The tournament is named for native Hawaiian, champion big wave surfer, and life-saving Waimea Bay lifeguard, Eddie Aikau.
[5] The tournament is known for a unique requirement that open-ocean swells reach a minimum height of 20 feet (6.1 m) before the competition can be held.
As a result of this requirement, the tournament has only been held eleven times during the history of the event, most recently on December 22, 2024.
[6] Each year, 28 to 40 surfers, chosen by polling among their peers, are invited to Waimea Bay to participate in the opening ceremony "Blessing of Eddie Aikau" on the first Thursday of December.
They are the only native Hawaiians to win the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship.