A Trip to Hawaii. A Trip to Pearl Harbor

Hello

Recently I took a small family vacation to Hawaii. It is actually the third time I have been to Hawaii. During each of my visits I have made sure to spend some time at the historical monument, Pearl Harbor.

If you know American history, World War II history, or just good old World History then you know the importance of Pearl Harbor, the bombing on December 7, 1941 and the effect it had on history since.

Today Pearl Harbor is a national memorial. Over 4 million people visit the island of O'ahu yearly and it is hard not to imagine a large portion of those people visiting the historical site, national monument and burial ground.

When visiting, it is hard to imagine that in such a beautiful place could host such a horrific event. In the serene blue skies and the sun soaked Hawaii, in a violent act of war, over 2400 Americans lost their lives. You cannot forget the several hundred that were injured as well as the Japanese soldiers that lost their lives either.

As I visit Pearl Harbor I think or have a moment of thought in which I feel that the worst thing about Pearl Harbor wasn't the attack but that it is so far away from everything. The attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the most tragic events of the 20th century yet it occurred on island over 2300 miles away from the continental US and almost 4000 miles away from Japan. It is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean removed from much of the world. At the time of the attack, Hawaii was not even a state in the US. There is a physical distance, a certain disassociation because it was not a state and as time passes, the worst thing that could happen is that we forget what occurred and how the attack changed history.

The terrorist attack on the US on September 11 occurred not only in one of the biggest cities in the world but in modern travel, a short airplane ride away from most Americans. It also occurred on our morning news programs and in our high speed internet culture. Pearl Harbor isn't next door. You cannot drive to Hawaii and it is not a quick plane ride from anywhere. In 1941 newspapers were still the dominant news force and you could still see news reel footage before the feature at your local movie theater. The times have changed.

I guess what I am simply saying is that it is a shame more people don't and/or can't visit Pearl Harbor. It is a powerful reminder of the dangers, past and present in our world. During my last visit it is hard to not hope for an end to senseless violence and that one day peace will exist across the world.

Thank you to the brave men and women who fight honorably for their country and for freedom. May we all find peace one day.