This was our first visit to Hawaii/Oahu. We didn’t realise the full extent of the Japanese attack until we visited the Arizona Memorial. I could not get it out of my head for 3 weeks after returning home to Scotland. It has that sort of effect, certainly on me. The theater documentary before your visit to the memorial/wreck site, tells the full story & the Japanese thinking of why they should attampt to devastate the US Fleet at anchor.It is hard to believe the devastation suffered on that day in Decmber 1941 – until you watch the theatre presentation. We were fortunate to have some books we bought in the memorial shop , signed by 3 of the survivors of the attack. Thses guys are usually presentuntil around 12.00. They are getting old, but it really something to talk to people who witnessed the attack first hand.The Battleship ‘Missouri’ is moored a few hundred metres for the bow of the ‘Arizona’ – as it was described to us, the ‘Missouri’ keeps watch on the sister ship ‘Arizona. Very poingniantWe will probably never return to Oahu, but a truly unforgetable experience- one which I/we will never forget.I tried to purchase a copy of the theatre productionat the memorial – but it was not possible. I still think of it often – it is ‘haunting’, if that is the correct term.
If you are going to Oahu – do not miss this opportunity to visit ‘Arizona’ & pay your respects. It is well worth the time to experience it – something you will see/feel, probably nowhere else in the world.