Miracle in Pearl Harbor (Hawaii #6, July 24, 2013)

After a pleasant morning soaking up the sun on our beach and enjoying the processions of surfers and ocean vessels, Theresa and I started out for Pearl Harbor.  This National Historic site has been renamed "Valor in the Pacific National Monument" to honor not only those who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, but also those who died in World War II anywhere in the Pacific.

Weeks ago, I figured it would be wise to get tickets online for a tour long in advance of our trip to Hawaii.  I was shocked to discover, "All Tours are SOLD OUT until August 21, 2013."  Even though we knew we couldn't go out to the Arizona Monument, tour the Battleship Missouri, or Submarine Bowfin, Theresa and I decided we would still go to the park, tour the free museums, visit the gift shop, and just, in general, feel the atmosphere of the monuments.

Pearl Harbor, at last!

Jan, at the Entrance.

As we joined the crowd to pass through the entrance gates, a gentleman approached us.  He held tickets and hurriedly inquired, "Can you use tickets to the Arizona for 2:30?  It's 2:20 now."  Theresa asked him, "How much do you want for them?"  He replied, "Nothing.  I can't use them."  We accepted the two treasured tickets, thanked him profusely, queued through the nearest gate and almost ran to "the last building on the right" to join the 2:30 boat group.

After a few steps, I was almost overcome with emotion.  I mentioned to Theresa, "It's Grandpa.  He wants us to go to the Arizona."  A few more steps and I thought, "It's your Grandma, too."  Then, when we were almost there, "I think Father Gino's praying for us, too."

The pleasant young park guide explained the order of events, "First, you'll see a movie through these doors.  It's 30 minutes (long).  Then you'll exit through the doors near the screen and board a launch which will take you out to the Arizona Monument." 

The movie depicted the events leading up to World War II, the Japanese expansion into Asia, their incredible attack on the American Navy Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the American war effort.  This brought back many memories to me.  At one point, I prayed, "Please, I don't want to weep openly!"  In my heart, I could see my dad, Reuben, in his khaki U.S. Army uniform, a young captain.  I could see my beautiful dark-haired, young mother, Adeline, full of life, always smiling.  I remembered my mom and grandma relating the hardships of rationing during the War, and the worry, with every sacrifice "for our boys" overseas.

Theresa, on board the launch, bound for the Arizona.

Theresa commented, "Mom, I didn't know about any of this.  We knew there was a battle in Pearl Harbor during the Second World War, but I didn't know anything else."  I could hardly speak, but I relayed to her how my Uncle Robert served in Germany and my Dad served in China.  During the war, there were no birthday celebrations because sugar was severely rationed, gasoline was rationed, many products were almost impossible to buy; everything went to "the boys" in the Armed Services, in terrible danger, trying to bring Peace to the world.

Our beautiful United States of America flag proudly waves over the Arizona Monument.

Battleship Missouri, viewed from Arizona Monument.

The list of those 1,177 who died when the Battleship Arizona was attacked and sunk on December 7, 1941.  It is hard to imagine the pain, the confusion, the noise, the smells, and the horror of the great ship being blasted apart!

Jan and Theresa on the Arizona Monument: a kind German visitor took this photo.

One of the stacks of the great vessel, above water.  It is eerie to look into the water and see the outline of the submerged ship.

Looking at the sky through the open ceiling of the Arizona Monument.

The mood of the people of many nations assembled to tour this monument was quiet and somber.  This is, after all, a grave site.  Theresa and I prayed, "Please, God, let us do what we can so this never happens again anywhere."

It was very, very good for me to see Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Monument.  My dearly departed mom and dad, Adeline and Reuben, lived in Sacramento, California, U.S.A., from 1970 to 1990.  Every year on their wedding anniversary, December 26, 1941, they would fly to Hawaii.  Dad stayed at the Royal Hawaiian hotel, where I'm presently on the balcony of my room overlooking the beach, during World War II.  This trip is more important to me than I had imagined before I came.

Our time was up, although we never felt rushed, and the 150 of our group again boarded a Navy launch to return to the main park.  I was changed by this experience, and I imagine every adult, from the many nations represented, felt differently than before.

Pearl Harbor is still a Navy installation.  It is comforting to me to see the row of great ships presently in use, and the planes flying now and then overhead, for our protection.

The impressive row of Navy ships presently in Pearl Harbor.

A helicopter circles the Arizona Monument.

This section of the park shows every Navy vessel lost at sea during World War II, and lists the names of those who died.  U.S.S. Bowfin submarine in background.

As we strolled from marker to marker, in the different sections of the park, Theresa and I talked about all the men in our family who have served in the U.S. Armed Services: Grandpa Reuben (Army - China) and Uncle Robert (Army - Germany), World War II; my brothers, Bob (Army), Steve, and Don (both Navy) in Vietnam; sons Billy and John (both Navy); brother-in-law, Mike (Air Force); nephews, Justin (both U.S. Navy and Irish Regiment of the British Army, killed in Afghanistan) and Cieran (Army, Iraq), and grandson, Rob (Army, Iraq).  Presently, I have one son-in-law serving in the U.S. Navy.  I am intensely proud of them all!

Since everyone listed above, over the course of many years, returned from war and peacetime, it was a severe shock to our family when Justin was killed in Afghanistan several years ago.  We dare not ever forget that our FREEDOM was bought at a terrible price!

The draft never should have been ended!: that's my opinion. Every young man and woman should have two years to serve either in the military or Peace Corps. One of my daughters tried to join the Navy and go to West Point.  She passed numerous interviews and tests.  But when it came to the physical exam, her eyes were too bad, 'even for the exception.'

Our last stop was the Pearl Harbor gift shop.  What a wonderful array of books, T-shirts, and other memorabilia there are!  Theresa and I bought several items.  The 5 o'clock closing time approached, so we left.  The memories will be with us forever!

After freshening up at our hotel room, we next sought out a highly recommended restaurant in Honolulu, Ono's.  We found it and had to shark around for a parking spot.  The wait in line was approximately a half hour. We figured this was a good omen.  The sign on the door told us to sit on the chairs and "No Get Mad"! 

We were rewarded with an impressive table full of authentic Hawaiian dishes: pork, rice, salmon salad, onions, poi, beef jerky, various hot and mild sauces, with coconut custard for dessert.  The kindly server told us, "I show you how to eat."  There is a particular way to dip into the sauces.  Yum!

Ono's in Honolulu, Hawaii, outside entrance.

 

 

Once back at our hotel, we saw that there was another level to the Royal Hawaiian/Sheraton Hotels' shopping mall.  We went up and up!  Turned out there are four levels to this quite large mall.  Shops of every kind (mostly very expensive!) and restaurants tempted us.  Then 'home' to our room again.