Pearl Harbor Visit

[RareBear]

Planning a trip to Hawaii in May and definitely plan to see the Arizona Memorial, the Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. I'm trying to recall the name of the guy that posts here that's involved with the museum, but can't bring it to light. I'd appreciate any info on that gent's name and also info from anyone who has visited recently.

Thanks

Walt

[Speedy]

Hacker and I did the Pearl Harbor experience last August. I had been to the Arizona Memorial several times in the past, and each time there has been a new building with new exhibits. While the stuff at the Pacific Aviation Museum is all stuff that you can see stateside, it is well-done and a definite compliment to visiting the Memorial. The aura of being on Ford Island with the Memorial and the Missouri all there really gives you the 'feel'. Definitely worth taking a full-day to enjoy.

[wingsandrotorspilot]

Also try to visit the Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point. It's a smaller museum, run on a much smaller budget than PAM, but they are trying to keep the history of old MCAS Ewa, and NAS Barbers alive. At old Ewa field you can still see the revetments from WWII, all grown over now, also used in a scene from Tora, very cool to see.

[Pat Carry]

Planning a trip to Hawaii in May and definitely plan to see the Arizona Memorial, the Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. I'm trying to recall the name of the guy that posts here that's involved with the museum, but can't bring it to light. I'd appreciate any info on that gent's name and also info from anyone who has visited recently.

Thanks

Walt

David Aiken I believe is the fellow you are refferring to.

[RareBear]

Thanks, Pat. I recall that name, now.

Walt

[jdvoss]

In addition to visting former MCAS Ewa and NAS Barbers Point you might wish to check out some of the abandoned WWII airfields (e.g Haliewa, Dillingham,Bellows Field et.al). See Paul Freeman's site http://www.airfields-freeman.com and scroll down to Hawaii for the data files. He's always looking for 'new' photos to add to the database.

[leo]

I rented a sailplane out of Dilingham the last time I was there long enough. If your not a sailplane pilot it's still worth a ride.

[David_Aiken]

Thanks, Pat. I recall that name, now.

Walt

Aloha nui loa, Rarebear
Alas, I am now on the mainland and can only be a tour guide with an airline ticket and expences...

Hope that your local library can obtain a book on interlibrary loan:
Colonel Charles A. Jones: Hawaii's World War II Military Sites: A Comprehensive Guide Focusing On O'ahu, [Honolulu: Mutual Publishing, 2002].

Came out at the time of the 9-11 attack so the security notes within the volume are out dated. YET the best volume for an excellent tour of Oahu's "Pearl Harbor Attack" locations.
Cheers,
David Aiken

[wendovertom]

Warning - depending on your interest level - a visit to the USS Missouri "can" take ALL DAY Before you go I am now recommending to borrow a copy of "Voices from the Pacific" from the library. It has about 20 individual stories from enlisted men about thier service in the Navy during WWII - many of them were at Pearl Harbor as well.

Don't forget the USS Bowfin right there as well. Also close is Diamond Head - although pretty much outdated by December 1941, it is still an interesting military site to visit.

Tom P.

[pjpahs]

When I visited the Missouri I rented the self tour electronic gadget that when you see a object with a number on it you punch in the number and it gives info on that room ,or whatever. It comes with earphones. I didn't take the "package tour", just took hotel shuttle to Pearl, $7 round trip,and did my own thing and saved a bunch of money. I seen a "package tour" group and they stayed on the deck and didn't go to the bridge or below, didn't stay to long either. I went everywhere I could. The sub is the same class as the one at Patriot Point in Charleston ,South Carolina.

[Lightjug]

Don't forget the USS Bowfin right there as well. Tom P.

Second that! USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park

[bombadier29]

http://www.vintage-aviation.com/warbirds_flights.html

Here's a guy that sells rides in a T-6 on Oahu. This might be the only warbird that actually flies on the island.

[p51]

I seen a "package tour" group and they stayed on the deck and didn't go to the bridge or below, didn't stay to long either.

My wife and I did this in 2004 and the same thing happened to us. We didn't get within 100 feet of the sub, either. We spent far more time at the punchbowl instead (and they wouldn't stop the bus for me to see Ernie Pyle's grave, nor would they tell me where it was so I could go look for myself. I'm still seething over that).

[Pat Carry]

Make sure you take a cutting device with you. The history there is so thick there you can cut it with a knife! A visit to Pearl Harbor is awesome. I must get back out there one day and check out the new visitors center. I hear its a big improvement over the old facility.

[cooper9411]

The Mrs. and I have talked about going to Hawaii but she wants to go for different reasons than I do! I want to see all the history (including the Oklahoma Memorial that rarely gets recognized) maybe in a year or two we'll make it!