Day three we were up early to make sure we were able to get tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. We were early enough to get tickets on the first boat out. We had a little time to wander and read a few plaques before we had to be in line for the boat to the USS Arizona. Pearl Harbor was very quiet and serene as the sun was rising. People were being fairly quiet. It seemed everyone was being very respectful.
The boat ride over was very quiet, with many people being quiet throughout the memorial as well. It is hard to imagine you are over a battleship and the final resting spot for over a thousand brave men. It is quite eye-opening.
While we were at the memorial a man raised and lowered an American flag. It turns out if you bring your own flag you are able to raise and lower it on the memorial. I wish we had known this; we would have brought a flag. It would have been such a nice reminder of what happened and our trip there.
It is hard to describe in words all of the feelings of being over the USS Arizona Memorial. It was much like the feelings I got while visiting Gettysburg and Arlington. Almost as if you can feel the energy from what happened there.
After the USS Arizona we finished going through all the display areas. We had also purchased the tours of the USS Blowfish, Missouri and Airplane museum. Since the Blowfish was closest we did that tour first. This was an audio tour. There was a lot of information. The most important thing I learned is I would not like being on a sub. It is so small and confined. I would go stir crazy!
After the Blowfish and sub museum we took the shuttle over to the USS Missouri. I had never seen a battleship in person before. I had no idea how immense they were! I felt so small on the deck looking up at the guns. I decided I couldn’t spend time on a battleship either, unless I was one of those higher-ups with my own room with a window. I also would probably get lost on one. Even though we were forced through a certain way it was still maze like. Also, this was like a trip back in time. They left a lot of the computer equipment, furniture and coffee mugs of the 90’s aboard. It was kind of funny to see all those items again.
The airplane museum was definitely interesting. It was in two hangers that were there during the attack. One hanger even still has the bullet holes in it. There were a lot of planes throughout the hangers plus some interesting displays on women in aviation. I definitely learned a lot because I am pretty clueless about aviation.
Pearl Harbor took up most of the day. For dinner we decided to go to Duke’s, as it was highly recommended by a friend. And I will tell you now, if you are ever in Oahu go to Duke’s. You will not be disappointed!
The service, drinks and food were amazing. I had the lava flow. It was really good. I swear all tropical drinks in Hawaii are amazing. We had the salad bar and I had the kushiyaki kabob. And for dessert I had the infamous Hula pie. If you get nothing else at Duke’s be sure to get the Hula pie! It was so yummy. Macadamia nut ice cream. Enough said.
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