Pounding Pearl Pavement – The USS Arizona Memorial

Darn I hate early mornings. Getting up at 5 AM in Hawaii seems just so uncivilized. There did seem to be a lot of people out and about though. Had to get up this early to get organized to meet our shuttle for the Pearl Harbour tour.

We zipped down to the strip to grab a quick McDonald’s breakfast of egg McMuffins and then hurried back to the pick up spot. Of course the shuttle is running on Hawaiian time and while it was supposed to arrive at 6:15, it was much closer to 6:30. Finally we are on board and underway. Barbara our tour guide kept up a running commentary enroute and pointed out various sights along the way.

We arrived at Pearl Harbour, the Arizona Memorial Centre at about 6:45, but it doesn’t open till 7:00. Even at this early hour there were several hundred people in line ahead of us. Once the doors opened though, the line moved quickly. As Pearl Harbour is still an active military base there are a lot of restrictions in effect. For example you cannot carry any purses, back-packs, fanny packs etc onto the site. There are certain places you cannot take photos and risk having your camera confiscated if you do. Most placesthough you can shoot to your hearts content. I think I took close to 140 stills plus video.

We wandered around the grounds for about a half hour until it was our turn to go out on the motor launch to the Arizona Memorial. We saw a short 20 min film, narrated by Stockard Channing, about the events leading up to, and the attack on Pearl Harbour on Dec 7, 1941. Aboard the launch, we motored across glass smooth water to the stark, white memorial over top of the USS Arizona. This is my second visit to the memorial, and Renee’s first. It left a lump in my throat as we approached and entered the memorial.

Looking over the side you see the rusting remains of the USS Arizona which lies where it was sunk so many years ago. There is the rainbow sheen of oil on the water, which still bubbles up from the huge ship below. Many people were tossing flowers clipped from lei’s into the water. The purple and white flowers lending a contrasting tone to the many oil slicks. It was a very moving sight.

Into the anteroom at the end and there is a huge white wall, with over 1,100 names inscribed on it, a tribute to the sailors who were trapped and died on board the Arizona. Back on board the motor launch and steaming away from the memorial, there is a muted silence among the passengers, the only sound, that of the powerful engines.

Back on dry land there were several survivors of the Arizona around the base ready and willing to offer conversation, autographs and assistance. This is all done on a voluntary basis to honour their lost shipmates, one of them advised me. An incredible sacrifice.