Shock and Awe

Some photos over the past few days...all of which are shot from my point of view and taken with my Canon PowerShot SD750 Digital Elph.

I'm standing over the U.S.S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor, which sank when it was bombed by the Japanese on December 7th, 1941. It's still the final resting place for many of the 1171 crew members who lost their lives that day. Many of the crew members who survived the attack opt to be interred with their shipmates when they pass as well. Also, many families lost a couple family members that day, as there were 37 sets of brothers on the Arizona and 23 sets were lost.



Standing on the Memorial, we caught a rainbow arched over Ford Island.



Torpedos and bunks on the World War II submarine, U.S.S. Bowfin. Fourteen crew members took turns "hot bedding" in shifts here as there are only a few beds and the torpedos take up most of the room.


"Don't Tread On Me" Navy Jack Flag on the deck of U.S.S. Bowfin.


And the big guns on the Battleship U.S.S. Missouri. It was on the deck of this ship that the Japanese officially surrendered and World War II ended. But the ship was kept in commission through the first Iraqi War with the US in 1991 and could be re-commissioned at any time (with a bit of updating).



At Nu'uanu Pali lookout. The trade winds rush up the mountains from the windward side of the island and the erosion from the wind and rain causes the dramatically sharp angles that steal your breath. Not to mention, the wind itself nearly sets you a flight, if you're not paying attention. Word of caution: Don't run with the wind or you'll end up flat on your face!

This is the spot where King Kamehameha won one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history when he invaded O'ahu--after already winning over his own Hawaii, as well as the islands of Maui and Molokai-he drove the 400 warriors of O'ahu to this point with his own 10,000 warriors and drove them over the edge of the cliff where they fell to their deaths. Thus, effectively, uniting the Hawaiian islands. Good plan. ::nodding::

It's certainly an awe-inspiring spot.



The beach where a lot of scenes from the show "Lost" are filmed, as well as the famous beach scene (where they roll around in the surf) from the movie From Here to Eternity and the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie, 50 First Dates.




Koi pond at the Byodo-In Temple at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.



Hope you're all doing well!

Michele