Wahines on Tour - Hawaii and peek at Aulani! LAST DAY IN THE SUNSHINE UPDATE 8/6

[MAGICFOR2]

Pearl Harbor looks really interesting Tammie. My husband would absolutely love seeing this.

I enjoy history, so I thought a knew quite a bit, but I learned alot that day!

Wow! What a sight - gives me chills just to think about what happened that day! Thanks SO much for sharing, Tammie!

Definitely something we shouldn't forget.

We have this planned for one of our days, too- now you are able to book through the Nat'l Park website (I think that's where I did it) and reserve the time in advance- we just have to arrive one hour before the tour.

Very, very moving. We watched the movie a few months ago, just as a "refresher" on all that happened (it's been a long while since we studied WWII in social studies class!). It's all so tragic- there were so many lost and so many who had to be so brave.

That's great that you can book in advance. I think I knew that, but we weren't sure how our time would play out.

It's good to remember, and to pass it on. What really tore me up is realizing most of the victims were just boys - 18 - 25 years old - younger than my boys.

Awesome tour. I always wanted to see the USS Arizona. How far is that from Aulani?

It's about a 1/2 hour - 17 miles. It's directly east of Aulani, but the road is a little curvy.

I would love to see Pearl Harbor. What a wonderful, moving history lesson. So glad that they let you take your camera in!

I was really touched. I'm glad we could bring the camera, too. I was a little surprised, actually.

 

[MEK]

II was really touched. I'm glad we could bring the camera, too. I was a little surprised, actually.

I am too! But maybe because its a national historical site pictures are OK. It's public domain.

Still have some catching up to do on your TR since I just got back from the world last week!

 

[CRdisMom]

what amazing photos. I do want to make it out there some day. glad to know you can book in advance--i know it helped at alcatraz in san fran. at least the govt is on to technology. Looked like a nice day to be out there

 

[pkondz]

Part of a ship - I think this is showing how the oil burned on top of the water and scorched it

That's really interesting.

Look at these people - standing in disbelief

I wonder what I would do, if in a similar situation...

We entered a theatre, where we were shown a film, which gave some history, and instructed that our cell phones were to be turned off, and there was to be no more talking until we returned. This was in order to let everyone experience and honor the dead in their own way. Some visitors have family members here and it is a very solumn occasion.

I didn't know that you were instructed not to talk. I thought that the solemnity of the moment just naturally made people quiet. I guess in this day and age where nothing is sacred, that it has to be said... which is kinda sad.

You also forget that there are real people who are still around who have lost family and friends who are on board still.

Oil still comes up constantly from the original tank

I believe I read that the oil will not stop leaking until every crewman who was on board that day is returned to the ship.

Looking over at the USS Missouri - our next stop of the day

Looking forward to it. Thanks for all the pics. Really enjoyed 'em.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi everyone! We're just back from a wonderful weekend in Phoenix! I'll get another update in tomorrow!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Sorry to take so long to come back - just had another amazing weekend in Phoenix! Can't wait to live there!

Before I was so rudely imterrupted by the DIS going down, I was sharing pics of the USS Arizona memorial - I just have a couple more, and then we are on to the Missouri -

After passing through the hallway with windows inside the memorial, we came to this huge wall of names of all those lost

Coming back out, we stopped to take another look at the Arizona marker

and the oil bubbling up

Then we noticed a lady taking apart the fresh flower leis that had been placed at the memorial the day before - she placed the flowers in a basket and offered them to us to throw in the water as a tribute - I was struck by the sight of the flowers floating in the oil

We spent a few more reflective moments and then headed back out to the boat

USS Bowfin submarine

We still had a busy day ahead of us, so the next stop is USS Missouri - the ship where the Japanese surrendered at the end of the war.

 

[podsnel]

Love the lei being thrown into the water- I'll have to remember that-

I've heard the Missouri tour is fascinating- looking forward to hearing what you all thought-

And I'm so happy you enjoyed your weekend in Arizona!

 

[kmedina]

That really is a stunning picture with the lei in the water. The memorial wall kind of reminds me of the one I saw for the Titanic recently. The tragedies were terrible, but the memorial is a nice way to honor everyone lost. It is hard to look at them and not get emotional though.

 

[blessedmom4]

Oh I LOVED the pics of the Memorial! SO fitting...and poignant... today!

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[laura74]

Love the lei on the water photo, Tammie.

 

[glennbo123]

All caught up Tammie. How fitting to read about the USS Arizona memorial on July 4th. I can imagine how somber it is to visit that site.

Thanks for posting!

 

[pkondz]

Thanks for all the pics Tammie. The one with the flowers and oil is especially striking.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm just grabbing a few minutes at work to reply, as our internet is screwed up again. Hope everyone had a safe and Happy 4th!

Love the lei being thrown into the water- I'll have to remember that-

I've heard the Missouri tour is fascinating- looking forward to hearing what you all thought-

And I'm so happy you enjoyed your weekend in Arizona!

I was just thinking about your boys when I posted this last update. I think they will really enjoy the MO, and maybe the bowfin too if you have the time. As you will see, you are pretty much left to just explore and explore - good peek at history, and life on the ship. There are a few hands-on things you can do, too!

Might be too many small spaces and unknown doorways for Sean, though.

That really is a stunning picture with the lei in the water. The memorial wall kind of reminds me of the one I saw for the Titanic recently. The tragedies were terrible, but the memorial is a nice way to honor everyone lost. It is hard to look at them and not get emotional though.

Thanks - I haven't seen the Titanic one. These types of things always really hit me

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Oh I LOVED the pics of the Memorial! SO fitting...and poignant... today!

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Thanks! Hope your day was special. Having trouble with multi-quotes here.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Oh I LOVED the pics of the Memorial! SO fitting...and poignant... today!

from

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Love the lei on the water photo, Tammie.

Thank You! It's nice when others see what you see

All caught up Tammie. How fitting to read about the USS Arizona memorial on July 4th. I can imagine how somber it is to visit that site.

Thanks for posting!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for all the pics Tammie. The one with the flowers and oil is especially striking.

You're welcome! Thanks for appreciating what I see

 

[dizneeat]

All caught up again, Tammie!
Sorry I have been absent for some time, but our last week of school was a bit more stressful than I anticipated.
Great photos again - you are REALLY feeding my "longing" to get to Hawaii with them.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

All caught up again, Tammie!
Sorry I have been absent for some time, but our last week of school was a bit more stressful than I anticipated.
Great photos again - you are REALLY feeding my "longing" to get to Hawaii with them.

Well I was absent too, so it was good timing. Hope things have settled down and you are on break now? You are probably packing for another trip - I can't remember when you leave again? Thank You, I'm glad you enjoy them.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

After touring the AZ, we stopped by the visitor center to return the headsets, and over to the gift shop. There was a display set up outside with a coffee table book of the bombing and the history that surrounded it. The author was doing a book signing, so we stopped by and had him autograph a book to my dad, it was really nice - even though he wasn't in WWII, the author thanked him for his service. They were offering a free tote bag and commemorative newspaper if you purchased $50 - the book was $28 or so, so we mosied inside and got a T-shirt for Jim and a christmas ornament.

Christmas ornament? We always get a dated ornament each year, usually from a place we have visited - so after 31 Christmases, we have pretty mucn only the dated ones and the ones our kids have made.

Okay, purchases made we headed out of the park, and over to Ford Island, which is a military installation. If you are military, you can drive right on. If not, you have to take a shuttle from the USS Arizona center.

Coming into sight

Native lawn mower?

Entrance sign

Jim took a turn at the wheel

Love this one!

I think the 40's were the coolest time in history. The music was fun, LOVED the shoes and the cars~ Okay, well, probably not the girdles and the "women's work" and no a/c but the movies make it look so fun!

Ticket window - we already had ours

We decided it was time for a little snack

This place was so retro and fun!

Even cookie was working!

We each grabbed a bag of chips and a soda - I think it was time for Jesse's first lunch so he had a hot dog.

Allright - on to the ship! I have about 150 from the MO - I won't bore you with all of them. I just love history.

TO BE CONTINUED....

 

[MEK]

I think you are in the middle of an update, but I am really enjoying your most recent updates. The pictures are great. The Arizona and Missouri memorials are wonderful. I really hope I get to see them someday. Keep the pictures coming!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Grandma duty took me away - then I had a big part of the next update done and Photobucket froze up my whole system and I lost the update before I could save it. I will be back later with lots of pics of MO