I really have been trying to get some of our trip documented. Really. I did get the pictures put in the album yesterday- during Brandon's gymnastics class. Multitasking? I think so.
Alrighty, we started by flying out on Wednesday morning (the 8th) with a 9:00 flight. The whole idea of being at the airport early for all the checkpoints, but I didn't have to get up at too much of a crazy time. Off to a good start already. We flew to Dallas/Ft. Worth with a connecting flight onto Honolulu. We really didn't have much of a layover at all. We arrived a few minutes ahead of schedule (yippee!) at 2:30 Hawaii time (HST). That would be 8:30 for you and me.
We had made a last minute decision to go ahead and rent a car for the couple days that we would be in Honolulu. It only seemed to make sense when we check out the prices compared to the shuttle price for the couple of places we knew we would visit. It just seemed silly not to get our own car. After we found our hotel, we hit the beach right away. We had lots of shops to check out and plenty of choices for dinner. We shared appetizers at Tiki's Bar and Grill (http://www.tikisgrill.com/) and browsed the shops afterward. I think by this time the time difference had caught up with me. So even though it was still pretty early by Hawaii standards, I was ready for sleep! And we planned on being up early the next day to head to Pearl Harbor.
Thursday our plan was to visit not only Pearl Harbor, but also the Might Mo and the USS Bowfin. Anything that you read and friends that had been to Pearl tell you to get there EARLY! I think it was around 8:30 when we arrived and they were already handing out tickets for the 10:00 shuttle to the Memorial. This allowed us plenty time to walk around the visitors center. We rented the headsets. Well worth the $5 each. We definately don't go the same pace to try sharing. Before you actually head over to the Memorial, there is a short movie to view first. Sort of a "leading up to" type of thing. I think the beauty of the Memorial is its simplicity. There is only the one entrance, it is all open in the middle and the area on the opposite end seemed to me the most important. On the wall opposite the door is full of all the names of the sailors and soldiers that went down with their ship. And another small monument of survivors that upon their death were intombed with their shipmates.
After we returned to the visitors center, we had a few more items to listen to for our audio tour. Most of them were outside and it was a beautiful day. We then headed down the road to the USS Bowfin. "Pearl's Avenger" I believe she was called. We were able to tour thru the sub. It was very interesting. Not only respecting our sailors, but a new found respect for those that gave/give their service from under the sea.
We took a (free) shuttle to the USS Missouri. This ship was where the surrender was signed. There is even a bronze medallion to show exactly where. We also toured thru a good portion of the ship. A small city really. It is difficult to image life as a sailor.
Lastly, we went to Ford's Island. This is still an active military base, but one of the hangars has been converted into a museum.
It was all very interesting. We loved being able to get up close to see these Navy vessels.
Alrighty, we started by flying out on Wednesday morning (the 8th) with a 9:00 flight. The whole idea of being at the airport early for all the checkpoints, but I didn't have to get up at too much of a crazy time. Off to a good start already. We flew to Dallas/Ft. Worth with a connecting flight onto Honolulu. We really didn't have much of a layover at all. We arrived a few minutes ahead of schedule (yippee!) at 2:30 Hawaii time (HST). That would be 8:30 for you and me.
We had made a last minute decision to go ahead and rent a car for the couple days that we would be in Honolulu. It only seemed to make sense when we check out the prices compared to the shuttle price for the couple of places we knew we would visit. It just seemed silly not to get our own car. After we found our hotel, we hit the beach right away. We had lots of shops to check out and plenty of choices for dinner. We shared appetizers at Tiki's Bar and Grill (http://www.tikisgrill.com/) and browsed the shops afterward. I think by this time the time difference had caught up with me. So even though it was still pretty early by Hawaii standards, I was ready for sleep! And we planned on being up early the next day to head to Pearl Harbor.
Thursday our plan was to visit not only Pearl Harbor, but also the Might Mo and the USS Bowfin. Anything that you read and friends that had been to Pearl tell you to get there EARLY! I think it was around 8:30 when we arrived and they were already handing out tickets for the 10:00 shuttle to the Memorial. This allowed us plenty time to walk around the visitors center. We rented the headsets. Well worth the $5 each. We definately don't go the same pace to try sharing. Before you actually head over to the Memorial, there is a short movie to view first. Sort of a "leading up to" type of thing. I think the beauty of the Memorial is its simplicity. There is only the one entrance, it is all open in the middle and the area on the opposite end seemed to me the most important. On the wall opposite the door is full of all the names of the sailors and soldiers that went down with their ship. And another small monument of survivors that upon their death were intombed with their shipmates.
After we returned to the visitors center, we had a few more items to listen to for our audio tour. Most of them were outside and it was a beautiful day. We then headed down the road to the USS Bowfin. "Pearl's Avenger" I believe she was called. We were able to tour thru the sub. It was very interesting. Not only respecting our sailors, but a new found respect for those that gave/give their service from under the sea.
We took a (free) shuttle to the USS Missouri. This ship was where the surrender was signed. There is even a bronze medallion to show exactly where. We also toured thru a good portion of the ship. A small city really. It is difficult to image life as a sailor.
Lastly, we went to Ford's Island. This is still an active military base, but one of the hangars has been converted into a museum.
It was all very interesting. We loved being able to get up close to see these Navy vessels.
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