Today was our Robert’s Hawaii Star and Strips Pearl Harbor tour. We were being picked up at our hotel at 9:05 am, so had to get up at a reasonable hour and get breakfast. Hmmm, McDonalds? No, we headed off to Starbucks. LOL
Took a quick photo of our bus as there are SO MANY tour busses and it could be easy to get on the wrong one. So far we have never done that, but never say never. Took about 30 minutes to get everyone loaded and to Pearl Harbor. The rules are enforced and no bags are allowed.
The day was to include time in the museum, a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial and a self tour of the Battleship Missouri. We didn’t have much time at all in the Road to War Museum as our shuttle to the USS Arizona Memorial was at 10:30 and it was already 10:00. I was good with that, but I am sure Doug would have enjoyed more time in the museum area.
The USS Arizona Memorial was closed indefinitely in order to do repairs the week after we were there, due to critical structural and safety issues to the monument’s loading dock and visitor ramp. Apparently there were also cracks on the outside walls of the monument. Good thing it didn’t collapse while we were there!
The memorial straddles the hull of the sunken battleship and there is an opening in the floor where you can see the sunken decks.
The names of all those killed on the Arizona.
We headed back over to the main area, where we were given more time to explore the exhibits before heading over to the Battleship Missouri. Practiced taking a few more selfies. Only took 5 attempts to get this one with both the Memorial and the Battleship between us. You will probably have to zoom in to see them though.
This is the USS Bowfin, a WWII diesel submarine which you can tour, but was not included in our package. I’ve toured a submarine before, so definitely did not want to do another one. Once was more than enough. I don’t know how people can live on submarines.
This is one of the anchors from the USS Arizona
There were many other displays that we saw, but you will all have to go to see them.
It was now time to head over to Ford Island and to tour the Battleship Missouri. Back in July 2008 we had had a private tour of the Canadian frigate, HMCS Montreal in Halifax, NS, so touring another ship was not on the top of my to do list. But Doug enjoys military stuff.
And of course there is a gift shop at the end. It was after 3:00 pm by now and time to head back to the bus as we were departing at 3:30 pm. It had been a long day already and we still had places to see on this tour. We had a few drive by places and I took lots of pictures of who knows what now. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, Hawaii State Capitol Grounds, Honolulu City Hall and Kawaiahao Church.
But this place I know from watching Hawaii Five-0. Iolani Palace and King Kamehameha Statue
Saw some great graffiti and some not so great.
We finally got back to the hotel around 5:00 pm and went to rest up and freshen up before once again heading out for dinner. We had also been told about the possibility of fireworks tonight and wanted to see them.
Headed out for dinner about an hour later and we weren’t going too far. Found this place, Cheeseburger in Paradise and thought it would be perfect. Drinks were great. My burger not so much
We had to sit at the bar first while we waited for a table so of course ordered a couple of beverages. After all, it had been a long day. I had a Blue Hawaiian and Doug had a Mojito. We may or may not of had another one or two at the table with dinner.
After dinner we headed across the street by the beach to hopefully catch the fireworks. Unfortunately we could not see the fireworks from where we were. We did have a nice chat with 2 Australian ladies. That was until a cranky vagrant on the other side of the rock wall yelled up at us that we were keeping him awake. AND he threw sand at us.
We grabbed a couple of Haagen-Dazs ice creams at the ABC store and took them back to the hotel. Enjoyed them while we relaxed and watched tv. Another busy day tomorrow.
Old & Lost 