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Eddie Aikau was the first official lifeguard at Waimea Bay, on Oahu's North Shore, and at the same time developed a reputation as one of the best big wave riders in the world. Partnering with his younger brother/lifeguard Clyde, the pair never lost a life on their watch. Eddie surfed every major swell to come through the North Shore from 1967 to 1978. He attained a rank of 12th in the world on the early IPS pro surfing rankings. His best contest result was a win in the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship. In 1978, Aikau was among a handful selected to join the cultural expedition of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule'a, which set sail from Magic Island, Oahu, bound for Tahiti, on March 16, 1978. Hokule'a soon encountered treacherous seas outside the Hawaiian Islands and the canoe capsized. After a wild night adrift, Aikau set off on his paddleboard on March 17 in search of help for his stranded crew members. He was never seen again. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history. The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau event was established in 1984 held at Sunset Beach in his honor. The event moved the next winter to Waimea Bay and has been a fixture there ever since.

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 The HIC Pro Presented by Vans launches the North Shore surf season in Hawaii and showcases a talented lineup of both local and international surfers at one of the most consistent big wave venues on the planet, Sunset Beach. Now in its 32nd year, the HIC Pro is the official local qualifier for the Vans Triple Crown and offers 112 athletes a chance to compete in the prestigious series.

For over three decades, the HIC Pro has provided Hawaii surfers the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage in professional surfing, collect valuable ratings points and ultimately surf home turf with only a few other athletes in the water. Qualifying surfers also go against the world's best in the first two events of the Vans Triple Crown - the Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach and Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach. This high-ticket experience is touted as one of the greatest accomplishments for Hawaii athletes, as it gives them the occasion to demonstrate their talent, versatility and athleticism to the entire surfing industry.