Pearl Harbor

Today I went to Pearl Harbor. Now this was my second time visiting the USS Arizona Memorial but my first time visiting the USS Bowfin Submarine, the USS Missouri Battleship, and the Pacific Aviation Museum. I went with my friends, Tammy and Lauren, and their friend, Darcy. Darcy's mom was transferred here as a visiting nurse so she took us there and picked us up. First we went to the USS Arizona Memorial which was the busiest but it wasn't as busy as when I went the first time. It was really nice but I have to agree that it doesn't have exactly the same meaning after the first time. It was still a moving experience. Below are some pics at the memorial.

After the USS Arizona Memorial we headed over to the USS Bowfin Submarine. We had lunch at the outdoor cafe there. We used our power as students to get a discount on the admission to the USS Bowfin, the USS Missouri, and the Pacific Aviation Museum. We went through the museum and ventured onto the submarine. You can walk all the way through the sub and experience was it's like to live in a submarine. It's definitely not a place for someone who's claustrophobic. They take sourvenir pictures in front of the sub and they printed it off as the front page of the Honolulu Gazette on the day after the attack of Pearl Harbor. It has some of the articles that were in that actual paper. Below are the pics of and in the USS Bowfin.After going through the USS Bowfin and getting our souvenir front pages of the Honolulu Gazette we headed over to take the shuttle to Ford Island. We first toured the USS Missouri Battleship. The self guided tour is 1.5 miles long. It was a very cool tour. We were there for quite some time. They have a cafe below deck so you can get some food in the middle of your tour. The Japanese officially surrendered on the deck of the USS Missouri. Here are some pics of the Arizona Memorial from the deck, the USS Missouri, the exact spot where the Japanese surrendered, and myself standing behind the wheel in front of the USS Missouri.

We then left the battleship Missouri and made our way to the Pacific Aviation Museum. On the shuttle you're not allowed to take any pictures, video, or even play video games due to increased security by the miltary. The only people that are allowed on Ford Island are those with miltary ID's unless you're taking the shuttle to the sites there. We watched a short video prior to going through the museum. The museum is in an old airplane hanger. Here are some pictures of the museum.
I have to say after going through all the things that are in Pearl Harbor I enjoyed the Battleship Missouri the best. It was really cool to be able to walk all around the ship. Pearl Harbor is a place that I think everyone should visit if they come to Hawaii. That was my fun-filled day at Pearl Harbor. I'm staying at the dorms to do homework tomorrow. That's all for this blog. I'll write again soon. Sending you warm wishes and aloha kisses. Jessica :)