Desert Wanderers: Back in the USA..Honolulu day 1

We awoke early this morning to watch our travel into port.

Beginning sunrise

Diamond Head

Sunrise,Diamond Head and Honolulu skyline. We have arrived!

After another great breakfast we headed out for our included tour. A brief drive through parts of the downtown, including China Town and then on to Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor still holds a special place in those our age. Many of our fathers, brothers, Uncles and neighbors lost their lives here on December 7, 1941. We “boomers” are the direct descendants of “the greatest generation” as Tom Brokow would declare. This moment in history defined a generation much as the bombing of the World Trade Center has defined a moment in history for the genXchildren. This was when everything changed for our fathers. The fact that there is only one longest living survivor from Pearl Harbor (age 105) is something to think about. I wonder if future generations will be as grounded in Pearl Harbor as mine. I will not be surprised if this event eventually becomes just the history of the past while more current events will gather closer meaning for the next generation and their children.. Guess that’s the way of time , isn’t it?Anyway, for today our focus was on the tragedy that took place here in 1941 and place the US into the Second World War.

Let me start by saying Pearl Harbor Historic place is now under the jurisdiction of the National Park service. They have developed many significant ways to tell the story of what happened that day and what it brought to the future at the time.

We were lucky when we arrived that we immediately got into the standby line to head by boat to the site of the Arizona battleship.

The Navy runs a shuttle boat every fifteen minutes out to the site. On board they reminded everyone that this is a grave site and to turn phones off, be respectful and adopt a quiet demeanor.

Gun turrets of the USS Arizona

Another turret

Oil slick from the fuel leaks of fuel still in the ship

Oil slicks near the edge of th ship

The memorial has a large opening in the floor so you can view the ship

At the end of the memorial building is the wall of names. Any of the survivors can also have their ashes brought back to the ship for interment to be along side their fellow sailors. 45 have chosen to do this.

More views of the sunken ship

The entrance to the memorial. The building is built over the ship

The memorial itself

More of the Arizona

While the trip out to the USS Arizona was impactful, the entire park is focused on telling the story of the event. After we returned to land, we took our time to walk around and follow the story of that day.

This statue reminds me of how my father looked whenever he left home for his two weeks active duty with the Navy Reserves!

Al and Steven decided to tour the submarine that was on the grounds. They took pictures of each other through the sight of the guns on the Sub. Above is Albert. Below the picture of them also shows the USS Arizona and a docked destroyer in the background.

After we returned from the tour, Al & Steve decided to take a walking tour of the historic section of downtown. Below are Al’s pictures. I took a nap instead.

The royal palace (the only palace on US soil)