Wai Momi - Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor got its name from the pearl oysters that once grew in its waters. The Hawaiian name for the area is Wai Momi. In 1887, the United States was given the sole use of Pearl Harbor as a coaling and repair station for ships.

Pearl Harbor was established as a U।S. naval base in 1908, and remains a vital part of the U.S. defense establishment today. Pearl Harbor is a national historic landmark because of its essential contribution to the rise of the U.S. as a major power in the Pacific and the crucial role it played in World War II, beginning with the December 7th attack. All of Pearl Harbor became a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

The USS Arizona Memorial floats above the sunken ship and the 1,177 sailors and marines entombed within her hull। On the morning of Dec. 7th, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy,” 183 Japanese planes attacked the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was an event that forever changed American history. The attack resulted in the sinking of the USS Arizona and crippling the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Today, the Naval complex at Pearl Harbor still serves as a major homeport and “pit stop of the Pacific” for the U.S. and Allied Pacific fleets. Even 60 years later, oil from the crippled vessel can be seen slowly seeping to the surface. The American flag is raised and lowered over the Memorial daily. Each year, one and a half million visitors experience this powerful remembrance.

USS Bowfin is one of only 15 US submarines from WWII still in existence.The USS Bowfin launched on Dec. 7, 1942, and was nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger.” During her commission, she completed nine successful war patrols and sank 44 enemy ships. For her wartime efforts, she earned both the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation.

USS Missouri or the “Mighty Mo” was where General Douglas MacArthur accepted Emperor Hirohito’s surrender, ending the war in the Pacific। The “Mighty Mo” fought again in Korea and in Operation Desert Storm.

Military has a strong presence in Hawaii and on May 15th, Armed Forces Day, we pay tribute to our men and women in the armed forces. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate days of recognition of the Army, Navy and Air Force. This single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department – the Department of Defense. May 31st, Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.