LOVE STORIES
As twins, pair recognized their better halves

By Tanya Bricking Leach
Advertiser Staff Writer

Carolyn Agmata and Davis Savea met at 'Aiea High School. Photo by Nelson Thanks

But from the time they were in high school, Carolyn Agmata and Davis Savea quickly became part of each other's families. The connection stuck.

Carolyn, a fraternal twin of Cherilyn, and Davis, a fraternal twin of Davin, became their own duo at 'Aiea High School.

She was a junior when he was a freshman, and what started off as friendship turned to first love. He asked her to "be his girl" on the bleachers of 'Aiea's football field.

They began dating Oct. 6, 1992 — Carolyn's and Cherilyn's 17th birthday. (Cherilyn and Davin never hit it off in the love department, despite urging from others. But they hung out a lot with the lovebirds.)

"They make each other happy, and that's what I like seeing in couples," said Carolyn's twin, now Cherilyn Fonoti. "I didn't have anybody back then (in high school), and I always wanted what they had."

It was a fine young romance that had its ups and downs and even a breakup when Carolyn moved to California for a while. But fate intervened, and they got back together. "I didn't think it would last so long," Carolyn said. "He's been really patient with me."

Ten years after their first date, Carolyn Agmata was at Mass at St. Elizabeth Church in 'Aiea on her birthday when the priest called her and her twin up to the front for birthday blessings.

Carolyn had noticed things were a little different that day. An unusual number of family and friends were in attendance, and Davis had changed his clothes and was standing there all in white.

He had arranged with the priest to propose in front of the congregation, and he sang a song he wrote for her.

Then, on Valentine's Day in the same church, they became husband and wife, and Davis surprised Carolyn with another song.

In the tradition of the bride's parents, the ceremony included Filipino touches, including sponsors who had various responsibilities such as pinning the bride's veil to the groom's shoulder to symbolize the couple being clothed as one. Sponsors also draped them with a cord to represent the eternal bond between them. And the groom, who is Samoan, took on the Filipino tradition of giving his bride coins blessed by the priest to symbolize a life of faithfulness and prosperity.

The bride, 28-year-old Carolyn Ganal Agmata Savea, is an education assistant at 'Aiea Elementary. The groom, 26, is a counselor at a boys' shelter in Hale'iwa. They are involved with Catholic youth ministry and retreats at their church, and they live in Pearl City.

Tanya Bricking Leach writes about relationships for The Advertiser. If you'd like her to tell your love story next, send the details to tbricking@honoluluadvertiser.com or call her at 525-8026.