Hawaii is known by most as an ultimate relaxing getaway. It’s a place to escape the mundane work day; a faraway paradise of sun, sand, and island drinks. Such a dream like idea is as shallow as the shores of the multilevel hotels for there is more to these islands than a tourist attraction.
Hawaii, unbeknownst to the mainlanders attracted to the limelight of the sun and adventure, is a place of celebrated cultural diversity and persistent identities. From a rising Filipino population to the prideful Samoan peoples, the islands are a huge melting pot celebrating its vast subcultures. Read on to learn more about where you can celebrate Veterans Day in Hawaii.
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Nestled in the crater of an extinct volcanic cone and located no more than 30 minutes outside Honolulu, the cemetery opened in 1948 to commemorate the men and women, including Hawaiian veterans, of America’s wars. The site, commonly known as the “Punchbowl National Cemetery,” is the final resting ground for lives lost during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and Hawaiian citizens work every day to ensure that the dead rest peaceful in elegance.
Across the spread of green are tombs of the fallen laid perfectly aligned, each marked by a slate of granite no different than the other. The careful attention to uniformity showcases that they are all one and equal. Follow the roads past these headstones and you’ll see the base of white stairs leading to the Lady Columbia centered in the Court of Honor, where the names of those lost overseas are etched in endless walls. Behind the Lady Liberty are well drawn visualizations of the island hopping campaign of the Pacific, each telling the story on how we took to the sky and seas to avenge Pearl Harbor. And alas, in the corridor directly behind the Court of Honor is a solemn chapel for all to come and pay tribute to.
On Friday November 11th 2016, the National Cemetery will host a Veterans Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. free of charge for all to come and remember the lives lost. Come ready to listen and learn for there is history to be shared here. The cemetery is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial
The “date which will live in infamy” is forever immortalized in American history and in many parts of the world. Outside of the pages, remnants of the day we lost 2,403 military and civilian personnel lay at the bottom of the ocean floor in wreckage as a monument to the past. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, about 25 minutes from Honolulu, offers a variety of historical wealth told from both sides of the ocean.
One of the first stops here should always be the front desk just meters past the entrance. As tourist lines stretch out past the eateries and gift shops, what is limited are tickets to the USS Arizona which the park only gives out 2,000 a day, most of which are passed out before noon. Gates open at 8 am and tickets are free, but limited. For anyone that finds themselves attracted to the pages of history, the USS Arizona Memorial is a must-see. The ticket grants admission to an informative movie which unfolds the perfect storm of occurrences that led up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. After which, you are then asked to make your way to the ferry leading up to the USS Arizona.
As history will tell, the USS Arizona still rests submerged in the depths of the shore. The watery tomb which still holds many servicemen are forever dormant in the shallows and only the bridge which overlooks the wreckage gives a sense of personal insight to this day. Though we draw closer to the 75th anniversary, the site still emits an emotional aura as globs of oil still bleeding from the ship rises like ghosts from the attack in 1941.
Audio tours are offered at 7.50 USD in many languages and guided tours can be scheduled on the Pacific Historic Parks website. Daily ferry trips to the USS Arizona Memorial are free and informative which gives better alternatives to spending this Veterans Day.
Giving thanks
Hawaii is seen by many as a paradise to escape to, for some it is a paradise of eternal rest. It’s a home that many will fight for while some have given it all to protect. It’s a beautiful place of elegance and war, memories and memorials. If one should ever find themselves fortunate enough to step onto this island, give thanks for all of its glory because many have paid in full for their island.
History
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