Historic Pearl Harbor Tour

Since today is Memorial Day, I’m sharing photos of our tour around Pearl Harbor on Saturday. The Pearl Harbor Historic Tour is offered this weekend as a collaboration between the National Park Service and the US Navy. The tour guide said we could take photos so here they are.

It started to rain as we passed the Arizona memorial and battleship row. We’d stop there on our return. First we headed to Torpedo Alley. Aerial torpedoes easily destroyed ships that lined this channel.

We turned back to the main harbor area. I was looking back at torpedo alley when I realized a submarine was in front of me.

We tried to exit the barricaded section of Pearl Harbor. We had to wait for the Navy to open the gates for us.

Turning to our right we passed the other side of Ford Island on our way to the USS Utah memorial. It’s known as the “forgotten memorial” because it sits in an area where active military live. The remnants of the Utah moved me. I envisioned what really happened that day by viewing this sight.

Here’s a closer view of the Utah.

We turned then, stopping to view the small entrance to Pearl Harbor.

It’s because the entrance is so small that when the USS Nevada was attacked, she was heading towards open sea when she started sinking. Knowing she would block the small channel, they beached the Nevada on an area to the left and before the entrance.

Back in the main harbor area where the battleships are, we passed the shipyard. No Ka Oi means “the best”.

We passed the Missouri. I’d been on it before, but had never seen it from the water looking at her starboard side.

And finally we stopped at the Arizona. It was a choppy water day so we didn’t see any oil or bubbles, but the shrine is always poignant.

Thank you to all who serve our country. Let’s remember those no longer with us and the sacrifices they made.