ewa beach late 60's

General Discussion
101

Speaking of Ma’ili Point, I’m not sure if it is available in the US, but the Australian DVD - "Bombora , the story of Australian surfing’ has an Extras session titled: "60s supersession with Nat and Midget’. When I enquired about the footage - because it contained a great ride by a paipo rider (using the extended arm style) I was told it was taken by Australian cinematographer Don McAlpine and was at Ma’ili Point. I’m trying to see if there is more footage and perhaps even identify the surfer.

 

Shark Country - were many paipos beng ridden around Ewa at the time? What sorts of boards were they - ply,  finned balsa boards or other styles?

 

Bob

 

 

102

Wax the board first

103

I'm new here and found this discussion very interesting!!  I was wondering if anyone knows what ever happened to James "Mikey" Vogelgesang?  I remember surfing with him @ Empty Lots in the 70's.

104

I often wonder about Mikey too. The last time I saw him was years ago up on the North Shore at a contest sometime in the late 80’s. I was shooting video and he was just watching the action. I think he was living on the mainland, and just visiting that time.

Mikey was part of the Shark Country gang, and one of the better regular foot surfers. He was also a very good glasser.

A lot of the Shark Country guys left Ewa Beach as soon as they could, and got away from the crazy stuff that was going on. 

105

Yes, he was an awesome surfer.  And very handsome too!!  LOL!  I had a huge crush on him...:)  I remember his dad was a teacher @ Campbell High.  Boy those were the days!!  I wish I could see how he looks now...years later!!  :)

 

106

When I last saw him he looked the same, still a “pretty boy”. All the girls loved him.

If I’m correct, he had an older brother and older sister, both good looking as well. I think his dad used to be called Mr. V, but I didn’t go to Campbell, so I only knew Mikey from playing little league baseball and from surfing. I played touch football at his house a couple of times, but I never did meet his Dad. He lived on Onelua Street, about a hundred yards from the ocean. Curtis Ando lived across the street, and Robbie Husic lived in the house right on the beach next to the Mitsiasus. A lot of us first met as little kids playing baseball. Mikey was a good pitcher when we were kids.

Those were great times, no worries, just go to school then come home and hang with the gang. Surf if there’s waves, do everything else if it’s flat.

107

I don't remember his siblings I only remember him.  He was a few years older than me.  Yep his dad was known as Mr. V in high school.  I believe he passed away a few years ago.  Gosh I wonder if Mikey ever ended up his girlfriend at the time.  I believe her name was Sandra Robinson.  She used to live on Papipi Road. 

Yes those were the good ole days!!  I remember riding my bike all the way from Ewa to Empty Lots thru the canefield roads!!  And also even hitchhiking too!!!  It was pretty safe back then.

I haven't been to Empty Lots in years!  Ahhh those were the days!!!

 

108

Mikey was 2 years older than me. He was my brother’s age.

I used to do the opposite, ride my bike through the cane fields to get to Ewa or to go fishing further down at West Lock. We would also ride our bikes through the cane fields in the summer and go swimming in the reservoirs. When we started driving, we’d go to the pump house on the hill just before Ewa Town and ride in the flume over Fort Weaver road. My friends would splash water on convertibles as they passed under the bridge.

I went to school in town, so when I got out early I’d catch a ride back to Waipahu then hitch hike home. A lot of times Rex Thompson’s dad would pick us up in his old jeep. Then I’d go surfing at Barber’s Pt. Officer’s beach and he’d come out on a wooden paipo and surf with us. Rex and his younger brother Alvin aka Mouse lived down the street from me.

My neighbors would go to lots all the time, their name was Olivera, and the younger brother was Peter. The Parrish clan lived down by lots as well, but they lived right on the beach so they may have surfed closer to their house. Sam Parrish was my age.

109

Wow interesting!  We probably might know each other??  I know most of all the guys you mention here!  And I would also swin in the reservoir and ride them flumes!!  And remember Pump 9?  The ice cold crystal clean water.   I miss those days...:(

110

Sharkcountry, Did you know the Pecheco family (spelling?) Stanley would have been older than you. He didn't surf but loved playing baseball ! They lived in Eva and I worked with him in Cambell industrial park and played ball with him on the company team. He also played on some team in Ewa ! When I moved to Kauai I never saw him again often wonder what became of him.?

111

Was he a hapa kid?  When we surfed Lots back in the late 60s, there was this younger hapa kid that ripped. Never knew his name though.  I think his mom worked at the high school I attended, Waipahu in the cafeteria.  Back then it was a big deal for us to go to Shark Country and the Sand Tracks/Chicken Creek breaks, which was the next step up once you got better.  It was just kiawe trees and bush back then, couldnt even see your car once you went out.  I rarely go to Ewa anymore, but once in a while I'll drop by during a big west, hoping that it will wrap into Hau Bush. 

112

I guess in the 60's he would of been a bit younger.  He graduated in either 1974 or 1975.  And he was hapa...I believe his dad was German & his mom must of had some kind of asian blood.  He was one good looking surfer!!  Nice guy too.  I really would like to find out how he's doing!!  I know what you mean about the Shark Country & other breaks on the Hau bush side.  Empty Lots was the first place to master.  Back then I remember the Ayala brothers, Herb Pruse, & Rodney Nakama to name a few.  I still see Herb ripping @ Hau Bush every once in a while.  And Rodney is a regular there.  Speaking of the Ayala brothers I wonder what happened to them too??

113

Gilbert Ayala is in Colorado or somewhere else on the mainland, Eddie (younger brother, i think that’s his name) still surfs at Shark country when it’s breaking. I saw him last year, and we caught up on the last several years. We had some wild times in the late 70’s working at the cannery.

Mikey was class of '74 with Tony Bacalso, Kimo Kauiho, Gooney Hanagami, HF Oreilly, Mark Kahalekulu, Rex Thompson, Mike Chevalier and Rip Parrish, Robbie Husic, Myron Mitsiasu, and a bunch of others.

I bet my mom has a photo of the gang from the time we built Kimo Farms house. Everyone was there helping out and we did it like raising a barn.

Derek, when the north winds blow you know where to go. Could be waist high but nice and long.

114

Wow!  Gilbert in Colorado??  He must be snow boarding now!!  I remember he had 2 younger brothers and one was Lawrence.  Not sure if Eddie was the other bros name.  I'll have to go look it up in my yearbook...lol!  I remember they had a skateboard ramp right in their front yard. 

Wow that would be cool if you could post that pic!  Those were the days yeah!

I haven't seen Scott Kauiho in a while but bumped into his brother Kimo.  Gosh he still looks the same! 

 

115

I’ve been following the discussion on Ewa Beach surf scene in the 60’s and am contributing my recollections on the happenings at that little corner of the world. Really the “End of the Road”. Most of the guy’s that you are mentioning is from a later time, I’m a graduate of Campbell High, class of 1971, along with Frank Aragon, Tommy Phillips, and other who spent more time at the beach than school. We always came back for lunch though. I grew up on Ewa Beach Road, so I remember that older generation of surfers and all of the ones that everyone mentioned. Shark Country was a popular spot with all of us when the tide was low to medium as Empty Lot was better at medium to high. At that time (long board era) there was a big HSA meet there at Shark Country and also if you are really old you might remember a noseriding contest at Empty Lot’s that Reno Abellira won and Herbert Pruse got second or third. We used to paddle to Shark Country from where we lived on the beach down from Silva’s store. Me and Frank, sometimes Imua Paa’aina with us. Trying to fill in some of the blanks that I’m reading in these comments, there was  the generation before, same one as Isaac Tanaka, which included Empty Lot boys Lester Enimoto, John, Stanley, “Bum Bum” Sadowski, Herb Pruse,Charley and Glenn and older sister Jessie Mizunaka, Nathan Moody, David and “Bolo” Julie Cueva, ( already mentioned) Mike Gionson. Moving outside of Ewa Beach road, was Lance and Errol Pavo, George Koalakua (?), Bolos twins. By the Baptist Church, Freddie and Ralph Palmeira, I think Alex Sugai surfed a litlle also. Then we get to the Kear’s, Crouch’s, Vogulgesang’s on down to Shark Country. Some other important guys at that time, Jim Green, Mel Concepcion, Mel Behasa. Some of the military brats who surfed really good was the Lance and Chris Mize ( they were the first guys to show me Swabiland’s and maybe one of the first ones to surf that spot) Dave Pond, Dan Builderback.  A bunch of others that I can’t remeber from the original Ewa Beach Surf Club, early 60’s. Thanks for the memories, it was a special time and place for many of us, all revolving around surfing. Will write back soon.

116

Butchie was a back side legend at Shark Country/First Break in its prime

spent many grom days on the shoulder watching Butch, Dickie Delong, Issac and my calabash cousin Kimo Farm come around the corner on 6-8 foot days hauling ass into into the double up section on the inside, all on single fins.

 

Butch became and is still a legend at Sunset post BK along with guys like Bobby Owens who were much younger than him. Robbie Husic was our first attempt at a surf star( a robbie burns prioir to robbie burns) back then but he died in high school.

 

There was a crazy self tatooed guy named “Caveman” who used to surf there we all thought was an ex-con. He became a protector of my Gran Aunty Girlie who live in her brothers house right infron t of shark country for many years, Sonny Cordes used to let the Phillips family use the house before that. 

We were the generation following guys like Tommy Phillips and Butch. And that included my ewa beach elementary classmates like Mikey V who under the tutelage of John Crouch and Chris Green became a pretty good glasser sander. Mikey was a looker and the girls were always after for him. Jonathan Crouch and Mike Chevalier had the same hapa look too. 

Empty Lots was more of a sand bottom break beautiful a-frames and barrels galore

Shark Country was like a reverse Alii when it got good without the current, pit and toilet bowl just an unreal double section after a playful start. Since Hurricane Iwa the reef never been the same.

Like Butch said back then Ewa Beach used to be an isolated and beautiful place. You could go down to ewa beach park on weekends and pick all the ogo seaweed you wanted to eat right on the beach or in the shore break. Tanaka and Silva Store were the place to go for kids. 

 

Swabbie’s used to be the ewa beach boys own private sunset beach until the word got out now even the northshore pros show up on big summer days.

 

Surfah Girl I still surf with Rodney, the Ayalas, Ralph and Joey Gainer now and then. Ralph is making some pretty good boards now for these same guys. I still surf Ewa Beach because its still home as much as it has changed for the worse. And surfing the old breaks brings back alot of good childhood memories which is what surfing should be I guess. 

We lived in Leeward Estates but grew up right in front of Shark Country at my grand Uncle’s house from the 60’s through the 90’s until my calabash uncle Ted Farm passed away so it kind was just home, People would have to ask for permission walk through our gates to get to the beach or walk around from the original Haubush park with the real hau trees. or the rocks at the sea wall at Pupu place

In the 90’s Max Mederios and Kaipo Jacquiras(sp) used to surf out the alot when it got good. The high school aged pretty Sunn sisters used to come down every now and then too. Jennie Chesser comes out every once in a while too.

Out of all of us from that time time seems to have by passed Kimo Kauihou he looks the same as he did on high school, just with greyer hair

117

Charley Mizunaka & Mike Gionson are still regulars @ Hau Bush.  Jessie Mizunaka passed away a few years back.  And yes I've seen Jeannie Chesser a few times @ Shark Country.  Alex Sugai still surfs @ Hau Bush too.  Glen Rayno is another regular.  Awesome surfers! 

118

does Mike drive a white van?

If so then both he and Glen live on my street(Ololani) along with the Ontai family but most of the Ontai kids moved away. David has earned a global reputation on the northshore and at bowls as “the roadblock” but he is still just David Ontai to our family. His dad and mine were close and classmates at Kamehameha. They started the neighborhood board with Dick Beamer and Harry Ching(Puni Chee’s grandfather) many years ago.

I remember Jessie , her tanktop, surftech and her service on the beach so sad. I heard from Mizu she died at O-Beach.

I noticed this year in the water that from another famous Ewa Beach family the Eatons. Calvin and his two sons are surfing at haubush(the old chickencreek/sandtracks) these days. Calvin was a year older than me and a great guy.

The Haubush Crew is still a pretty steady hard party group these days but if its good I’d rather surf with Alan, Kevin or Milton at Johns or with Joey, the O’reilly’s at Shark Country. 

Most of the folks I grew up with all ran away from Ewa Beach as soon as they could afford to. Allot are starting to come back these days like Kimo and Calvin.

Here’s some pictures of the old place and how we used to live down on the beach back then. The ocean always  took care of our families for sustainence and fun(surf). But its all going to change as soon as the pop the reef to make way for the new marina boat channel.

 

home1

home2home3home4marina1marina2

119

Great pics from a great era.  I used to love surfing the inside of Shark Country, just outside of Hau Bush. There was a hollow left that peaked and wedged a bit with a fast wall that peeled a bit then closed out with the right of Hau Bush, where you could do a re entry. It kinda reminded me of an East Coast break,  more than anything.  Being from Pearl City, we kinda got shunned upon by the Ewa Guys, but we were so clueless it didnt bother us.  I think it was Charlie Mizunaka that impressed me the most and he was friendly too.  I swear theres a pic of him in an old magazine riding a short no-nose at inside Sunset.  Calvin Eaton's dad had some kind of shuttle service that I rode to school on, a tiny private school in Aiea. Calvin went there too, if my memory servces me correctly. There must have been 8 of us piled in his '56 Ford Country Squire Wagon.  Lost contact with them after 3rd grade, then saw him surfing out at Lots when we were starting out on drug store foam boards on the inside.  Anyone remember Robbie McDonald? He disappeared like some 30 something years ago.  His parents had a house smack dab on the beach at Empty.They'd let my neighbors dad who brought us to the beach park in there driveway. Nice people. Great thread!

120

Great pics from a great era.  I used to love surfing the inside of Shark Country, just outside of Hau Bush. There was a hollow left that peaked and wedged a bit with a fast wall that peeled a bit then closed out with the right of Hau Bush, where you could do a re entry. It kinda reminded me of an East Coast break,  more than anything.  Being from Pearl City, we kinda got shunned upon by the Ewa Guys, but we were so clueless it didnt bother us.  I think it was Charlie Mizunaka that impressed me the most and he was friendly too.  I swear theres a pic of him in an old magazine riding a short no-nose at inside Sunset.  Calvin Eaton's dad had some kind of shuttle service that I rode to school on, a tiny private school in Aiea. Calvin went there too, if my memory servces me correctly. There must have been 8 of us piled in his '56 Ford Country Squire Wagon.  Lost contact with them after 3rd grade, then saw him surfing out at Lots when we were starting out on drug store foam boards on the inside.  Anyone remember Robbie McDonald? He disappeared like some 30 something years ago.  His parents had a house smack dab on the beach at Empty.They'd let my neighbors dad who brought us to the beach park in there driveway. Nice people. Great thread!