On the Rainy Days

Pros of being in Hawaii during the winter:  amazing waves to surf on!
Cons of being in Hawaii in the winter:  the rainy season in full swing.

Serious rain kept us away from the beach on Thursday and Friday, so we busied ourselves exploring museums, giving us insight into the culture of Hawaii.  Both museums, though very different, were enlightening and really great experiences.  Though resistant at first, even Matthew was into it at the end.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is still an operating Naval base.

I was really moved by this memorial to USS Arizona.  It's hard not to be.  The 69th anniversary of the bombing was remembered earlier in the week and the museum and grounds were immaculate.  They just opened a new building with great exhibits, models, animations and documentaries.  The way you experience the memorial is so unique.  When you arrive you are assigned a time when you will visit the memorial, groups of about 75 people are taken by ferry to the memorial and allowed about 30 minutes there.  Before your visit the group watches a 20 minute film about the events of Dec 7, 1941.  The video, the smaller group of people, the intimate scale of the memorial, the way it seems to hover over the water, all inspire a reverence in visitors.  The architecture and the siting of the structure is so elegant and well done.  If ever you find yourself in Honolulu, I recommend a visit to this chapel on the sea.

The memorial straddles the USS Arizona.  The water is so clear much of the remains of the ship are still visible in the water.  The ship is itself is a tomb - nearly 1200 people died when it sank and the ruins have not been disturbed since it fell.  The ship still leaks oil... what an eerie remnant fromt the tragedy.

The rain began as we were leaving the memorial.

The Bishop Museum

This is one activity that was not suggested to us by a friend, nor did we read about it in the apartment's 'Black Book'.  One of the guide books I've been studying suggested a visit, stating that it contained the largest collection of native Hawaiian artifacts.  The museum tells the story of the Hawaiian people, their native plants and foods, their art and crafts, their gods and goddesses, their connections to neighboring Polynesian islands.  It tells the story of the slow fading of their native culture and way of life - the introduction of to missionaries, the eventual fall of their royal family, the colonization of westerns, and becoming part of the United States.  We expected to stay 2 hrs and ended up staying 4!  This museum is a treasure and great learning opportunity for kids and adults alike. 

The newest part of the Bishop Museum is a building devoted to the natural history of Hawaii.  Seriously - Matthew and I really enjoyed this!  There are really interesting, interactive exhibits on all things related to volcanos and the natural environment surrounding them.  I don't know why this museum isn't more popular with tourists - it is such a good way to learn about this unique island and appreciate the beauty of this culture.