Arrived on Saturday 7 Oct and stayed at Ko Olina









For those who suggested the Poke... it was Yummy! Highly recommended

Wednesday was Pearl Harbor Day. I highly recommend this if you visit the islands. It is every bit of a full day. A few things to bear in mind

Traffic is horrible. It took us an hour and a half to go 10 miles.

Book the Pearl Harbor Passport. It's $65/ea and allows you full access to all sites at Pear Harbor (except the Utah)

This is a FULL day. They aren't kidding. The USS Bowfin and museum you can easily do in an hour. The USS Arizona is at least an hour & 15 minutes, add an hour if you do the guided tour. The USS Missouri is definitely a few hours unless you take the deeper tour, they only do that a few times a day and it is 90 min on its own. The Pacific Aviation Museum is also a good hour or better.

Plan on $6 for a hot dog and $6 for nachos, pop is around $2-2.50. You can't bring your own food and no bags of any kind including small clutch purses. If it in any way resembles a bag, even clear, leave it in the car.

It is a very moving experience and again something you should do once in your life

The USS Bowfin








USS Arizona Memorial & USS Missouri in the background


Bowfin Museum

Puffer Bell


Propeller from a Japanese Midget Submarine

USS Arizona Memorial

Barbette from Turret #3














Oil continues to seep from the ship

I purchased this flag at the gift shop. It was flown over the USS Arizona on Memorial Day 2017 at 1131hrs.

More later from the USS Missouri and Pacific Aviation Museum

Thanks for posting these. Visiting Pearl Harbor is such a fantastic and worthwhile event.

Awesome pictures, they bring back memories when I was in Pearl back in the early 80's. Thanks for posting these.

Thanks for sharing those pictures. I hope America never forgets the sacrifices made during WWII.

First time I visited was when I was freshly returned from Iraq and there were still a few Pearl Harbor survivors that volunteered at the museum and memorial. Very special to be able to have met them. I understand very very few are left. My first visit was in. 2005 ( is that 12 years ago already?!) very solemn place the Arizona.

Glad you had a good time.

Great pictures, and nice use of your SIGforum coin!

More from the Bowfin







The Christmas Tree


Starboard Engine, Forward Engine Room

A few from the Might Mo'


Two of the 5" mounts


Unfortunately the battery on my normal camera went bad, and I ran my phone dry so not lot a lot of photos.

The main bridge, flying bridge, and upper levels of the super structure are undergoing serious repair and were thus off limits. The main deck inside and outside the superstructure was open as well as the "Surrender deck and part of the interior on that level as well as one deck below the main deck.

An additional tour was available that took you through the Engine Rooms and one Turret. Unfortunately we arrived late for the last one not knowing it existed. Information on what is available isn't great. I asked a guide if there was any way we could see the gun rooms in a turret, since it wasn't closed down she took us up through a hatch on the underside rear of Turret 1. We were able to climb up inside and the doors to the gun rooms were still open. I've seen a lot of video on how the 16"/50 Cal guns are fired and those gun pits are WAY smaller than I thought. Definitely no place for a tall fat guy.

One special treat was getting to see a US Nuclear Submarine heading out to sea from the deck of the USS Missouri. It's just off my left shoulder

Are you going to go to Wheeler AFB? I was there from 69 to 73. There was a P-40 movie prop from Tora, Tora, Tora near the swimming pool that the studio donated after filming. I often wonder how much it has changed since then. Great pictures.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BillF,

We were clearly told you needed Military ID to enter any base except for the USS Missouri and Pacific Aircraft Museum parts of Joint Base Pearl Harbor. So we didn't bother. Tora Tora Tora is one of my favorite movies though.

Great pics.

It amazes me, the outright magnitude of loss experienced in the world wars. That one ship, the sacrifices made are more than any of us have witnessed (excluding the cowardly attack on the World Trade Center). Eventually the Long Peace will end; I pray there are enough left who have the strength to endure.

Thanks for posting the pictures. You are fortunate to be able to see it in person.

Awesome. I did the exact same tours of Pearl Harbor a few years back and as you say, it was a very moving experience.

More from the Mighty Mo'

Nothing screams 'MERICA like standing on the deck of the USS Missouri and watching a US submarine head out to sea



A 5" shell elevator


The deck medallion marking the point where the Japanese Surrender was signed


Turret #1, Gun Room #2 (middle gun). A special peek from a very gracious tour guide


The USS Missouri keeping watch over the USS Arizona Memorial

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:

That's a good pic showing the differences between the Burke Flt-I and Flt-IIA destroyers.

Rightwire,

Thank you kindly for the picture tour.
I was stationed at Pearl Harbor Submarine Base on a fast attack sub back in the day.
Brings back a lot of Westpac memories. I haven't been back to Oahu since the Missouri was put on display. Traffic was bad even then...