Aloha yes that would be as in from the 50th, the Island State

Or the State the President "claims" he was born in when we all "know" where he was really born.

We are staying in Honolulu, at the waterfront Hilton, but while having ocean "view" are obviously not ocean front.  There are about 20,000 people, and I only exaggerate modestly, people of all nationalities between us and the ocean, and several shopping centers, multiple swimming pools, countless restaurants, three, yes three ABC stores, more Starbucks than can be counted, no slot machines, endless musac, and it is cleaner than DJ can leave our house. It is nice. We do like it but is is a bit crowded.

We took a break one day and went out to Schofield and met these guys. What a treat. Went out to Keana Point for a hike and it was delightful.

Plenty of conversation and missed photographs as a result but did get one of the long view.  It is a must visit place on your trip here.  (Extreme northwest corner of the island).

We also went to a Luau. Here we are just after being seated. Had front row seats for the song and dance and fire show. Big hoop-a-la.

Patt had the front seat and the camera. She did not take photos of the hula dances but did get photos of the foot stompers guys. Go figure.

Entering we were all photographed with a hula dancer and a foot stomper, this was the couple in front of us.  I loved 'em.  I wonder if they bought theirs. We were offered our photo for a great price of $50. USD and turned it down and did not get a counter bid.

We also spent most of one day at Pearl Harbor, going to the USS Missouri, seen here from the ship that took us to the Arizona memorial.  

The Missouri is huge, the last battleship built by the US. Slightly over three football fields long and as wide as the Panama Canal - less a few inches - and was mothballed then retrofitted in the mid 80s in the big military buildup at that time and last used in the first Iraq War in 1991.

It's significance to Pearl Harbor primarily exists because the Big Mo hosted the surrender of the Japanese on September 2, 1945.  Of course, we saw a lot about that ceremony and what lead up to that occasion during our tour of the ship.

As a part of the Pearl Harbor tour we also went on a WWII era submarine the USS Bowfin which was quite the opposite of the Missouri. Large it was not. Tight and constrained it was. Here is Patt in the battery? room. The Missouri was fast, the Bowfin was slow. However I believe it did a lot more damage to the Japanese fleet than the Missouri did.  

The torpedo room looks clean now but the taped recording of men who served on here did not speak to the cleanliness of the sub.  In fact they spoke of the opposite.  I however appreciate the Park Service's efforts.  Note the bunk above my head.  I think 15 men slept or rather tried to sleep in here. 

And we went to the USS Arizona Memorial.  It is quite well done as you would expect.  Despite the crowds, which were quiet, it was well managed by the Park Service and the Navy.  

Wreckage of a gun turret.  Oil seepage continues and the smell of oil was quite strong.

Many of the survivors of the Arizona who have died since the war ended have had their ash urns released inside the hull of the ship here in Pearl Harbor.  

As a part of the exhibits there were a series of museums around the various sites that were quite good and had lots of WWII memorabilia also.

And a note about the delay in getting a blog done, we both have had a bit of a bout with colds.  We left NC - or rather I left NC - not feeling so well and the first day or so was rather slow starting around here.  Looking for things to pick up a bit here as we move along.