showers and water fountains will also be available for fresh water needs.

When in the bay during this event, plan for limited or no telecommunications capabilities. The geography of Waimea Bay can often interfere with telecommunications, especially when tens of thousands of spectators are using cell phone and Internet services simultaneously.

Previous coverage:

The Eddie has only been raced 10 times in the last 40 years and participation is by invitation only.

The competition was last held in January 2023. City lifeguard Luke Shepardson etched his name into the history books after beating the world’s best big wave surfers.

Viewers can also stream the competition on thug.tv Or ripcurl.com.

For more information:

• Rip Curl The Eddie Big Wave Invitational
• TheEddieAikau.com

Copyright 2023 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.