Pearl Harbor

After spending a week on the Big Island, we jetted off to Oahu for two days.  Chuck learned to surf, we toured the island, stayed in Waikiki, and spent some time at Pearl Harbor and the Arizona memorial.

Prior to heading to Hawaii, I did the required research.  I'm a tad impatient, so waiting in lines is not my thing.  And I'm also not a big fan of tourists....especially tourists that forget there is a world passing them by...so, on any trip, I figure out how to avoid tourists and likewise, how to avoid looking like and acting like a tourist.

Tickets into Pearl Harbor are free; however it's a first come first served system where you receive a 'time' to board the ferry and motor over to the Arizona memorial.  Alternatively, you can go online and book a time in advance, but you have to pay a $1.50 service fee per ticket.  It's well worth it to pay the nominal fee to reserve your time....and it's ABSOLUTELY worth it if you book the very first timeslot out at 8am.

Pictures are inadequate and will never serve the memorial justice.

 The memorial at 7:30am, just as the morning sun was rising.

The Arizona memorial 

 Hubs (not enjoying the paparazzi...i.e. me)

 The benefit of being the first one off the very first ferry of the morning... quiet, serene memorial.