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- National Cemetery of the Pacific and Courts of the Missing at Punchbowl
- Medal of honor headstones
- Panoramic view of the island of Oahu
The Honolulu memorial was erected in 1964 by the "American Battle Monuments Commission" at the National Memorial Cemetery in honor of the sacrifices and accomplishments of American ... moreArmed Forces in the Pacific during both World Wars and the Korean War. The National Memorial Cemetery, informally known as Punchbowl, is located at the middle of the
"Puowaina crater" which is an extinct volcano that had been active some
75,000 to 100,000 years ago.
Punchbowl or Puowaina as it is translated in the Hawaiian language means "consecrated hill" or "hill of sacrifice" used to be the location where secret Royal burials were performed and where sacrifices of certain kapas (taboos) were made to pagan gods. The crater also served during the 1800s as a stronghold for Oahu in their resistance against the reign of Kamehameha, who united the Hawaiian islands in 1810. The Hawaiian National Guard used the crater as a rifle range during the 1930s and toward the end of World War II, offshore batteries were placed in tunnels dug at the rim of the crater to protect the Honolulu Harbor and the South edge of Pearl Harbor.
Punchbowl was officially recognized a national cemetery in 1943 when the governor of Hawaii offered the location for that purpose. The first internment took place on the 4th of January 1949 and the cemetery became open to the public on the 19th of July 1949. In 1980, the names of more than 28,788 military personnel missing in action
or lost in the Pacific during the war were added on marble slabs in ten
courts of the missing that flanks the Memorial grand stone staircase.
The
National Cemetery of the Pacific was the first cemetery to include medal of honor headstones which have an insignia in gold leaf. As in the graves of other National cemeteries around the country, no cross marks the
grave of the dead. The Punchbowl is among one of the most popular touristic destination with more than five million visitors each year. It also provides a panoramic breathtaking view of the island of Oahu.
Type: Cultural, Historic, Memorial, Park, Scenic Lookout, Landmark, Cemetery
Features: Bathroom, Food for purchase, Parking, Wheelchair access
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- Capitol Moved Here Because of the Harbor
- Great Shopping and Dining
- Museum and other tours
The most bustling seaport of Oahu hosting giant cruise liners as well as sailboats, Honolulu Harbor has been greeting vessels since 1926. The first European vessel to enter the harbor ... morewas that of the British merchant ship King George on the 12th of December 1786. In 1850, Honolulu was declared as the official capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by King Kamehameha and a series of investments were undertaken to further develop the Harbor and accommodate more vessels. Since, the Harbor has grown to become the gateway of the modern metropolis of Hawaii.
The Honolulu Harbor is operated by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. It is the only port in the US that is operational for commercial fishing boats, commercial container shipping, a major cruise port and is simultaneously a museum. Most cruise ships arrive in the harbor from California, but some arrive by means of the Panama Canal.
The historic Aloha tower welcomes visitors right near the harbor. It consists of a range of retail outlets and restaurants. In the market place, nice fruits, vegetables and fresh fish can be found. The tower has an observation deck on the 10th floor that provide stunning views of the entire harbor. It also hosts free music concerts occasionally. The visitor can also walk on the decks of the only four-masted, full-rigged ship left in the world at the Hawaii Maritime Centre or take a tour of a submarine which is the world's largest hi-tech passenger submarine. Bus shuttles also provide tours around the harbor and other attractions in Honolulu.
Today, the Honolulu Harbor receives more than 500,000 cruise ship passengers every year. The harbor is more than just a gateway, it provides a real feast atmosphere with entertainment, shopping, and nightlife at the port side.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic, Museum
Features: Bathroom, Drinking water, Food for purchase, Parking, Wheelchair access
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- 80 Feet High Waterfall
- Surrounded by Dense Forest and High Cliffs
- Accessible Only through Helicopter
Sacred Falls is nestled in dense forest and
surrounded by lush green vegetation and hill rocks. It gets its name from a
massive 1,370-acre state park in which it is situated. It is ... morea beautiful
and enchanting 80 high (24m) high waterfall that drops into a water pool below.
Due to its unparalleled beauty, it was once the most popular waterfall in the
entire Island of Oahu before an unforgettable tragedy struck in 1999.
On Mother's
Day of 1999, a lot of people had gathered in the narrow Sacred Valley to celebrate the occasion
when all of sudden, boulders and collapsed from surrounding cliffs collapsed
into the valley. Due to the narrow track, people were unable to escape and as a
result, 8 of them died at the spot and almost 50 were seriously injured. The Hawaiian government closed the park to the general
public after that instances and there is no chance that it will open in near
future. Therefore, the helicopter tour is the only way to site this beautiful
fall.
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- 2 mile Scenic Hike
- 500 foot Climb in Elevation
- Ocean looks Turquoise from Here
Located within the 38-acre Makapuʻu Point State Wayside
Park, is the Makapu'u Lookout. The trail leads from the former Coast Guard
residential area to the summit on a relatively easy ... moresandy path.
From the summit, visitors can watch for
whales from November to April using the provided telescope or their own
binoculars. If it is a clear day, it is sometimes possible to see the blowholes
on Makapu’u Head’s rocky shore from the summit. On almost any clear day,
visitors can see magnificent sea cliffs, Visitors can also often see Makapu’u
Beach Park, Rabbit Island, and Kaohikaipu Island.
Visitors to the park can also take another
short hike to see the Makapu’u Lighthouse. This path starting near the same
trailhead also offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Type: Hike, Scenic Lookout, Landmark
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- Great for surfing very powerful waves
- Beautiful coral reef, nice for snorkeling
- Swimming
Sunset beach on the north shore of Oahu offers a combination of nice surfing conditions, beautiful sun and soft nice sand at the beach. The sand is golden, and there are palm trees ... morethat line up the beach providing shade. In the summer the water is calm and perfect for swimming and snorkeling. A tide pool also can be seen where people often collect shells and observe marine life. The best place to snorkel is in the offshore tide pool around the protected area of the beach.
The winter period is most active. Many surfers converge to Sunset beach which is a world famous beach. Waves can reach 30 feet high, there are very powerful currents. The currents known as Sunset Rip runs on every big swell. Many well known international surfing competitions take place at the beach. Sunset Beach is not the place for beginners. The powerful current sucks back the water with great force that it could potentially hurl inexperienced surfers deep into the ocean.
Sunset Beach is about 2 miles long not very far to two other popular surfing beaches, Ehukai Beach and the Banzai pipeline. The powerful current is such that you may enter the water in a certain area, and just a few minutes later find yourself further down the beach. There are different amenities including lifeguards. Sunset beach is also a very nice place for watching the sunset, which is also the reason the beach was given the name Sunset Beach.
Features: Bathroom, Lifeguards, Parking, Showers
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- Movie of the attack at Pearl Harbor
- Shrine with the names of victims engraved on the walls
- The sunken USS arizona
On December 7, 1941 many of the 1,177 crewmen of the USS Arizona perished when Japanese Naval Forces launched an attack at Pearl Harbor. At the location of the sunken ship, a 184-foot-long ... moreMemorial had been built that spans from the midsection of the battleship. The USS Arizona memorial is part of World War II valor of the Pacific National Monument.
Visitors at the memorial can embark on a tour which includes a movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor, and a boat ride to the memorial. The memorial itself is made up of three sections: an entry room, an assembly room, and an area reserved for ceremonies and general observation. Also included is a shrine room with marble walls on which engraved are the names of those killed during the Pearl Harbor attack.
The
memorial had been built in honor of the victims at Pearl Harbor. The first suggestions were expressed in 1943 but not until 1949 had steps being taken for its realization when the territory of Hawaii established a
Pacific War Memorial Commission. Construction of the memorial was completed in 1961, the result mostly of public funding and private donations. In 1962, the memorial was dedicated.
The design of the
memorial by architect, Alfred Preis, is intended to indicate the initial defeat and then the ultimate victory. The structure sags in the middle, but stands strong and vigorous at the extremities. Visitors are overwhelmed with a sense of serenity which engages a person's personal reflection and innermost feelings.
The USS Arizona memorial had its initial recognition in 1950 on the ninth anniversary of the attack when Admiral Arthur Radford, Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) had a flagpole erected over the sunken ship. At the base of the flagpole was placed a commemorative plaque. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose leadership had been crucial for the allies victory during World War II, acknowledges the creation of the memorial in 1958.
The USS Arizona
is no longer in commission, contrary to popular belief. The United State flag flies on the mainmast of the sunken ship as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the attack at Pearl Harbor.
Type: Cultural, Historic, Memorial, Museum
Features: Bathroom, Food for purchase, Lockers / storage, Parking, Wheelchair access
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- Popular beach park
- Great place for a picnic
- Made up of black sand and rocks
Kolekole Beach Park is located on the Big Island and about 10.5 miles (16.9 km) north of Hilo, Kolekole. It is a popular beach park among residents in the Hilo area, mainly because ... moreof its beautiful scenery, spacious grassy areas and facilities. Due to this, weekends may be crowded at times. It's the perfect spot for a picnic, however, due to the shade and beautiful surrounding views.
The ocean conditions are too rough and dangerous for swimming, but many people use the Kolekole Stream as a swimming pool. There is a waterfall that flows into Kolekole Stream near the ocean, completing the tropical scenery of this beach park. Kolekole Beach is made up of black sand and rocks and is located below 100 feet (30 m) tall highway bridge. The beach is small and during rough ocean conditions the surf often washes over the beach and into the stream. There are strong currents in the area so swimming is not always encouraged.
The bridge was destroyed in 1946 by a tsunami; it was previously used by the Hawaii Consolidated Railway. Since most of the bridge was destroyed, it was eventually purchased by the country and then rebuilt.
Features: Bathroom, Camping, Drinking water, Picnic tables, Showers, Pavilions, BBQ Grills
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