Nico wanted to see Pearl Harbor and learn all about the USS Arizona so we drove down Saturday. The memorial has been updated since we last went and is very nice now! There is a great gift shop, short film and then trip out to the site. And it's free! You know Monti LOVES that word. :-)
We've heard you have to get out there early, and we arrived at 10am (it opened at 9am). We were lucky and got 4 leftover passes for the 10:45 film. Otherwise, it would've been 1pm before we could get in. (Whew!) It was hot so I am glad that we didn't have to wait long. The film was really good and then we all filed out to load the ferry to the memorial site.
They are pretty serious on the boat. Two Coast Guard personnel handle transportation and we were told numerous times to "stay seated," and "do not stand up." So we sat and waited to leave the dock. Of course, BEFORE WE CAN EVEN LEAVE, several people stand up to take photos/videos. I think they might have been Japanese. Still, our Coast Guard driver guy was NOT happy with the people who repeatedly kept standing up!
When we arrived at the memorial site a few minutes later and unloading, the Coast Guard told us not to stop on the dock and take photos. We would do that when loading to go back. But of course, those same people are stopping, taking photos, posing, etc. At the point, the Coast Guard guy was about to lose it. He was SO frustrated! A Japanese tour guide offered to translate the "rules" and the Coast Guard guy was very happy to hand over his mic and also tell the guide that he was sitting next to him on the way back! It was very comical.
Thankfully, everyone calmed down and was very quiet once on the memorial. I couldn't good pictures as we arrived to the site (but did later). This first shot is at the far end of the memorial, listing everyone's name who died aboard the ship that day...
Then, apparently crew members who didn't die that day (I guess they were on shore or something???) can be interred here. The photo below shows the names of those men who wished to be laid to rest with their fellow crew members. That was a somber moment. The dates started in 1984 and the latest date was 2010.
This is a picture of the USS Missouri, where the surrender paperwork was signed. You can also tour this battleship.
Here's the gang, in front of one of the gun turrets (that rusty circle out in the water). This memorial is so neat! When looking down, you can still see oil seeping up from the ship, and we saw several fish and even a sea turtle swimming among the different parts of the ship.
Nico looking out over the harbor...
... this is what he was looking at - the shore of Oahu! That bridge leads out to Ford Island and the USS Missouri site and the Pacific Aviation Museum, which we also want to visit.
Then we loaded up onto a returning ferry, so I got a few good shots of the memorial...
And finally, a shot with me in it!!! The memorial is way in the back, just above my head. The iPhone 4 is great for taking pictures but when you think you are zooming in, it's still pretty far away!
We had a great time at the memorial and both kids really "got" what happened there, I think. Of course we had to stop by the gift shop. Nico got a book... that was an easy decision. They had "Darbie" type dolls representing the different things that women did during the war, so that was M'Kenzie's top pick. She had a hard time deciding between a Rosie the Riveter or the nurse (because "Grama Di is a nurse") but ultimately selected Rosie and M'K's new motto is "We can do it!" Too cute.
Y'all definitely have to plan a visit here when you come!
Before I forget...
Thanks Tanya and Rick, for the Vornado suggestion! I've been using it all weekend and it does seem to stir up the air pretty well! :-)
Aloha!
