Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, city and state officials and organizers of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational competition are expecting huge crowds on the North Shore in hopes that the “Super Bowl of surfing” will take place as planned on Sunday in Waimea Bay will take place.

They’re encouraging fans to watch “Eddie” on TV or online, but for those eager to see the spectacle in person, city officials have provided the following information and advice:

Live event coverage:

With tens of thousands of spectators from around the world expected to attend this legendary surfing event, we strongly encourage everyone not to travel to the North Coast and instead enjoy the live coverage from the comfort of their own home. The event will be broadcast live on KHII and available to stream on Rogue.TV and Rip Curl’s YouTube channel. The TV broadcast begins on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Public Safety:

First responders, including police, fire, marine safety, medical services and emergency management personnel, will be stationed or on alert to ensure public safety during this popular large-scale surfing event.

Above all, if you are not an experienced seagoer, you are strongly advised to stay away from the sea and the coasts along the north and west coasts during this high surf period. Waves of more than 30 feet are expected on the North Coast, while the Leeward Coast could see waves of 25 feet or more over the weekend.

In preparation for The Eddie, Honolulu Ocean Safety and Emergency Medical Services is increasing its resources to ensure public safety during this time of extremely high surf. Ocean Safety will deploy three rescue boats (jet skis), including an additional jet ski rescue unit specifically patrolling the north shore, and will staff Waimea Bay with additional lifeguards from 6am. Honolulu EMS will mobilize three EMS crews with ambulances and an EMS SUV with a paramedic and an EMS command vehicle to provide comprehensive medical care throughout the event.

Starting Saturday evening, in addition to officers from the Honolulu Police Department’s special unit, private security guards will also provide traffic control and event management. It is critical that emergency vehicle access to Kamehameha Highway is maintained. Please pay attention to barriers restricting parking along the highway to ensure the passage of these vehicles.

To ensure public safety, event organizers strongly recommend that personal drones not be used during this event in the Waimea Bay region.

Additional city emergency personnel will be on standby should high surf in Waimea Bay, the North Shore or Leeward Island of Oahu result in additional dangerous conditions.

Parking restrictions:

The Waimea Bay Beach Park parking lot will be closed to the public starting Saturday at 10 p.m. The parking lot is reserved exclusively for authorized event participants (staff and participants) and official city vehicles. Pickup and drop-off service is available for those requiring ADA access.

Beginning Saturday at 10 p.m., public parking will be prohibited on both sides of Kamehameha Highway from “Ili’ohu Place” to Mission of Saints Peter & Paul Church for the duration of the event. Temporary barriers will be installed along the shoulders to prevent parking and ensure safe pedestrian access. Honolulu police officers will patrol the area to enforce parking restrictions. Vehicles parked in the exclusion zone will be subject to charges and/or towing at the owner’s expense. If the event is canceled, the barriers will be removed promptly and the parking restrictions will be lifted.

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During the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, Waimea Valley (on the Mauka side of Kamehameha Highway) will open its parking and services to competition participants. Limited parking in Waimea Valley for beachgoers will be $50 in front lots and $30 in rear lots starting at 4 a.m. Sunday until the lots are full. Cars are not allowed to enter before this time and no queues are permitted at the gates. Valley visitor operations will remain open during regular hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with limited parking available for valley visitors. As a proud sponsor of the Eddie, Waimea Valley is pleased to remain open on Sunday and provide on-site parking for the competition. Restrooms and food and beverage concessions will also be open at the Waimea Valley Visitor Center starting at 4 a.m. Sunday.

The bus

Traffic around Waimea Bay will be significantly impacted during the Eddie Big Wave Invitational, including parking in and near the beach park. To ease congestion, the city will provide four additional early morning buses on Route 52 from Honolulu to the North Shore.

Further information about the bus service:

These special trips on Route 52 operate directly to Waimea Bay and depart from the Mauka side (mountain side) of the 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

There are signs on the buses that read “52 HALEIWA-WAIMEA BAY.”

Regular Route 52 service:

The line 52 buses run every 30 minutes from 6:20 a.m

Passengers on regular Route 52 trips must transfer to Route 60 at Weed Circle to reach Waimea Bay.

Due to expected heavy traffic, travel time to Waimea Bay may be more than two hours. Please plan accordingly.

Park and ride options:

Passengers can park at the following locations along Route 52:

Kalihi Transit Center

Mililani Park and Ride

Wahiawa Armory

Wahiawa Park and Ride

Shuttle service:

TheBus will offer special shuttles between Haleiwa and Waimea Bay:

Shuttles marked “60 WAIMEA BAY” run from Haleiwa to Waimea Bay.

Shuttles marked “60 HALEIWA” run from Waimea Bay to Haleiwa.

The shuttle service runs every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but there may be delays due to traffic conditions.

Return travel options:

Passengers returning after the event can:

Take Route 60 via Kaneohe to Honolulu and the Ala Moana Center.

Take Route 60 back to Haleiwa and transfer to Route 52 at Weed Circle.

We encourage all participants to use public transportation and plan their trips carefully to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Regular rates and passes apply. Transfers and day tickets are possible with valid HOLO cards. For more information, please visit www.thebus.org or call (808) 848-5555.

Garbage collection

There will be no scheduled trash pickup on Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore on Sunday, so trash pickup will not impact traffic. The city’s Kawailoa Transfer Station (62-180 Kawailoa Dr., Haleiwa, HI 96712) is open during normal business hours (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.).

Parking facilities

We ask those attending this surfing memorial event in person to please malama ‘aina (respect the land) by disposing of waste properly and abiding by park rules. While additional restrooms and trash cans are available, we ask beachgoers to pack what you pack. Additionally, please be sure to secure your belongings when on the beach as the high waves can sweep away any 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 authorized food concessions at Beach Park for this event. Please bring necessary supplies if you plan to spend the day at the bay. This includes food, sun protection and plenty of water. Park showers and drinking fountains are also available for fresh water needs.

Waimea Bay’s geography not only provides unique natural conditions for surfable large waves, but can also often interfere with telecommunications. Especially when tens of thousands of viewers use mobile and internet services at the same time. If you are in the Bay during this event, please plan to have limited or no telecommunications capabilities.

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Source City and County of Honolulu