USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, A Visit During Travel Lockdown

Hawaii has been closed to tourists for months during the pandemic. In October, I took the opportunity to visit the USS Arizona Memorial before Hawaii reopened transpacific travel once again. It was a rare opportunity to visit the Arizona Memorial in almost solitude, without hordes of tourists, packed like sardines on the shuttle boat, or shoulder to shoulder aboard the memorial. The peaceful tranquility I experienced was befitting for the 1,102 fallen sailors who rest with their ship below. It was almost like stepping into a church, as I forgot how much of a tourist attraction Pearl Harbor usually is during pre-pandemic times. It was a surreal experience to be able to pay my respects in an almost zen-like atmosphere.

Since recording this video, Hawaii has reopened to travelers on October 15, 2020. Visitors from around the world have slowly returned to Hawaii. Today, December 7, 2020, marks the 79th anniversary of the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor. Let us never forget the sacrifices of our brave servicemen, and may we always remember what they fought for.