The bridge of the Missouri has been preserved from its last action in the Persian Gulf. Like the USS Arizona, the Missouri is on the naval base at Pearl Harbor and so the navy controls access; you buy your ticket at the park visitor center on the mainland and then take a bus over to Ford Island where you board the Missouri.
Now I had another destination I wanted to visit while on Ford Island and Ranger Martinez had told me how to access the area. While on the USS Arizona I had seen a large stone that I knew must be a memorial on Ford Island located in a housing area; I was told this was the original memorial put up for the USS Arizona. So of course I had to scout it out! After walking through the Missouri, I headed back out to the bus drop off/pickup location and then casually walked around the small roped off area and over to the road. From here I headed toward the small base houses on this end of Ford Island. Just about 50 feet beyond the ropes was a small memorial indicating where the USS West Virginia had been docked on December 7 (this is where the USS Missouri is now berthed). This is a small white marble stone with a bronze plaque. I now just continued down the small paved road. I reached a sign that stated that the area beyond was for "authorized military personnel only", but I could see another memorial farther down and the Ranger had told me I could go to the original memorial and well I just took off down the road walking with purpose (always appear as if you know where you are going and belong there!). The area I was walking through housed the officers of the Marines stationed on Ford Island and so I passed the Colonel's and Lieutenant Colonel's and other homes; they are really quite quaint and look to be historical. I soon found the USS Arizona berth memorial as well; it looks just like the one for the USS West Virigina and indicates the ship was berthed here on December 7. 
But this was still not the memorial I had seen and so I continued onwards. And then around the next small curve I stepped forward and was amazed at my view. 
This was the original USS Arizona memorial placed here by the Navy League in 1955. It is a large stone facing out towards the Arizona with a bronze plaque on one side that explains its purpose and underneath is placed a park bench. 
I walked to the edge just a few feet beyond and took in the startling and peaceful view. By this time the USS Arizona Memorial was closed for the day and so there were no visitors aboard, but the flag shown beautifully and proudly in the breeze. I sat on the bench for a few minutes and tried to imagine that morning so long ago as it must have been just as peaceful. I also wondered if any of the Marine officers ever come here to sit and contemplate as it is such a lovely spot and an exceptional view that is quite close. This is a view that few civilians ever have of the USS Arizona. 
This is a view I will never forget and I will always treasure these pictures. I also made a small video of this site and the views. It is below. I will say my adventure did not end here as I could now see another small memorial in the far back edge of the nearby house at the end of the street and thus at the end of Ford Island. I decided to take the chance and just walk on down to it since I had come this far; I was literally walking in the backyard of the Marine officer's yard. As I stepped up to the small memorial that marked the berth of the USS Nevada on December 7 I had to step in some pretty nasty mud but it was so worth it! Again there was a small bench placed here and I admired the view at the end of the island and imagined the USS Nevada attempting to get up power to flee the carnage that fateful morning.
But this was still not the memorial I had seen and so I continued onwards. And then around the next small curve I stepped forward and was amazed at my view. 
This was the original USS Arizona memorial placed here by the Navy League in 1955. It is a large stone facing out towards the Arizona with a bronze plaque on one side that explains its purpose and underneath is placed a park bench. 
I walked to the edge just a few feet beyond and took in the startling and peaceful view. By this time the USS Arizona Memorial was closed for the day and so there were no visitors aboard, but the flag shown beautifully and proudly in the breeze. I sat on the bench for a few minutes and tried to imagine that morning so long ago as it must have been just as peaceful. I also wondered if any of the Marine officers ever come here to sit and contemplate as it is such a lovely spot and an exceptional view that is quite close. This is a view that few civilians ever have of the USS Arizona. 
This is a view I will never forget and I will always treasure these pictures. I also made a small video of this site and the views. It is below. I will say my adventure did not end here as I could now see another small memorial in the far back edge of the nearby house at the end of the street and thus at the end of Ford Island. I decided to take the chance and just walk on down to it since I had come this far; I was literally walking in the backyard of the Marine officer's yard. As I stepped up to the small memorial that marked the berth of the USS Nevada on December 7 I had to step in some pretty nasty mud but it was so worth it! Again there was a small bench placed here and I admired the view at the end of the island and imagined the USS Nevada attempting to get up power to flee the carnage that fateful morning. With a few more pictures in my possession, I headed back to the bus pick up area and smiled at the knowledge that I had some great views of Pearl Harbor for my project.
Okay so here I will share a few of the views I had on Kauai including the Veterans Cemetery -- see I did do some work there LOL. (for golf pics check out my golf blog in a few days)
Views from my room at resort:
Okay a little of the golf course views:
And beautiful Waimea Canyon:
