Moved to Ewa Beach in 1958 when Damon Tract was being razed. Lived at the end of Papipi Rd, where the gravel road starts. There were 2 houses and trailer. Our house was closest to the reef. My cousin Clayton Haumea and I would go diving in the reef. About a 100 yards out, we found a hole in the reef about 12 feet deep with a sandy bottem. We scoped out where we were so we could find it again. I remember my dad telling me where there's lobster, there are morays and tako. You look at the lobsters antenna, and it will tell you if there is a moray around, so you had to be careful where you grab the reef to pull yourself down into the hole. We usually spear kala, and ennenui. We were 15 then.
Down the shore from our house was Hau Bush and Campbells. Hau Bush was good for surfing, not too big waves, and no reef. Plenty makos though. They would nudge our legs or board, letting us know we were in his hunting ground, so we would move. Never heard of anyone getting bitten by a shark.
My dad raised me to respect the aina and kai, and all it holds, and it will return it's bounties to you. The 7 years we lived there, I had the best and baddest time of my life.
About Author
Charvis Morse, born at Queens in 1945. Now living in Ohio after retiring from the Army in 1993 after 29 years. 4 sons ages 52, 51, 48, and 43.
