 |
| The Arizona Memorial |
We had an early start this morning as we needed to be at The Pearl Harbour Visitors Center by 9am to collect our pre-booked tickets for the Arizona Memorial tour. The security is pretty strict at the centre, no bags allowed so we checked my handbag and Neil’s camera bag and took a quick look at the museums at the centre before heading across to the theatre.
They show an excellent 20 minute movie with genuine footage from the day. It explained the lead up to the attack and the immediate response to the “day that will live in infamy” (Franklin D. Roosevelt ) They even had a shaky 8mm film recording the moment that the Battleship Arizona was struck. We’d never seen it and it really showed the power and instant devastation. The Arizona went down in 9 minutes with over 1100 sailors on board. Over 900 of them still lie entombed in the sunken wreck.
After the movie the mood was somber on the boat trip out to the memorial. It’s a light and airy white structure than spans the midsection of the wreck below. There was an older veteran volunteer on board who gave us a really interesting description of the results of the bombing. There were dozens of wreaths hanging on the rails that we think may have been left there yesterday during the special ceremonies on Pearl Harbour Day. One thing you really noticed on the memorial was the strong smell of oil that continues to leak from the Arizona.
 |
| On the deck of the “Mighty Mo” |
Back on shore we hopped on a shuttle bus that took us across to Ford Island to visit the “Mighty Mo” , the Battleship Missouri. Her biggest claim to fame is that it was on her deck that General Douglas MacArthur accepted the surrender of the Empire of Japan. Another considerably lesser claim to fame is that Cher shot a rather notorious music video of “Turn Back Time” , on the decks of the ship!
We wandered all over the enormous structure , just as well they have arrows guiding you along the self tour because I’d have lost my way somewhere between the Officers Mess and the bridge. What a rabbit warren!
 |
| The Officers’ Mess |
 |
| The band |
As we left the ship we watched a performance of one of the same High School bands that we’d seen last night marching in the parade, before heading back to the Visitors centre on the shuttle bus. Before we left Neil queued up to speak to a Pearl Harbour day Survivor who was signing autographs and chatting to visitors. he was a very sprightly 94 year old, accompanied by his charming wife. Neil had a copy of Franklin D Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech and had that signed by a man who had watched the whole , horrible attack from his signal post.
We drove back into Waikiki for another picnic lunch on our veranda. Neil decided to sample a Hawaiian delicacy, Spam Sushi (!) washed down with an American classic, root beer. I though the sushi tasted the way you’d expect Spam sushi to taste… I’ll say no more.
 |
| The view at Ocean House |
The rest of the afternoon was spent with some relaxing and blogging ( by Neil) and some relaxing and shopping ( by yours truly!) and watching yet another wedding on the function space below our room. Then we tidied up and headed down to the hotel’s fine dining restaurant “Ocean House” for our final dinner. The room overlooks the beach and we slid into a comfortable booth with a view out across the water to the twinkling lights of cruise ships in the distance. The service and food were marvelous, Neil enjoyed the fish of the day and I tucked in to yet another magnificent steak – washed down with a very nice Californian chardonnay.
The last night of a good holiday is always bitter sweet, we enjoyed reminiscing about the places we’d seen and maybe we’ll come back one day. You never know…
 |
| Aloha, Waikiki! |
 |
| Diamond Head – early morning. |