Once we arrived at the harbor we were supplied with headphones and walked around listening to the audio tour which is a great way to experience the exhibits and learn along the way. In the theater we watched a short film on the harrowing events of December 7, 1941, the day that would go down in infamy as the day that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the day the US officially entered World War II.
From the theater we boarded a boat which took us out to the USS Arizona Memorial. The mood was very solemn as we walked through the memorial, floating just feet above the hull of the sunken ship, which is the final resting place of over 900 sailors. The air was filled with the aroma of oil that rises to the surface of the water. About half a million gallons of oil remain in the hull and is leaking at the rate of approximately one gallon a day. It is said to be the ship weeping for all the sailors it lost and since this is the tomb of so many souls no measures will be taken to shore up the leaks. Evidently it is not an environmental hazard because a coral reef has formed on and around the hull of the ship.
As we entered the Shrine room and quietly stood looking at the wall showing the 1,177 names of those lost on the Arizona tears welled in my eyes as I watched a Park Ranger lead an elderly gentleman behind the rope barrier and take a photo of him as he reverently removed his cap and pointed to the name of what was obviously a family member or loved one. It was such a moving moment to observe. We also got to shake the hand of a 97 year old survivor, one of only 8 remaining.
From there we toured the USS Bowfin submarine. Definitely no good for anybody claustrophobic and clearly a submariner would have to be more agile than us! It was alarming to see how their bunks were located directly above and below the torpedoes. Imagine trying to sleep with a missile just inches from your head!
After the submarine we drove to Ford Island to tour the USS Missouri. I've been on a few battleships but this one is probably the most notable. It was the site where General MacArthur accepted the unconditional Japanese surrender which marked the end of WWII. It was cool to stand on the Surrender Deck which was the very spot where the document was signed when the ship was docked in the Tokyo harbor.
From there we did a quick tour of the Pacific Aviation Museum and then it was back on the bus for the ride back to Waikiki. On the way back we drove up high above Honolulu to get a bird's eye view of the city. We drove through the beautiful National Cemetary of the Pacific, with its 55,000 grave markers. We then drove through the streets of downtown Honolulu and saw many beautiful buildings, along with more exclusive shops and restaurants.
When we got back to our hotel, as tired as our feet were, we couldn't miss the chance to once again stroll along Waikiki beach. We watched dozens of surfers and kite surfers catching the waves as they rolled in. It must be one of the windiest beaches I've ever been on and the wind even whips through all the open corridors of the hotel!
Last night on land before we board our ship tomorrow! Can't wait!
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