Surfing Massive Waves Waimea Bay (Jan 22, 2023) 4K

What occurred on January 22, 2023, at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu is nothing short of historical. We're simply doing our best to document Hawaiian Surf History here.

Hands down, the most epic surf event in recent memory and other surf photographers, some of whom have been filming these events for a long time, agreed and said similar things. What a coincidence that exactly one year after 2022's (Jan 22, 2022) biggest and most epic Waimea Bay Surf day, we have another epic day, just bigger, sunnier, more exciting, and better in every way!

Eddie Aikau was a Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. As the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu, he saved over 500 people and became famous for surfing the big Hawaiian surf, winning several awards. In 1978, He sacrificed his life trying to help the crew aboard the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa. In Eddie Aikau's honor, "The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational" Waimea Bay Big Wave Surf Contest was held on Jan 22, 2023 for the first time since February 25, 2016.

Also, reported by Derek Rielly from Beach Grit about Luke Shepardson winning the contest:
HONOLULU COUNTY LIFEGUARD LUKE SHEPARDSON WHO WON WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS BIG-WAVE CONTEST ON “BEST DAY IN SURFING HISTORY” CUTS SHORT INTERVIEWS TO RETURN TO WORK, “I GOTTA GET BACK TO THE TOWER TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS OKAY!”

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- Mahalo

If you know who an Unidentified surfer is, pls help us with mention in the comments. Mahalo

Dawn Patrol Surfers (Pre-contest free surf) (7am-8am)

02:09 Kai Lenny (Maui, HI)
02:16 orange & black (Unidentified)
02:42 red (Unidentified)
02:52 Kai Lenny (Maui, HI) & (Unidentified)
03:13 Bodyboarder? (Unidentified)

2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Surf Contest (8am-4pm)

03:53 Shane Dorian (Kailua-Kona, HI)
04:20 Grant Twiggy Baker (blue) & Michael Ho (orange)
04:31 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
04:45 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
05:02 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
05:29 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
05:55 Michael Ho (Oahu, HI)
05:57 Paige Alms (Maui, HI)
06:01 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
06:55 Landon McNamara (Oahu, HI)
07:19 John John Florence (Oahu, HI)
07:46 Kai Lenny (red) & Aaron Gold (blue)
08:43 John John Florence (yellow) & Jake Maki (orange)
09:12 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
09:23 Aaron Gold (Hilo, HI)
09:42 Chris Owens (Oahu, HI)
10:02 Mason Ho (Oahu, HI) & Lucas Chianca (Brazil)
10:30 Ezekiel Lau (red) & Taio Shipman (orange)
10:50 Ezekiel Lau (Oahu, HI)
10:55 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
11:02 Keali'i Mamala (Oahu, HI)
11:22 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
11:39 Ezekiel Lau (Oahu, HI)
11:55 Nic Von Rupp (white) & Ezekiel Lau (red)
12:11 Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Brazil)
12:22 Keali'i Mamala (Oahu, HI)
12:35 Shane Dorian (purple) & Peter Mel (black)
12:38 Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Brazil)
12:45 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
12:50 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
12:56 Makani Adric (Oahu, HI)
13:01 Jamie Mitchell (Australia)
13:09 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
13:18 Tikanui Smith (white) & Grant Twiggy Baker (orange)
13:27 Kohl Christensen (Oahu, HI)
14:07 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
14:18 Tyler Larronde (Maui, HI)
15:12 Michael Ho (orange) & Ross Clark-Jones (yellow)
15:30 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
15:44 Mikey Red (Oahu, HI)

Update: To watch our video on the 2024 Eddie Aikau

To watch this video in the highest resolution possible:

To watch similar videos check out our 2022 North Shore Drone Playlist:　

To watch a our follow up edit to this video with some of the unused footage and extended scenes of this event click here: "The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Revisited 4K"

#hawaii #surfing #4k #waimeabay #eddieaikau #eddieaikau2023 #dji #mavic3 #bigwaves

[christiansenmarcus]

Can I just say, besides the great footage, thank you for not slowing down every single wave/ride to slo-mo like so many surf videos these days.

[cookiemobers]

Born and raised one city over from Huntington Beach. Spent a goodly amount of time watching my brother surf. He never made it to Hawaii, he died in an auto accident at age 22 in 1984. I still have his surfboard. I watch these videos and talk to him, might seem silly but it's my thing.

This was beautifully edited, the photography was amazing. Loved every minute of it.

[MrBetoMattos]

Eddie would GO surf this days for sure! SIK and insane theses BRAVOS guys! Congratz

[LuckyPierre]

Crying... I watched as much of the live stream as I could.. this capture of the event is awesome. Thank you so much! It matters.

[Altenholz]

In addition to the surfers, the drones do an excellent job. Such shots would have been unthinkable 10 years ago. I'm really impressed!

[jaycepero]

Surfing holds a special place in my heart. There’s a purity to it that no other sport has.

[musicmike]

This brings back so many great memories of my childhood back in the early 70's...I miss Hawaii every single day since leaving.

[_aidan_b]

INSANE shots. That shot of Billy Kemper riding it all the way into the shorebreak with the knee brace was amazing. We were over by the judge's tower and we thought he fell when the wave broke on the shore and then a second later he comes out with his arms up. Such a great moment.

[drewcliff]

Man I miss Oahu. I was there from August 2011 to March 2016. Best time of my life. Waimea in the winter was epic.

[TheOriginalArchie]

6:00 WHAT!!!?? Dude rode it out for like three different waves that all meshed together. That was amazing, happy for that surfer.

[bwhit]

Once again, EHHL and Reveal Hawaii Media, hands down best videography, editing, so many angles, video speeds, takeoffs, close outs, wipe outs, beach and crowd views, crystal clear images, dramatic audio, nobody puts you there like EHHL. Congrats!

[SteveHarper-swqc]

Footage is fantastic! Another great job.

[dennishopper]

Balls of steel. Massive respect for all the guys and girls out there.

[eddean]

More people watching than surfing. Respect to each person surfing and watching.

[Papageno-zwcp]

Sitting in cold rainy Berlin/Germany, this gives me an idea of whats going on on a perfect surf day at Waimea Bay - thanks for this video, I think it's the best surf-video I've seen so far

[jojosim]

watching this in person was actually insane! shoutout to surfers and jetski people.. Absolute legends

[artimus]

Next level footage and editing. Great storytelling. Mahalo.

[javansarmiento]

this was the best coverage i watched of the event, was awesome thank you!

[jacquelinea]

Fantastic. And the music is majestic...like the waves. When the surfer gets a great ride it makes you smile.

[mumlh]

The best. The full form of the whole wave is here, again and again. Beautiful. This is a magnificent vision you have shared.