Pearl Harbor

Today's excursion was to Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. We arrived early, because some information indicated that parking could be a problem. It wasn't. 

First we walked through the outdoor memorials. The exhibits in the visitors center were quite well done, and we spent some time there. We went back to the car and got our lunch and ate on a bench just outside the visitors center (no bags or backpacks allowed, so we couldn't bring anything in). 

Still we wound up killing time on a bench. But the day was pleasant and the view across the water to Ford Island was nice.

The U.S.S. Missouri -- the battleship on which the Japanese surrender was signed in September, 1945, is anchored very near the Arizona Memorial. So the two ships mark the beginning and ending of the war.

The Memorial itself is simple and understated, if a bit sobering. So many never had a chance.

Overhearing some of the conversations among family members while touring the exhibits was perhaps more sobering. The ignorance of history among many Americans is truly astounding. There seemed to be a number of people there who had no idea what happened at Pearl Harbor, or when. And these were not all young people! Some our own age apparently weren't paying attention in history classes long ago.

Due to Covid, some exhibits were closed. The interpretive film, usually shown in a theater just before the boat departs for the Memorial, was shown outdoors on a screen too small and with too much reflection to be able to see well.

We returned to Maui Brewing Company for happy hour beer and pizza and we were not disappointed. The place was packed this time. We finished the day with a sunset walk along Waikiki.