Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi declared June 25, 2023, Luke Shepardson Day.

The mayor went to the North Shore on Wednesday to the surf break Rock Piles, where Luke Shepardson was working as a City and County Lifeguard on Wednesday. He congratulated Shepardson for winning the Eddie Aikau Invitational at Waimea Bay on Sunday and presented him with a proclamation naming Jan. 25, 2023, Luke Shepardson Day. 

“In recognition of the inspiration and pride Luke provided, not only for surfers and lifeguards on Oahu but also for his community, the rest of the city workforce and spectators tuning in from around the world, charging big waves takes courage but doing so to save the life of a stranger takes heart. There’s no question Eddie would be proud,” the mayor said as he provided Shepardson with the proclamation. 

Shayne Enright, the public information officer with the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, said to Spectrum News Hawaii in an email that the mayor spent the next few hours touring the North Shore with lifeguards, thanking them for their service and listening to them.

“One lifeguard with decades of experience said it was the first time a Mayor has ever visited, and it meant so much to them,” Enright said. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.