A North Shore lifeguard and noted surfer, Aikau vanished in 1978: When the Hokule'a canoe capsized during a sailing he was aboard, Aikau volunteered to paddle on his surfboard to Lana'i, about 20 miles away, for help and was never seen again.

To this day questions remain over whether he was swept away by the current and drowned or was a shark-attack victim.

What people do know is that Aikau died trying to save the lives of his mates. Through the years he has emerged as an Island hero. Books have been written about him, as have plays, and in the ultimate tribute the "Eddie Would Go" big-wave competition was organized in his honor. A movie on his life is also in the works.

The documentary, which repeats at 9 p.m. on Saturday, is produced and directed by Phil Arnone. It captures intimate reflections while shedding light in dark corners of Aikau's life, factoring in his divorce from Linda Ipsen and the conversations he had the day before the voyage.

The documentary also looks at his peacemaking skills and, of course, his ability to save lives as the first lifeguard on the North Shore.

Aikau, a high-school dropout, is depicted as someone with formidable drive and ambition — a soul with mythic implications.

With Jon Osorio's "Hawaiian Soul" (performed by the Peter Moon Band) occasionally heard in the soundtrack — the "how could you leave us?" lament is haunting — the show emerges as a brilliant portrait bringing color and detail on a figure most only have heard about.

In the documentary, surfing champs herald his courage on the big waves while friends laud his fortitude and legacy.

Aikau was the third of six siblings. He moved from a humble Maui home to a rent-free house on the grounds of a cemetery on O'ahu, where he had to do chores — mowing the lawn, in the wee hours — before his dad would allow him to grab his board and glide over the waves.

His brother Clyde Aikau, himself a surfer, tells of how Eddie "was born to ride in the North Shore surf."

Peter Cole, a veteran surfer, believes Eddie "was the best at Waimea, riding it better than anyone."

Another observation comes from old-time surfer Fred Van Dyke, who says Aikau was "quiet," and mostly let his actions speak instead.

As the story goes, Aikau yearned to win the Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Classic on the North Shore. In 1967, the desire to win fell short; Ricky Grigg came in first, with Aikau placing sixth. But his finish, with the Duke in his presence, was an official changing-of-the-guard moment; a still photo of Kahanamoku with Aikau clearly depicted "early Hawai'i with modern Hawai'i," in the words of Van Dyke. Aikau finally won the event in 1977.

Written by Robert Pennybacker, with Billy V. as narrator, "Eddie Aikau: Hawaiian Hero" also offers Aikau singing intimate songs about the Hokule'a; sister Myra admitting he had "premonitions" of that fateful day, adding, "he knew he wasn't going to come back"; Nainoa Thompson (then a Hokule'a crew member) admitting "I was scared" on that departure day in 1978; and Hokule'a skipper David Lyman allowing Aikau to paddle to Lana'i for help after the boat capsized "because he (Aikau) couldn't accept Hokule'a being upside down."