Pearl Harbor: The Attack Still Impacting Hawaii

Radiate

This morning I woke up, grabbed my coffee, my bible and Lexi (my Yorkie) and headed out to sit on the front porch for my morning devotional time. The first thing I noticed was the row of American Flags displayed by my neighbors and I’m reminded it is Memorial Day Weekend.

Being a military family stationed at Pearl Harbor, I can’t help but think of the attack on Pearl Harbor quite often. It radiates my mind…today especially.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Hawaii, I highly encourage you to take some time to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial. It is an experience that will leave you speechless and an experience you will never forget.

At 7:48am on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was hit with a surprise attack by 353 Imperial Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers.

This aggressive attack resulted in the deaths of 2,403 service members and 68 civilians. 1,178 service members and 35 civilians were wounded during this horrific attack. 

 

Spending any amount of time on Oahu, you can feel the effects the attack left on the island-even after all of these years.

As an avid hiker, I spend a lot of time exploring the mountains and forests of Oahu. The mountain ranges are sprinkled with Pillboxes (military bunkers) resulting from the attack which lead us into World War II.

Several popular landmarks hold a significance in Hawaiian history and resulted from the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Koko Head-now a grueling climb up railway ties, was built to transport personnel and supplies to a radar station built by the U.S. Army in 1942-1943. If you want to read more about the Koko Crater Hike, here is a link to my blog post: 1,048 Stairs of DOOM…with kids

Haiku Stairs (aka Stairway to Heaven) and the Omega Station-The Haiku Stairs are now an illegal but popular hike which was once a stairway system built leading to the Haʻikū Radio Station, a top secret facility that was to be used to transmit radio signals to the Navy ships that were then operating throughout the Pacific. (eventually, I will think back and blog about my experience at both and post a link here: Omega Station)

There are SEVERAL bunkers which were used as lookouts for oncoming attackers. Within a week of the Pearl Harbor attack, the US Navy provided the Hawaiian Department with weapons to aide in protection. These bunkers can now be explored via hiking. My favorite is Pu’u O Hulu which consists of 5 bunkers! If you want to read more about that, you can check out my blog post here: Pu’u O Hulu

Whenever I visit these places, I am sadly reminded of the impact the attack on Pearl Harbor has had on the island of Hawaii.

I am mindful of the sacrifices these brave men and women had to make for our country.

So much death. So much fear. So much pain.

This Memorial Day weekend, I hope you take a moment to remember those who courageously sacrificed their lives…especially those at Pearl Harbor. 

Enjoy this? Please share on Pinterest! Pin Me!

 

Credits:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

http://www.civilbeat.org/2014/03/denby-fawcett-the-past-and-the-future-of-the-koko-crater-stairs/

https://www.haikustairs.org/historical-data

http://www.eugeneleeslover.com/ENGINEERING/PUU-O-HULU-MIL-RESER.pdf

With Aloha,

Lacy

Featured Blog Posts:

A Simple Compliment Goes A Long Way

Teaching Her to Love Her Body

I Survived