January 5, 2018 - Pearl Harbor, USS Missouri, Air & Space Museum

One of the reasons we wanted to go to Oahu was specifically to go to Pearl Harbor. Lincoln loves learning about wars and has always had a particular interest in WWII. We knew it was going to be a long day filled with learning and teaching moments, lots of emotions and physically demanding. We opted for a bus tour that took us to Pearl Harbor (USS Bowfin and the USS Arizona Memorial), USS Missouri and the Air & Space Museum. Ricky and I had been to Pearl Harbor previously so it was a little easier this time around to be able to focus on the boys and help them to understand. They were very engaged throughout the full day but we were all exhausted by the end of it.

Our bus drove by DaKine Bail Bonds which is owned by Dog the Bounty Hunter. 

Our first stop was at the USS Bowfin submarine. We did an audio tour which was nice because it allowed us to all go at our own pace. The boys quickly learned how to plug in the numbers and use their little headsets. 

On top of the USS Bowfin with the USS Arizona to the back left.

The number of enemy ships this sub took down.

This is the anchor of the USS Arizona.

USS Arizona Memorial 

This was a special moment for me. I had prepped the boys that we needed to be respectful on the memorial because people died on the ship and for many of them they were buried with the ship. We also explained they would still see oil coming up from the ship that was now sitting on the ocean floor. In Logan's innocent 8 year old mind, when he saw the oil coming up and making a rainbow on the water, he yelled to Lincoln to,  "Come look! There's blood coming up from the bottom!" 

One section/hanger of the air and space museum. 

Lincoln's favorite part of the museum were the nukes. 

The USS Missouri (under construction). 

"Over this spot on the 2 September 1945 the instrument of formal surrender of Japan to the allied powers was signed this bringing to a close the second world war. The ship at that time was at anchor in the Tokyo Bay."

The view from the ramp going to USS Missouri. 

Three generations of Phillips boys. 

This little guy was wiped out after a full day of touring and walking in the sun.  

The view on our bus ride back to the hotel. 

We went to a nice Italian dinner next to our hotel. Sitting out enjoying the beautiful weather on their outdoor patio.