Goodbye lovely Marriott hotel, certainly one of the all time nicest hotels on our travels.

Today was history day with a hint of reflection, at Pearl Harbour.

We watched a film presentation filled with 1940's news reel footage and an informative commentary, setting the scene for this pivotal event.

Then on to a tender, to ship us over to the memorial for the USS Arizona, the active service personnel manning our boat, are listed officially as crew of the long since sunken ship.

The memorial is set across the rusting submerged wreckage, the outline of the stricken vessel can be made out and is marked by buoys, to signify the full length of the ship.

The base of gun turret no3 is a striking landmark, survivors of the tragedy can elect to have their cremains interred in the base of gun turret no4 if they choose, the last survivor passed April 24 so no further ashes will be rejoining their fallen ship mates.

On Dec 7th 1941 the Japanese fleet completed an unexpected 3000+ mile voyage across the ocean, and sent waves of planes to decimate the air force & Naval bases on the Island of O'Ahu, Pearl Harbour was on that day, home to a large proportion of the US fleet.

21 ships were sunk or damaged on that fateful day, many hundreds of lives lost, 1177 on the Arizona alone, around 900 are still entombed on the ship, as one bomb detonated the Arizonas forward magazine, igniting tons of amunition resulting in a giant fireball, which lifted the ship 30 feet into the air. The fires raged for nearly 3 days reaching temperatures of 8000 degrees, reducing the dead to ashes.

83 years later oil is still rising to the surface from the wreck, thousands of tons on this toxic goo was pumped aboard the vessel, the day before and remains in pockets to this day.

Of the 21 vessels sunk or damaged, all but 3 were salvaged and rejoined the fleet, at this point in history, refloating a sunken ship was all but unheard of.

The exhibit includes a submarine from the era.

Later in the day we joined a limited, ranger led, tour of Ford Island and its memorials. The bus took us on to the active US military base, after we went through a lengthy security clearance.. Showing our credit card to prove we bought the ticket.

The USS Utah is the 2nd vessel to meet her end in Pearl Harbour, after being hit she rolled onto her side & became wedged in the shallow silty harbour, rendering her impossible to save. Our guide told us tales of heroism from her crew members, many of whom were lost trying to save others.

The rusting hull again a watery grave for some. Bizzarely the wreck was used for some time as a site for gunnery practice for the Navy.

Last stop the memorial for the USS Oklahoma, no twisted wreckage to be seen here, just a neat row of marble columns, each inscribed with the names of the fallen.

The Oklahoma was sunk directly behind this memorial, right where the USS Missouri is at the rear of this snap. The position of the wreck was blocking the harbour & a decision was made to strip it & sell it for scrap, the junked ship sold for $46,000 to a razor blade manufacturer, a good sum in 1940's. A kick in the teeth however for servicemen who lost friends on this stricken vessel. The ship was being towed to California when it encountered a storm, the tow ropes had to be cut & the Oklahoma sank again in the Pacific.

Quotes from Shakespeare and ex US Presidents, stir the emotions.

After a rush hour crawl to Waikiki Beach, and our final Hawaiian hotel of this tour, we headed out for a stroll along the prom and a colourful cocktail.

Swordfish & Clams for me & Baby back ribs for himself..
He's snoozing as I finish todays lengthy episode, thanks for travalling along dear reader, sleep well & we will bring you another chapter tomorrow xx