Our tour guide for the day was "Cousin Paul." He is a veteran and served in the Navy. He, like our guide the previous day, was quick to point out his percentage of Native Hawaiian blood. He is 87%. I'm not sure if this is just a thing with tour guides or all Native Hawaiians. Also, he stressed the importance family plays in the local culture. Everyone claims to be family- he quickly claimed us as cousins and called us Cousin Paul's family throughout the tour. He was a very good guide and we enjoyed his discourse. He grew up on the island.
Our first stop was The Punchbowl. This volcanic crater overlooks Honolulu. The Hawaiian name for this place is Puowaina, meaning Hill of Sacrifice. At one time the natives used it as an alter for human sacrifice to their gods and/or dispatching those who violated taboos. Now it is a national military cemetery for those who died or fought in the Pacific Theater. There was opposition to making it a cemetery due to fear of pollution of the water supply and the emotional aversion to burying the dead above the living.
View of Honolulu with Diamond Head in the background. On our way up to the Punchbowl.
Entry gate
Flag with insignias of all branches of the military.
Neatly manicured grounds with rows upon rows of graves. The cemetery is full now and there are no more full body burials, only cremated remains are being interred.
We didn't get out to take pictures so I didn't get a good shot. There is a large monument on one side of the cemetery.
Our first stop at Pearl Harbor was on Ford Island.
This nice young man performed the required security check. I think he mainly checked to be sure no one carried in a bag or purse. No item of concealment is allowed in.
The aviation tower just off Battleship Row. I believe this is where the distress call went out.
This is the memorial to the USS Oklahoma which was sunk by torpedoes with the loss of 429 lives. It was sold for scrap. It is one of three ships not salvaged and returned to service.
The memorial is in the basic shape of the ship. There was a naval tradition when a ship arrived in port the sailors in their dress whites would line the decks for inspection. This was known as manning the rails. There are 429 white marble pillars arranged inside the black marble ship outline, each one engraved with the name of a sailor who went down with the ship. They are manning the rails once again.
Next stop was a tour of the USS Missouri. Commissioned in 1944, the Mighty Mo was the site of the signing of Japan's surrender that ended WW II which took place in Tokyo Bay. It was decommissioned in 1955, then recommissioned in 1986. It was decommissioned for the last time in 1992 after seeing service in the Gulf War.
Ricky standing at the entryway to Battleship Row.
The Pearl Canteen, now a snack shop.
Walking up the ramp to board the ship.
Main deck standing at the bow looking to the stern. Main gun battery nine 16" /50 caliber guns with a range of 23 miles.
Ammunition for the big guns.
A copy of the Instrument of Surrender is displayed on the deck along with photographs of the actual signing. The Japanese had never surrendered before in the history of their Empire and they expected to be executed on the spot. They were relieved when the interpreter translated General MacArthur's speech conveying his wish for peace and reconciliation.
This plaque is in the deck marking the spot of the actual signing.
If you look closely you can see a small dent in the rail of the hull. The ship was hit by a kamikaze and other than a small fire on the deck this was the damage sustained.
This is where my visit became emotional. My father served in the Navy in WWII as a MOMMI, Motor Machinist's Mate First Class Petty Officer, a "Motor Mac." I believe he enlisted about 1939 when he was 17 years old. Daddy never spoke of his service and I have no information. I imagine he could have served on a ship very similar to this one. After walking the decks, touching the handrails, and climbing the steep stairs I feel driven to know when and where Daddy served. This visit caused me to feel connected to Daddy in a new way.
Steep steps leading down to the crew's quarters.
Crew's Mess Hall.
Entry to Crew's Cabin. I was disappointed it was converted into a museum and not displayed with bunks.
These pictures are taken in the Combat Engagement Center two decks above the Main Deck. This room was an amazing array of buttons, switches, screens, and red telephones. I feel sure it was modernized when the ship was recommissioned in 1986.
Seat reserved for the Commanding Officer on a higher deck.
Commanding Officer's view.
On the Tomahawk Deck looking toward the bow. You can see the USS Arizona Memorial ahead.
A part of the original teak deck remains preserved.
Historic information about Pearl Harbor's significance to the Native Hawaiian's.
Anchor from the USS Arizona.
Statue dedicated to The Lone Sailor.
View of the USS Bowfin, a submarine moored in the harbor. We didn't tour it as Ricky didn't want to try to navigate the stairs.
Close up of the Bowfin.
View of the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial looking across Pearl Harbor. Bookends to America's engagement in WWII. The beginning and the end.
USS Arizona's ship bells.
Before we went out on the launch we watched a moving documentary showing the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the events of December 7, 1941. We rode a launch manned by Marines out to the USS Arizona Memorial where we spent some time taking pictures and paying our respects. A narrative played during the short journey.
If you look closely you can see part of the ship above water in front of the Memorial.
View of the USS Missouri from the water.
Last view.
Saying goodbye.
We ended the tour on a lighter note with a brief tour of some city sites. This is the Hawaiian capital building.
An eternal flame in honor of the war dead. You can see The Punchbowl rising in the distance behind.
Iolani Palace. The only royal palace in the United States.
Beautiful flower.
Statue of King Kamehameha I. He is highly revered by the Hawaiians. He stands in front of a legislative building across the street from Iolani Palace.
Banyan tree. There are many of these on the island. The roots hang from the branches and if allowed to take root, another tree trunk grows.
So cool! Thanks for sharing! -Matt
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