Ever since we were kids, our father would frequently stop by Oviedos during every trip to Molokai -- which was pretty much every month and for most summers. And because he did some legal work for them some 30 years ago, they never, ever let him pay. He'd always leave the money on the counter and Mrs. Oviedo would stuff it in my pants pocket because they'd never take money from my Dad.
Needless to say, I loved going to Oviedos for that reason too!
They are wonderful people. Mrs. Oviedo still looks 20 years younger than she really is and Mr. Oviedo still is behind the counter cutting that wonderful roast pork...
After lunch we decided to take the ride all the way out to Halawa Valley to hit the waves. It's a pretty easy place to find because there's really only one road that runs the length of the island, but as the Beatles used to say, it's a long and winding road.
The first thing you notice is that this is a one lane road. Not one lane going each way, but one lane period. When someone comes from the other direction, you need to pull over as far as you can and try to squeeze the cars next to each other.
The road takes you through giant canopies of trees...
Through open plain areas used for farming...
The tough part is that you're often driving right up to the edge of the water around sharp curves so it's hard to see cars coming around the bend from the other direction...
And you even pass Rock Point, a great surfing area...
Finally you enter Halwa Valley where you can see Halawa Falls in the distance. If you have the energy, you can hike up to it...
After four days of the family reunion, nobody had that much energy.
But we did make the drive down into the valley itself...
And arrived at a place where we used to go to the beach and surfing since we all were kids...
Bretty was the first to jump in the water and climb out to the rocks...
The river from Halawa Falls reaches the ocean right here, which makes it also a fun place because of the shallow fresh water. Nalani took quick advantage and decided to familiarize herself with a board...
Kekoa learned to paddle himself through the water under his own power...
And David took his first steps on surf board as well...
But in typical Bretty fashion, why paddle when you can have your cousin Shawn pull you instead...
Of course, Bret Jr. has really become local because he now wears his pants halfway down his butt...
David followed Shawn's lead and would put a board on the edge of the river and run out and jump on it for a quick ride before the inevitable wipe out...
At some point, though, you have to make a decision as to whether you're actually going to get on a board and head out into the real surf. The waves were small, so it really was a mellow day on the water.
Here is Cari, Dawn, Jimmy (rear) and Rico (cousin Dart's son), Zach and Alyssa trying to decide...
Eventually, my brother James and my cousin Freddy climbed out on the rocks to watch the surf as one would say, "Eh, we go surf like old times."
And the other would respond, "I'll go if you go..."
I think they kept saying versions of that to each other for about two hours -- right up until the time we went home.
Alyssa got on a board the first time and went out with her cousin Zach...
Here she is next to Freddy's son Matthew...
And it was Matthew who had the best ride of the day...
Alyssa did catch a few waves, though...
And even I braved the water for the first time in a decade, here below next to Alyssa and Zach...
I even sliced open my foot, just like the old days.
Later that night, in typical Bicoy fashion, even though the official reunion was over someone found a reason to have a party at cousin Eddies...
And as with most every other night, the five younger kids fell sound asleep.
This time, though, their Uncle Ed put out a blanket for them as Cari, Dawn and Jimmy enjoyed cocktails courtesy of our niece (Dart's daughter) Danielle...
Must be a long weekend, however. Even my mom got in on the act...
Tomorrow, into the truck and out to the forest reserve.
I think Ed will bring a few of his guns. Ed likes to shoot things.
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