Pearl Harbor National Memorial

After leaving Haleakala National Park, we headed to Honolulu to go to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. I’m under the assumption that most people know the history of Pearl Harbor, why it’s important and impact it had on World War II. Instead of giving a history lesson, I’d like to just focus on why if you ever have the opportunity to visit Honolulu, you definitely need to to visit.

Knowing a decent amount going into Pearl Harbor, I was expecting to be retold the same story, but this time actually visiting the site with artifacts. Sure, that is all there, but what I was unaware of is the personal stories of the military members that fought and lost their lives. This truly takes the Pearl Harbor National Memorial to the next level. Understanding the stories of the people who were there on December 7, 1941 makes you feel a real connection to the area that I will personally hold true forever.

We went through all the exhibits, learning more than we could have thought. From seeing artifacts and hearing the stories of the brave people who went through this ordeal, not only made an lasting impact, but following it with a boat ride to visit the USS Arizona, where over 900 men still remain and were declared “buried at sea” showed that the word hero is an understatement. It’s a breathtaking experience. Finally, we were able to check out the Oklahoma and Utah Memorials. I can honestly say, it was an unforgettable day. It honestly reminds you of how many men and women put their lives on the line only to protect ours. The pictures we took are below, next stop is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. LET’S GO!