USS Arizona USS Missouri

Thursday morning, 9/5/19

Yesterday was a tour day. Since we don't have a car here in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor is 12 miles away through heavy traffic, I decided to buy a tour ticket. Ikuko said she would take a day off from touring and watch the DVD shows she brought along for just such times.

The USS Arizona Memorial was closed for two years for refurbishing and just reopened on September 2nd so tourists are again able to take the boat out and tour the memorial.

Our group arrived at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites gate around 1000, passed through and had time to look around before our movie scheduled for 1045.

Created in 2010, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam was the first of the twelve "joint base" designations.

In addition to those on the sign, there are several scenic spots and small museums in the staging area for the trip to the USS Arizona Memorial.

"The Lone Sailor" was added to the grounds about one year ago. Steel from
the Arizona is included in its base. 

USS Arizona Memorial right and USS Missouri on the left of the anchor fluke.

Approaching the memorial.

The rusted remains of a gun turret. Bridge to Ford Island in the distance.

Not so clear here but with my polarized sunglasses I could see many parts of the
Arizona below the surface on both sides of the memorial.

The remodeled memorial is open to the sky as well as on both sides.

Not far away, berthed at Ford Island, I could see our next stop,
BB 63, USS Missouri.

The required number of selfies having been taken by our group, it was time to line up on the starboard side in preparation to exit while the new group arrived on the port side.

Deposited back at the visitors center, we had free time to explore the museums, get a book signed by the author, grab a bite or, in my case, refill my water bottle to stave off dehydration.

No bags, purses, backpacks or any other place to conceal an explosive device were allowed on the tours. They told us when we bought tickets, the driver/guide told us three times and there are signs at the entrances. Those who, despite the warnings, did bring such, were required to check them in at a check point outside the entrance to entrance to the Arizona staging area.  

When our group straggled back to the bus, you guessed it. One of our members purchased a bag and with a book inside, didn't check it. When the driver reminded her about the "no bags" rule, she asked, "Well, what am I going to do?" The driver kindly told her to go back and check it. So we waited ten minutes past our scheduled departure time while the disgruntled woman trudged back around the parking lot to the check-in point. Some people don't seem to comprehend instructions.

We crossed the Admiral Clarey Bridge to Ford Island and motored over to the Missouri Memorial.

Dockside view of the "Mighty Mo."

Big 16" guns can throw a 2-ton shell 23 miles.

Deck repair paid for and done by the Missouri Foundation.

Missouri guarding the Arizona Memorial.

Quonset huts in the dock area, for those of you of a certain age to appreciate.

Back on board our bus we toured downtown Honolulu and the Punchbowl cemetery. I arrived back at our condo a little after five with my Pacer app telling my I'd walked 7.99 miles today. Good thing Ikuko didn't go.