Saturday, sailed early from Kauai back to Honolulu. Today we disembark (that's the nautical way to say "get off")
We are staying an extra day so we can visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial. This is the only thing my dad wanted to do during the whole trip.
My Dad and my aunt are the only remaining siblings in their family. There were four children in their family, with my father being the youngest. I had an older uncle whom I never met who was a submariner in WWII. My father was 4 or 5 years old when his older brother's ship, the USS Bullhead went MIA. The USS Bullhead was the last submarine lost in WWII.
I imagine that no one can visit the USS Arizona Memorial with out taking pause for the great sacrifice that happened in WWII. Though they are a family of few words, I know that my family felt it. I'm sure the day will be a bit bittersweet, even after all these years.
After an obligatory walk on Waikiki Beach and a night in a comfy hotel, we will board the plane to return to the reality of life in Olympia. Hopefully, I will be less sunburned leaving than when I arrived.