Our first afternoon was an old reliable stop that really is practically in our back yard: Pearl Harbor. Instead of queuing up with the hordes of tourists, we quietly drove past the visitors' center for a private tour. The beauty of this one is that we cruise all the way 'round Ford Island, not just to and from the USS Arizona Memorial.
The design of the Memorial itself is beautiful in its simplicity and each element has meaning. For instance, the sag in the structure is intentional. In the words of the architect, Alfred Preis, "Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory ... The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of sadness have been omitted to permit the individual to contemplate his own personal responses ... his innermost feelings."
We didn't opt to tour the USS Missouri this time, but you can see it in the distance.
I've lived here over 21 years, and have probably been to the Memorial 21 times, and it still has the same sobering effect on me.
We even took an evening cruise last Christmas, to see the lights on the ships. It was even more haunting at night.
Of course, detractors refer to it as a "floating, squashed milk carton: but then everyone is entitled to their own (however ill-informed) opinion.
We also went to Kualoa Ranch and the North Shore, but I'll save them for other posts.
2 comments:
What gorgeous photographs! I like the modern architecture and it fits in well with the surroundings. Alfred Preiss had the right idea, which is more than can be said for some memorial designers.
Beautiful! I spent the weekend in Philadelphia last week, and went with some out of town ya-ya friends on the hop on hop off tour. I really appreciated seeing the city from a tourist's point of view and learned a lot.
I'd love to get the pearl tour of Hawaii one day! I'll bet your friends really enjoyed it.
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