Pearl Harbor Tours – A Must See on Any Hawaii Vacation
There are seemingly an unlimited number of activities to do while in Hawaii, a tour to fit everyone’s interests. Amongst these tours one clearly seems to stick out from an historical perspective, the Pearl Harbor tours.
December 7th 1941 is one of the most infamous days in American history. It was on this day that the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese navy, a day that then President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that would “live in infamy”Â. The Japanese attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four others. The Japanese also destroyed 188 aircraft of the United States Navy. The losses of life were minimal for the Japanese, however on the US side 65 servicemen were killed or wounded. This attack solidified the United States as a player in WWII, officially declaring war on Japan shortly after the attacks. Of the total American fatalities in the attack nearly half of the total was due to the explosion of the USS Arizona.
In visiting Hawaii today, the effects of the attacks can be seen vividly by taking a Pearl Harbor Memorial tour. Here is where one could see the USS Arizona lie beneath the pacific, as it has been in the same spot since moments after the first attack. The site is off shore a ways but there is a floating observatory that gives visitors a chance to experience the wreckage up close. The intricacies of the ship’s explosion can be vividly seen from this unique perspective. All around this location lies rich historical sites and artifacts that tell the tale of United States involvement in WWII. The sacrifices that the service men and women on the Pearl Harbor Naval base made before, during, and after, tend to be felt while enjoying the Pearl Harbor tours of the area.