Pearl Harbor Hawaii: Explore History and Heroes at This Iconic Site

The Historical Significance of Pearl Harbor

In this article you will find some interesting attractions in Pearl Harbor such as the Arizona Memorial, the Missori Naval Ship,

The Arizona Navy is the last resting place for many of the 1177 crew members who suffered a direct hit and drowned on December 7, 1941. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was part of a plan to conquer the Western Pacific. The Japanese aim was to paralyze the Navy in the Pacific so that the Americans would not be able to intervene in their invasion plans. The Japanese assault fleet included 33 combat ships and auxiliary ships, six of which were aircraft carriers. The attack was a great success for the Japanese who lost altogether 29 planes and five tiny submarines, but the success was not perfect. Because the American carriers were not at the port at the time of the attack, they were fully qualified and the port of Pearl Harbor itself was almost intact. The most important of all is that the American nation, which prior to the bombing was divided on the question of US involvement in World War II, united in the decision to join the war to win over Japan and its allies, which in effect decided the fate of World War II, the fate of Europe and perhaps the entire world.

The monument, 56 meters long, is built on the central part of the ship, which was not recovered from the sea and was not returned to service, unlike most of the other naval vessels that were injured in this attack. The monument has three main sections: entrance and conference halls, part of a means dedicated to ceremonies and Gilad, where the names of the ship’s victims are inscribed on a marble wall. The monument is a memorial to all the military men killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The monument was inaugurated in 1961. From the monument you can see the ship sunk in water. The Arizona Visitor Center and Navy are located at the Pearl Harbor Navy Base and are operated by the National Parks Authority and are open every day (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year) until 17:00, but the last tour begins at 15:00. Tours are scheduled in advance, but are conducted on a “first come first first” basis, preferably in the early morning hours because in many cases before 12:00 noon the tours are filled with the same day, the entrance to the visitors’ center and the tours are free. Visitors, many thousands and sometimes even tens of thousands arrive every day but the order is exemplary and everything beats like a clock.

The proposed program for visitors includes explanatory notes and a half-hour documentary about the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the film, they sail by boat to the monument, which is located in the water of the port and after the visit they are returned by boat back to the visitors’ center. The visitors’ center has a museum with ship models and other interesting objects, a bookstore and a large observation deck on the monument and the Avenue of Battle Ships. Along the coast, there are other displays describing the historical and geographic details of this attack, which was the most severe blow to the American nation until the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Due to heavy security arrangements since September 11, no files (including backpack, S) and video cameras.

Phone: 808-422-2771 or: 808-422-0561
Website: www.nps.gov/usar

The Missori Fleet

At the dock near the Arizona Naval Naval Visitors Center, the Missouri warship, known as the Mighty Moe, took part in the famous battle in which the Japanese surrendered, a move that actually marked the end of World War II. The Japanese surrender agreement was signed on September 2, 1945. She entered the service in 1944 and for more than five decades participated in three wars. On board the ship are guided tours of several routes lasting between one and two hours and include a tour of officers’ rooms, decks and a bridge from which you can learn about the life of the sailors and the historical moments of the surrender of the Japanese. The entrance is free of charge and the special tours are provided at an extra charge. Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and January 1. Due to heavy security arrangements since 9/11, it is forbidden to bring in files (including backpack, hand and even pouch bags) and video cameras.

Telephone: 888-877-6477 or: 808-973-2494
Website: www.ussmissouri.org
The submarine and the US Army Museum in bowfin

The 1,500-ton USS BOWFIN submarine, which was launched exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, is anchored near the Arizona Navy Ship Visitor Center. This submarine sank 44 enemy ships during its service and was nicknamed Pearl Harbor Revenge. You can take an independent tour of the submarine and see the machine rooms, the command, the dining room, the narrow beds, the cannons and the ammunition and closely follow the life of the submarine. It is highly recommended to take a small cassette recorder with earphones (during the tour) to hear the submarine commander tell about the battles during World War II, the role of the various devices and the agenda of the submarine. In the park next to the submarine there is a display of weapons and war from the time of its service, as well as an interesting museum that describes the development of submarines from the first submarines to the first modern nuclear submarine.

Phone: 808-423-1341
Website: www.bowfin.org

by Honolulu Vibes