OT - Pearl Harbor visit

[bradfordkay]

I'm planning my first visit to Oahu this winter and am asking for advice on WW2 military sites to visit. I have been given information on a guided tour by "Home of the Brave Tours" which looks very good, but am wondering if any of you here have any more ideas. Thanks for any help.

http://www.pearlharborhq.com/begin_tour.html

[Platoonist]

If they don't already include it I'd say the U.S.S. Bowfin is a must. Not too many Gato-class subs about anymore. The battleship Missouri would be a must-see as well. I sure miss having her nearby over at Bremerton in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to visit or photograph.

[Bane_MatrixForum]

The Diamond Head hike is very nice -- old WW2 fortications there, and if the Haiku Stairs are ready to go ,then that is a really nice climb. The stairs were created to get to the top of this moutain for a radar station used in WW2 - granted there's ~4,ooo stairs and a solid hike up.

Done it twice, about 1-2 hours up. Problem is right now - there's agruements about parking so that is why the stairs are currently closed.

Friends of the Haiku Stairs

I have a co-friend who is one of the members to the friends of the stairs and can keep you posted if you wish.

[bradfordkay]

It looks like the Missouri and Bowfin are not on the HOTB tour, but my contact told me that they go to the front of the line for the boat out to the Arizona. I figure that I'll visit those two and maybe the Arizona again by myself. I am interested in being taken out to Shafter and Wheeler, places I can't go by myself - never served, so don't have ID to get onto those bases.

I have been aboard the USS Halfbeak (just before she was sold toi Turkey in the early 70's) and USS Pompanito (isn't she the one at the museum in SF?), but am always happy to visit any surviving WW2 vessels. I also visited the New Jersey before she left for Vietnam, and watched the Missouri being towed out the passage between Bainbridge Is and Manchester. I always kicked myself for not visiting her before she left. Now's my chance at redemption.



I've heard of those stairs, but if it's going to be a hassle I might let them pass. A lot depends on the weather when I'm out there. No sense going on a hike to get zero visibility.

Somebody said something about a monument marking the first point the Jap a/c passed over on the way in?

[Bane_MatrixForum]

The bowfin is extremly close to the Arizona Memorial Hall -- couple hundred of feet -- it might be included as part of the tour [;)]

[rogueusmc]

There is a small monument near a nursery school at Kailua Beach where what is believed to be the first Zero to hit the island with her guns.

Out past the butts at the rifle range on what was, at the time, Naval Station Kaneohe, sits the steel reinforced concrete slab where they mounted one of Arizona's guns as a shore battery. The gun broke the slab and the gun was scrapped.

If you can get onto Schofield Barracks, Kole Kole Pass is one of the routes taken by the Japanese crossing to the south side of the Island. The other side of the pass is Lualualei Naval Magazines. It was, at the time, THE ammunition facility for the pacific short of the Philippines. The Japs flew over it and never touched it. There is a monument up there too.

The Utah has a memorial on the opposite side of Ford Island from the Arizona.

Ther is ALOT to see on Oahu.

The Bowfin has a little radio thingy that gives you a narrated tour as you walk through the boat. It's really cool.

[popejoy1]

I suggest you tour the USS Missouri. If you're into machinery, 1940's technology, or you want to see how things really worked, take the Explorer's Tour.

[Ron Saueracker]

Gotta go see "Robin Masters' Estate" and the King Kamehameha Club!

[rogueusmc]

It's not really an estate. It's two houses next to each other that they used creative camara angles to make it look so big. The tidal pool is out back though. You can get your picture taken with a girl in a leopard print bikini...lol

[Hornblower]

just got back from there 3 months ago. Arizona is a must, Big mo is off of ford island and if you have the time, thats worth your wild. (be prepared to tell the "unknowing" that the missles are a new addition, not circa '44-45.. Bowfin is right next to Arizona- well where you get on the boats- so thats a easy visit, again if you have the time. also, all the bars on the beach are on the sea side, under the hotels at weikie..... enjoy...

[bradfordkay]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, guys. You can guess that I will not miss the big three (Arizona, Missouri, and Bowfin). I did just read that the Arizona memorial is settling too quickly into the harbor, and that they are raising money to build a new one. What really shocked me was reading that the museum is only 2500 square feet in size. One would think that the park service would have done better with such an important site (this comment from a Park Service brat!).

Sorry, Ron, but I was never much of a Magnum, PI fan. It was a decent show, but it was broadcast during a time period where I was pretty much boycotting television.

My trip is still a month away, so if anyone else wants to weigh in here with suggestions they would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks again.

[racndoc]

Right next to the Outrigger Reef Hotel is Fort DeRussy. Fort DeRussy was one of the original CD forts and used to have 12" guns. It has been turned into a US Army WW2 Pacific Theatre Museum. You can walk to it from anywhere in Waikiki.

[Raverdave]

Yeah I was there just 2 months ago, and wold have to agree with all of the above. Take time to have a GOOD look at the Punchbowl cemetary......it is really good plus you can get great views of Honolulu from there. Allow at least a day for the full tour of the Bowfin/Arizona/Mo........the Bowfin is highly recommended as is the museum.

[waynec]

been there twice. stayed in waikiki the second time. all the suggestions are good. arizona, bowfin and missouri are together and the bus goes right past. fort derussey is in walking distance. we rented a car one day and drove up to the north shore and down through the punch bowl. robin master's "house" is on the east shore. next morning we hit the diamond head parking lot at 0600 to hike up to the top before it got too warm.

[rhohltjr]

ORIGINAL: waynec

... fort derussey is in walking distance.

Fort Derussy is one of my favorites in Hawaii.

While on USS Missouri look down at this: [:D] Sorry Japanese Fanboys. [:D]

[rhohltjr]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

If they don't already include it I'd say the U.S.S. Bowfin is a must. Not too many Gato-class subs about anymore. The battleship Missouri would be a must-see as well. I sure miss having her nearby over at Bremerton in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to visit or photograph.

I have got to see the Bowfin next time around. Must must must. I have been to see Cavalla and the Sub next to USS Alabama in Mobile Bay.[:)]

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: rogueusmc

It's not really an estate. It's two houses next to each other that they used creative camara angles to make it look so big. The tidal pool is out back though. You can get your picture taken with a girl in a leopard print bikini...lol

Really? Do they have a surf ski, fake eighties mustache and a little plump middle aged man too? Campy but I'd love it.[:D]

[Bane_MatrixForum]

North Shore is going off w/ 30 foot faces!!! [&o]