This is a real Japanese Zero from World War II. Pretty cool to see one in person.Good luck flag.Curtiss P-40E Warhawk.Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat.Blue Angels Boeing F/A18 Hornet.Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot.Republic F-105G Thunderchief. This was the primary US bomber during the early years of the Vietnam War.General Dynamics F-111C Aardvark. In Vietnam it had twice the range of the F-4 and more than double the weapons load.Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey).Ford Island control tower.
We were excited to see the Battleship Missouri, where the Japanese signed the surrender to General MacArthur in 1945, ending World War II at Tokyo Bay, Japan. In addition to World War II, the Missouri was brought back into action for the Gulf War, where it launched the first Tomahawk missiles.Statue of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II. Nimitz is from Fredericksburg Texas, and when we were in Texas in 2022 we visited the Museum of the Pacific War, which is located next to the hotel his family owned there.“Embracing Peace” by Seward Johnson.Six of the ship’s nine 16-Inch .50 caliber guns and turrets. The other three guns and turrets are in the rear of the ship.Armor piercing 2,700 pound high capacity projectile.Inside one of the turrets.The three turrets are accessible from this room.This marks the location of the desk where the surrender was signed.Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed on behalf of the Japanese government. General Yoshijiro Umezu then signed for the Japanese armed forces, and his aides wept as he made his signature. Supreme Commander MacArthur next signed, declaring, “It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past.” Nine more signatures were made, by the United States, China, Britain, the USSR, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand, respectively. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signed for the United States. The ceremony lasted 20 minutes.US Navy message announcing Japan’s surrender.CEC: Combat Engagement Center.The first Tomahawk missile was launched from this station during the first Gulf War.Communications center.Crew bunks.Executive officer quarters.Executive officer quarters.Special dining room in the executive quarters with special executive China place settings. Three presidents have dined at this table – Presidents Truman, Bush 41 and Bush 43.Kitchen.
Pearl Harbor is the most visited site in Hawai’i. This is the where the Japanese attacked the US on December 7, 1941.The Lone Sailor, represents all the men and women who serve, have served or will serve in the US Navy.Anchor recovered from the USS Arizona.USS Arizona Memorial.On one wall of the memorial is a list of all the service members on the USS Arizona who perished during the Japanese attack. There are two smaller markers listing other service members who served, but were not killed on the Arizona. They chose to be entombed with their shipmates upon their own deaths.The remains of the USS Arizona. You can still smell the oil here.Visiting this memorial is a quick, somber event. A shuttle boat takes you out to the memorial, then you have about 15 minutes to quietly walk about, then line up to get back on the next shuttle back to the Pearl Harbor museum.Marker for the USS Nevada.
We made the most of our first full day in Honolulu and the island of Oahu. We started with church, then we drove to the north, and then around the east coast of the island.
We worshipped with the folks at Waikiki Baptist Church.Pretty neat window behind the pulpit.The Aloha Tower has been greeting boat arrivals for almost 100 years. It is a lighthouse and has an observation deck (currently closed to visitors). Before jet planes came to Honolulu, boats and ships brought visitors, and they debarked here, greeted by hula dancers, music and leis. After the attack on Pearl Harbor the tower was controlled by the US Navy.Aloha ‘oe (farewell to thee). This is a farewell song written by the future Queen Lili’uokalani in 1877. The song was played at Boat Day departures by the Royal Hawaiian Band for many years.This is the actual color of the water at the harbor. And there is no flotsam and jetsam at all!Byodo Temple is a “non-practicing” Buddhist temple that commemorates the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. Unfortunately, we saw people burning candles and bowing and praying to the Buddha statue.Idolatry alert: Giant Buddha statue.Christianity is one of the many religions displayed on the walls.Idolatry alert: “An offering and ringing of this sacred bell brings happiness, the blessings of Buddha, and a long life to the ringer of the bell. It is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha.”Japanese cemetery.Grave of a Tiger Lee.Iwo Jima Memorial at Marine Corps Base Hawai’i.Kailua Beach.Beauty and the beach.Whale sighting!Makapu‘U Point Lighthouse.Mānana Island Seabird Sanctuary (larger island) and Kaohikaipu Island State Seabird Sanctuary.Makapu‘U Beach from Makapu‘U Point.Halona Cove.Halona Beach swimming hole.Halona Blowhole.View of the Pacific Ocean from Halona Blowhole.Amelia Earhart monument. “First person to fly alone from Hawaii to North America January 11, 1935.”Sunday afternoon at Waikiki Beach.
So we made it to Honolulu! Oahu is the second of five islands we will visit. We will stay here five nights before heading to the island of Moloka’i.
In Maunalua Gardens, this is “The Hitachi Tree.” This is actually a monkey pod tree, estimated to be 130 years old. 75 feet tall, 120 feet wide with a trunk 21 feet girth. This tree is recognized by the state of Hawai’i as an “Exceptional Tree.”This is a red crested cardinal, native to South America but also in Hawai’i and Puerto Rico.The view from our room in Waikiki.Statue of Don Ho, who was an iconic Hawaiian pop singer in the 1960s. His biggest hit was “Tony Bubbles.”First dinner in Honolulu. This is ranked as the 4th best restaurant in Honolulu.We both had filets. So tender and tasty!Waikiki Beach sunset.Kalakaua Avenue, the Honolulu street famous for shopping and restaurants. Packed with people. When I planned this trip I did not realize that it would be right in the middle of Spring Break!Moon and palm tree.
