Congratulations to surfer John John Florence, of Haleiwa, for winning the 2016 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, which took place Thursday at Waimea Bay.

It was the first time since 2009 the event had been held, since contest organizers don’t let it take place unless the wave faces are at least 40- to 50-feet.

Nearly 30 big wave riders from around the world competed, while thousands of people watched from the beach and likely millions more worldwide viewed it on their TVs or computers.

The event was started 32 years ago to honor the memory of all-around waterman Eddie Aikau, who disappeared off Molokai in 1978 trying to get help for his crewmates of the capsized sailing vessel Hokule‘a.

Let’s hope it’s not seven years before “The Eddie” goes off again.

Budget ploy clever but still bad idea

The Legislature, looking for money for the University of Hawaii, has found a curious target: the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Senate Bill 83 would take $3 million from HTA to cover the travel expenses and subsidies for UH’s athletics department in fiscal 2017.

Why from the tourism fund? Because UH athletes are “ambassadors of Aloha” who promote the Hawaii brand.

OK, but it still sounds like a bad idea. UH’s athletes are also students who represent an institution of higher education, not a tourism board.

Can’t the Legislature simply decide that UH needs the $3 million more than HTA, and make it a regular appropriation?