What a wonderful day. I got to meet the original Ewa Beach Surf Club members and the gang who later joined them. These were not just the best surfers in Ewa, but some of the best in Hawaii and the world. I am honored to get to know you guys and share a special day. Got to see some of my 70’s generation gang after almost 35 years.
As we were all packing our cars to leave, I ran into Curtis Ando and
David Arioli, who both had to work late today. It was getting dark but
David and I were best friends back in elementary school, and had a lot
of catching up to do. A bunch of us stayed quite a while longer
including Tony Balcalso and his son Kekoa, who is a local pro. David,
Curtis and I stayed until the MPs came and asked us to leave so they
could lock the gates.
Our little town was probably only about 2 miles from one end to the other, maybe less. It was one big family in many ways, and a wonderful place to grow up in.
Mahalo to everyone involved in organizing the event, and making sure the day went along jus right, especially all the wahine who worked so hard getting everyone signed in and all the food setup. Mahalo to all the 60’s guys for setting a very high level of surfing for all of us younger crew to aspire to being. Now you are showing us how be the best Kupuna we can be.
As I sat out in the water, I sent my aloha to my Shark Country family
that I grew up with. Uncle Sonny Cordes, who got the leases for the
houses fronting SC, his sister Aunty Girlie, who lived there from about
1966 till her death in 1974, Ted Farm who took over Jackie Roxburg’s
house, Auntie Emma Matsunaga who had the house next to where the
Okamuras lived, her nephew Bill Mattson who stayed there whenever she
didn’t, Uncle Kui Ching and Auntie Ahlan who owned the house next to Ewa
Plantation park, Dad, Uncle Al and Auntie Yvonne Young, Uncle Marcus and Auntie Babe Rosehil. With the exception of Uncle Ted and Auntie Girlie, everyone else only spent weekends there. But we spent almost every weekend down there growing up as one big family.
The beach was a place we gathered as friends and family. It offered us the freshest food one could ever enjoy. It gave us waves to play in and learn about the power of the ocean. It taught us how to appreciate the beautiful sunny days, and the overcast and rainy days. The beach was life to us, and Shark Country was our beach. Being at the beach today brought a bit of life back into me.
I called my brother Bernie and spent about 20 minutes telling him about all the people who came and wished him well, and all the wonderful things that happened today.
Susie V said she’ll help me make sure everyone gets a copy of the video once I get it done. Maybe we can find a site to place images so that we can all share what we shot. As Frank might say… to be continued.
Aloha, Harry
