Saturday, November 17, 2018

The Island of Oahu



After leaving Maui, our ship made it's way during the night to the island of Oahu.  We were docked in the port at Honolulu.  What a surprise we had in store for us!  Honolulu was a fairly large city when we visited in 1971, but we both were so surprised to see how big it had grown!  The total population of Oahu is 953,207 and the population of Honolulu is 390,738!  No wonder there is so much growth of high rises and homes.



I imagine it's unfair of me to think everything will look like I remember from so many years ago.  Our little town is no longer little from that span of time either.

We booked an excursion that would give us a good look at the island.  We boarded our coach for an eight hour day that took us around the island to spots we wanted to visit.



As I noted in my journal we had a beautiful day complete with a wonderful tour guide.  Our first stop was Pearl Harbor.  We had visited this memorial before, but felt we must do so again.  As we were getting off the bus for our tour there Grayden checked his pocket and discovered he didn't have his wallet!  Oh my goodness did that give us bad start to the day.  We reported it to our driver and he said he would be on the lookout for it, but we were pretty stressed about it.  I did not bring my purse so we didn't have any money.  I often don't bring a purse since having back issues.  



We didn't want this episode to spoil our day so we joined our group on this touching tour.  

On December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.  This surprise attack led to the United States entry into WWII.  Twenty one ships were lost or damaged during this attack.  All but three were returned to service for the United States Navy.  In Pearl Harbor, The USS Arizona was a total loss with 1,177 men perishing.  Their remains lay entombed in the harbor.  Men who survived this horrible attack and served on the Arizona have the right to have their remains entombed here. 


  
The memorial park is operated by the National Park Service in conjunction with the United States Navy.  This solemn and sacred park touched my heart to the core.  Having been here with young eyes, I must say I saw it with a different reverence on this day.  We began our tour by watching a movie about the events of the day and then boarded a boat skippered by Naval personnel to get a more close up view.



The USS Missouri is the first ship we pass.  This is the ship that hosted the signing of the surrender of Japan that ended WWII. 



The USS West Virginia was sunk by Japanese torpedoes and a bomb from the air.  



The USS Tennessee was hit by two bombs that incompletely detonated.



The USS Vestal, a repair ship, was hit by two bombs intended for more important vessels.



We then slowly approach the USS Arizona.  There is complete silence aboard as we make our way along Battleship Row.  The design of the Arizona memorial is attributed to Alfred Preis who was detained at the beginning of the war because of his Austrian birth.  The design is meant to represent defeat in the center and victory on the ends.  The Arizona is no longer in service but is an active U.S. Military Cemetery.  2,335 military personnel were killed. 2,008 Navy personnel, 109 Marines, 218 Army, 68 civilians, making the total lives lost 2,803.  Wounded came to 1,143. Total Japanese loss was 55 men.


  
We had to stop and reflect on these horrible events.  How can such hatred exist?  I do not know and I must say I worry about it for my grandchildren.  Dear God, please teach us to love one another.





As we were leaving Pearl Harbor I couldn't help but photograph such a lovely peaceful harbor and remember it was not peaceful at all on December 7, 1941.



Riding along the Interstate H3 (yes they have three interstate highways on the island) we are treated to glorious views as we make our way to the North Shore.



Our tour guide reminds us that we are going to stop for lunch soon.  Grayden and I look at one another and say--no money, no lunch for us!



We go inside and look around at the gift shop and our guide sees we are not in line for the lunch buffet.  We remind him we have lost a wallet and he says--"Oh your meal is included with this tour."  I can tell you there was one man very happy to hear this. 



After lunch we continued on our tour of the lovely North Shore.  As you can see we had rain off and on, but still enjoyed the beauty before us.



We were told that portions of Jurassic Park was filmed in this area.  



Next on our visit was a stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation.  Sadly the pineapple companies of Hawaii have left like the sugar cane.  There are fields of them for Hawaiian consumption.  The old fields are now being developed into subdivisions. 



We enjoyed watching a pineapple cutting demonstration.



This was the sweetest pineapple we have ever tasted!  We were happy to end our day on a sweet note. 

As we boarded the ship we both wanted to head straight to our cabin and see if Grayden's wallet was there where he thought maybe he had left it.  We went into the room and didn't see it anywhere.  Then we opened the safe and there it was!  That sure made the end of our day feel much better.  It was an emotional day in a lot of ways for us. 


  

  









44 comments:

  1. Phew! So glad that the lost was found and that you didn’t allow the uncertainty to ruin your day and you even had lunch! Just so cool all around.

    (My sister visited Hawaii last summer and felt very moved by the USS Arizona memorial. Pearl Harbor was truly horrific. The stories will give a person nightmares.)

    One day, there will be peace...

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    1. Yes, Vee "one day, there will be peace...". Visiting Pearl Harbor touched my heart so. I've wondered why I was so touched this visit vs. last time. I was pregnant and very sea sick as we went into the memorial. I believe I was a bit distracted then. ♥

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  2. What a stressful day when you begin with a lost wallet and no travel funds! (Long story short: we once left for a weekend trip and were a good ways toward our destination before we realized that neither of us had grabbed the envelope of cash we had squirreled away for our trip. This was before the days of ATMs and we had no credit cards. Stress!) I am glad you were still able to go ahead with the day's plans . . . and even had lunch provided!

    I can imagine that the Pearl Harbor Memorial was quite moving. It is a hard thing to face the reality of atrocities committed by man, against man. Our only comfort is that God is a just God and He provided a way of escape through His Son!

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    1. Oh Cheryl, I'm guessing you had to go back home to retrieve the envelope. We both felt so bad and I tried very hard not to be mad at my sweetheart. I will admit to wishing I could have bought a few things on our travels that day.
      I do wish our world were a kinder more gentle place. I'm am thankful for God's forgiveness through His Son, Jesus. ♥

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  3. A big sigh of relief I know was had by you both. Even though you go through the rest of your tour with out it, it's still in your mind. I don't carry a purse on me touring either. I wear a passport wallet that sits inside my shirt in front. So glad that the meal was included. Lovely tour. .
    Sad to hear about the pineapple plantations making way for subdivisions. So many more people there today. Loved your post and wonderful pictures.

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    1. Betsy, Grayden carries a cross body travel bag with our passports and sunglasses and such, along with his wallet (usually). We used to use a wallet like you described.
      It is sad that the islands are becoming so crowded with growth, but there are still lovely places that seem to be left unspoiled. Thanks for your kind words. ♥

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  4. I really enjoyed seeing those bits of Oahu. I lived there for 7 months after I graduated from high school. I'm inspired by your cruise there and am thinking of trying to get something similar to your trip set up for my husband and I.

    I'm so glad you found the wallet safe and sound. We've done that before too.
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Teresa, I hope you plan your trip back to Hawaii. We enjoyed it very much, except the little glitches that seem to happen along the way. We must roll with the punches! ♥

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  5. I can only begin to imagine the emotion of visiting Pearl Harbour, based on what I felt when visiting the Vietnam War Memorial in DC, an overwhelming presence and sense of we must not allow this to happen again. Yet, time after time it does, throughout history.

    I will let you into a secret ~ shhh! When we came up for our PCS orders out of Iceland we were offered Hawaii as one of our three choices, but we picked another one year tour of duty in Iceland over a three year tour in Hawaii!

    Very relieved that Grayden's wallet was safe, and your day was not marred by it's disappearance. Have you ever considered a small back pack for yourself? I use one now and it helps my shoulders and back enormously.

    ~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. Deb, I do believe you made the best choice for the next duty station. As lovely as parts of Hawaii are, it is quite crowded. My son told me that the traffic there is the worst in the nation!
      I've tried a backpack and I'm not wild about it. Grayden carries a cross body merse (man purse) that we keep the essentials in (supposedly).
      Yes, the many wars and the many lives that have been lost make me ill when I visit these memorials. Man is a foolish beast. I try to be positive, but this concept of war eludes me.
      Have a nice afternoon, my friend. xoxo ♥

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  6. What a day on so many levels. A thrill that it was a case of forgetfulness and not loss or even worse theft. I can imagine that the Pearl Harbour Memorial must have been quite moving. I pray for World peace and hope that one day this will be the case.

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  7. Oh my goodness … I'm so pleased that the lost was found!
    Well done for this not to spoil your day.
    I enjoyed seeing your photographs.

    Like you it is the grandchildren I worry about, the world is not in a good place at the moment.

    On a positive note I am thankful for a beautiful Autumnal Sunday here in the UK.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. It's hard not to be discouraged these days about the state of the world. Peace begins within the heart of each of us.
      I can just imagine a lovely Autumnal day in the UK! We are having a lovely morning here as well. Thank you for ending on a sweet note, Jan! ♥

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  8. I didn't realize there were so many people living in Honolulu. Visiting Pearl Harbor would certainly make one stop and reflect on those terrible times. My dad was in this war, but he never liked to talk much about it. It was my mother who told her stories of those hard times, of rationing and constant worries for loved one who were away at war. I am so glad the wallet was safe. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. We were so surprised at the growth in Oahu. To me it was sad. I have family members as well who served in this war and they never talked either. I can only imagine it's because of the horrors of war that was witnessed. I pray for all of our service men and women that continue to suffer because of war. Thank you for stopping by this evening. ♥

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  9. A very interesting account of your tour of Pearl Harbor heightened by the drama of Grayden's "lost" wallet! I'm so glad your day ended well.

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  10. Oh wow not having his wallet would’ve freaked me out too! I tend to buy things along the way so it would’ve dampened my spirit more. My parents visited the memorial on their visit in the 70’s having lived through WWII it was very emotional. I had no idea that pineapple and sugar cane plantations were not a mainstay any longer. Did you enjoy some Kona coffee?

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    1. Liz, I thought about my parents when we were at the memorial. My Daddy was a Marine who served during this time. It's really an emotional place, even though it was before we were born.
      It's really sad that the pineapple and sugar cane industry has gone to countries with cheaper labor. I can attest to the pineapple being the best and sweetest I've ever had! I'll be writing about Kona next time. Sadly, our ship was unable to tender us into that port. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I didn't try any. ♥

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  11. Love all these photos and seeing the history. If only more people would learn from the events in histor y and live without so much hate today. Our world has sure become a scary place, one i worry about for our children. So happy to hear your wallet was safe! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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    1. Thank you, Jill. All we can control is our own heart and how we treat each other. I do pray for our children and grandchildren to live in a better world than today. I hope your Thanksgiving is full of joy! ♥

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  12. Martha Ellen, I wanted to tell you that was my friend, Darla, in the wedding dress. I'm the one on the left as a bridesmaid. I clarified it better on my post so others would know also.

    Oahu is so pretty. It is the first island I went on when visiting Hawaii. The pineapple cutting demonstration sounds delightful. I thought your words were very heartfelt when talking about Pearl Harbor. I worry about our world as well, especially with my grandchildren. That's cool that part of Jurassic Park was filmed at the lovely North Shore. It's been fun seeing all the wonderful sights of your vacation, Martha Ellen. How interesting it must have been for you.

    ~Sheri

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    1. I thought that was you on the left, Sheri. So pretty.
      We really enjoyed our time in Oahu, even with the "lost wallet." I'm glad you have come along with us on our adventure to Hawaii. Enjoy your Thanksgiving. ♥

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  13. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through your photos Martha Ellen. These are all the places I remember so well on our last vacation to Hawaii. Were the two ladies outside of Dole still selling their pearls at the kiosk I wonder? Thank you for the great memories.

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    1. Denise, I don't remember seeing ladies sell pearls at Dole. I did see pearls inside the shop, though. We had a great visit there and I'm glad to hear you did as well. Have a happy Thanksgiving! ♥

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  14. This is a part of the world that I've never visited so I'm enjoying your posts very much. Such gorgeous photos. And I really want some pineapple now.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you, Amalia. The pineapple in Hawaii was absolutely delicious. I wish we could share some! xo ♥

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  15. I have to admit to rushing through to find out if you found the wallet. WHEW! I'm so glad you did! It was 'safe'! Love that you saw so much in one day! And of course that you shared it with us. I doubt if I ever get to go so I've enjoyed my tour! Happy Thanksgiving sweet friend!

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    1. Diane, I'm so glad you joined us! I can tell you we were quite happy to find that wallet. Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend! ♥

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  16. WOW....glad the wallet was found. I hate when I misplace things like that or my debit card. I am bad about getting gas with it and putting it in my pocket but then changing clothes and leaving it there....Great pics. I would love to visit there. Maybe one day.

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    1. Pam, I hope you visit Hawaii one day. It's beautiful in many ways. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your's! ♥

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  17. What a beautiful island and great history as well! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thank you, Pilar. I hope your Thanksgiving has been enjoyable. ♥

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  18. Thank you for this wonderful post. It is hard to even imagine that day in December and how many lives were affected, how much sorrow. There is an old movie series with Robert Mitchum, (sp?)"The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" that had an episode or two of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I might watch that again in January. It was excellent, in my opinion anyway. I'm so glad your day ended on a good note, finding the wallet. Those situations are so disconcerting!

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    1. Judy, we have seen "The Winds of War" but not "War and Remembrance". We found the Pearl Harbor Memorial so eye opening and heart breaking. I must tell you while we were on this trip I read "Mrs. Milburn's Diaries." Thank you so much for the recommendation as I found it compelling. It was an easy read to pick up and stop on any of her days. My niece recommended "Nightingale" to me yesterday as I was telling her about "Mrs. Milburn's Diaries." It's fiction but about two sisters living in France during WWII. Thanks for stopping by. ♥

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  19. So glad that it ended on a happy note.

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  20. I hope you were able to sample a pineapple whip while visiting Dole. They are so refreshing! Glad you enjoyed your visit. I miss living on Oahu. The Mister and I lived on the island for a several years. My number one tip for anyone visiting the island is to make a trip to Aiea swap meet. That's the best place to buy gifts for the folks back home.

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    1. We did not as we had no money on us during that visit due to the wallet left in the safe. I have had Dole whip in Disney World. Maybe they are the same! ♥

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