Visiting Pearl Harbor

On January 5th Doug and I visited Pearl Harbor. It is probably the best thing we have done on O'ahu. We arrived at 6:50am because the memorial doesn't open until 7am. Luckily we got there early because a line of people was already starting to form and they only give out so many tickets a day. Since there were ony two of us we were able to get on the first boat out to see the memorial of the USS Arizona, but first they took us into a theater to watch a video on the history of Pearl Harbor: why it was attacked, how it was attacked,  and the outcome because of the attack. The movie was narrated by the girl who played Rizzo in the movie, "Grease." The movie showed actual footage from December 7th and was (at some points) difficult to take in and understand. Next we loaded onto a boat and went across the Harbor to the memorial of the USS Arizona. 

For those of you who don't know, the Arizona was one of the battle ships hit by a bomb. The bomb struck where the ships main ammo and gunpowder supplies were located and killed hundreds of men instantly. It caused a massive explosion.  Men, who didn't even know they were under attack died before they could realize something was happening. Over 1100 were killed due to that bomb. The ship sank and began leaking oil. 

The USS Arizona still leaks oil to this day and you can smell it the moment you get close. Understand that the oil is also the reason so many died. The oil caught on fire in the water and those who were forced to swim in it were badly burned or did not survive. 

The oil is a painful reminder that claims more than one of your 6 senses, reminding you that lives were lost and what happened that day- we will never truly be able to comprehend. 

The memorial building itself is a pristine white architectural design that sits above the USS Arizona, not touching any part of the ship. 

Below the memorial you see what's left of the ship and the oil-covered waters. Inside there are plaques describing the ship and there is a huge wall filled with all of the names of the brothers who's lives were claimed by the attack. 

I got choked up when I saw the wall. The average age of the men was 20 years old. To see that so many people died on one ship is unfathomable to say the least. 

 Also, to know that there are men still in USS Arizona who never made it out and the ship lies beneath you is heartbreaking. I got hit with several emotions while I was visiting the memorial: sad, mad, proud, enlightened- so many that make the experience difficult to describe. I had to put my sunglasses on (due to tears) when a woman walked up to a man wearing a World War II hat right in front of me and said "thank you for your service." It was in that moment I realized all that my grandpa had fought for (also a World War II veteran) . He defended our country, and the attack on Pearl Harbor is the reason he went through everything he did. Pearl Harbor opened my eyes up to a lot of things- mainly that my bad days really aren't that bad and that things/our history could have been so much different.

 

While at the USS Arizona one of the cool pieces of knowledge Doug and I learned was that men who survived the attack on the ship and later die have their ashes returned to the Arizona. Their ashes are put into a small golden urn and a scuba diver takes the urn down into an opening in the ship and places it there, so that he may forever be with his brothers, amazing. 

When our time was up at the memorial we loaded back on the boat to cross the harbor. On the way back Doug and I had to sit apart from one another. I was saddened by this point and I'm sure the stranger sitting next to me thought I was a bit peculiar. I relaxed on the boat ride back and realized that subconsciously I was singing the song "Amazing Grace" in my head- a very cool, unintended moment I had with God I will never forget. 

When we got back to the dock Doug and I visited two museums for a few hours and watched videos of survivors depicting the event (both Japanese and American). 

We ate lunch near the water and then decided to visit another museum. (There are other options of museums/memorials to see but you have to pay to get into them.) Since Doug and I are on a budget we only picked one, The Aviation Museum (big surprise, Doug is a pilot so of course we went there.) 

We took a shuttle over to the museum crossing the harbor. Looking out the window of the shuttle you can see the  entire harbor, peaceful and calm amongst the tourism. It's hard to believe that such chaos took place in one day. The entire attack on Pearl Habor was two hours (0755-0955). It was a Sunday morning that changed our world forever. 

At the aviation museum we saw several types of planes: helicopters, rescue planes, a Japanese plane, fighter jets, and many others (Doug can describe them way better than I can). 

Doug loved the museum and I loved watching how much he enjoyed the planes. 

I loved reading about the planes (attempting to understand them the way that Doug does). Doug also did a flight simulator (I did not partake- Doug was definitely in his element). 

The museum itself is actually located in two hangers. One of the hangers was present during the attack on Pearl Harbor and still shows the scars of bullet holes in its windows, serving as a reminder, much like the oil on the water (that still leaks from the USS Arizona). 

Being present at the exact location where such a huge moment in our history took place is- hard to take in (mainly because we can't ever fully understand what happened there). There is an indescribable tension in the air at the harbor- you have to be there to feel it. 

Doug and I were both very thankful we got the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor. It was both a very humbling and sobering day- one I am thankful to have shared with Doug. If you ever get the opportunity to visit O'ahu I suggest you visit Pearl Habor. It is a place of respect and remembrance. 

The feelings it will make you have shed light on reflection you never knew you needed. 

Thank you for reading :)