1 post tagged “pearl harbor”

When we last we left "the island boys otherwise know as McFreed", they were touring the North Shore...

The last day of our vacation in Hawaii came up without warning!  Stefan had fallen in love with Josh's and John's "pooches" and Sean wanted to snorkel even more.  But all things must come to an end.

USS Arizona Memorial

Our final tour for the trip was set aside for a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. This celebration of the lives of all those who died on this battleship and other locations during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, and during World War II in general was a solemn place to experience history. 

Names of USS Arizona Sailors (Close-Up)

Stefan especially enjoyed how the tickets you received gave you human stories on the back about men who either died on December 7 or survived to fight another day. We took the audio tour and it was totally worth it!  Ernest Borgnine does a great job and the stories of the men as well as the actual battle really brings it all alive.

One of the really interesting coincidences that occurred while we was that both the USS Missouri and the USS Nimitz were anchored right near the memorial. The significance of this is that Sean's father Larry flew off and landed on the Nimitz's flight deck and helped managed a project that installed missiles on the Missouri in the 1980s.

Sean made sure his new National Park Passport Book got stamped before we left (he bought one in Maui and somehow it went missing to his great disappointment)!

The Buddhist Temple

Before dinner, Stefan wanted to just relax and nap. So Josh asked if Sean wanted to take a quick errand run. And they did!  Josh did this with Sean a few times on this trip. Sean saw it as his way of spending time with an old friend without making a big deal about it. Despite all the huge happenings and wonderful sites on this trip, its this little sidebar that Sean says is a strong memory for him. Sean and Josh are almost brotherly in some ways and that's just fine with them. Here are a few pictures of the place they snuck off too!  This Buddhist temple was also used in the TV show "Lost". Josh and Sean rang a giant bell and lit incense sticks in silent prayer in honor of Josh's mom and a safe journey home.

Swan and Koi at Byodo-In Buddhist Temple

The Final Dinner

The four of us gathered that evening for a final dinner in Josh's and John's backyard. John grilled chicken and purple potatoes. More of Josh's birthday dessert was left so we finished that off. We just all sat back, watched Josh's and John's dog eat a coconut while the 3 dachshunds ran around and around. We enjoyed our last sunset over the mountains and took some final pictures. And then as soon as we came we were at the airport ready for the trip home.

Sean, Josh, and Stefan

Epilogue

It was great for us to not only enjoy Hawaii but enjoy it with such great friends as Josh and John. The two of them were great hosts and we know we will be visiting I am sure more and more. There is no way to sum up here. Ending is just anticlimactic of course, so that's it!  Hope you all enjoy our tales and our images!