1. Oahu - Honolulu Pearl Harbor and Waikiki

Our first night is short. This is because we booked tickets for Pearl Harbor today. Originally, a relaxed start was planned. So we pack our things, fill our cooler with a lunch snack, and leave promptly at 8:30 AM for Pearl Harbor, a well-known deep-water harbor that still houses the US Navy and Air Force today. After a short drive, we arrive at the Pearl Harbor National Monument. No bags are allowed, and all important items must fit in our pockets. I don't understand why that is. We first stroll around the area, and there is a large aircraft carrier in the harbor. Eight weeks ago, I booked tickets for the tour of the USS Arizona.
But what happened here?
During the attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese planes unexpectedly bombed the US naval base in Hawaii. This resulted in the destruction of large parts of the US Pacific Fleet, and over 2,400 American soldiers died. The incident ended US neutrality and led to the United States' direct entry into World War II. The USS Arizona suffered the most tragic fate of all the ships in Pearl Harbor. The massive battleship was nearly completely destroyed during the attack. It sank within just nine minutes after a Japanese aerial bomb penetrated and ignited the forward ammunition magazines.
1,177 crew members lost their lives – that was half of all American casualties in the entire attack.
A memorial was built directly above the sunken wreck of the USS Arizona battleship, which is the final resting place for over 1,100 soldiers who perished there.
We take a boat to the site and spend about 15 minutes there. The boat beneath us is partially visible due to protruding parts. Oil continues to seep from the wreck, which is referred to as the tears of the Arizona. Two years ago, the last survivor passed away and was also buried at this site. It is moving to see, and it's so sad that we haven't learned anything from our past.

Back on land, we visit the free exhibits from the National Park Service. We skip the adjacent museums since we have already been to several military and naval museums. The kids earn a Junior Park Ranger badge. After about 2.5 hours, we leave the area. We still need some groceries, which we purchase at Walmart. After a short break in our accommodation, we go to swim at the famous Waikiki Beach. The waves are high, but there are swimming zones and lifeguards. We splash in the water. The water is quite murky. It is crowded. The lying areas on the beach are limited, with a maximum of 2-3 meters available. We find a spot for our things, but sunbathing or lying amid the crowds is not for us.
Then we move on and stroll along the promenade, observing the hustle and bustle of the people. Many surfers are in the water. There are hotels, restaurants, cafés, and shopping possibilities. It is nice to look at, but honestly, I find myself more excited about nature. We are slowly getting tired and head back to the apartment. There, we cook dinner and tidy up our things. We are exhausted; the jet lag is hitting us now. We go to bed early.