Since setting foot on the Hawaiian isles, one of the very first things I wanted to do — besides getting lei’d – is visit Pearl Harbor.  Well, Day 1 – goal achieved.

It’s a tourist mecca, believe me.  And it’s quite impressive … and emotional.  They do a phenomenal job of hustling people in … giving them all the vital information … and then letting it sink in.  And believe me, once you have visited the USS Arizona Memorial and/or the USS Missouri, you’ll be profoundly changed.   There’s a reason why they ask you to remain quiet on board the memorial.  It’s a place of reverence and a shrine to the 1,400+ military men and women who perished in 1941.

For my folks, it was their 9/11.  And all the carnage was eerily familiar of that day.  You can feel the ghosts of the fallen hovering around you.  Not in a scary way, mind you.  But in a way that will never let you forget the experience.   True story – after arriving at the memorial, there was a gorgeous rainbow that flanked us.  Now how’s THAT for some friendly spirits?

After visiting the Arizona Memorial … my friend Eric and I traipsed off to the USS Missouri.  For Eric, it was like the mother ship (pun intended) called him home … he’s a proud Missourian (note the T-shirt). 

We shelled out a little extra to get the guided tour – and it was worth every penny.  Our tour guide peppered us with every little bit of trivia known to man.  Although, he failed to mention the USS Missouri is where Cher shot her classic “If I Could Turn Back Time” video.  You know – where she’s straddling the huge guns on the ship while sailors cheer.  Classic.  The tour guide didn’t mention word one about that … but, believe me, I gave my own special shout-out to Cher.  (Uh, note the picture.)

It was the quintessential perfect first day … and after a quick trip to Hard Rock Café’ to pick up some souvenirs … I’m sitting by the pool blogging.  It’s taken me a long time to blog today because there’s lots of eye candy distracting me.  And I’m drinking foo-foo umbrella drinks straight out of a pineapple.   And it’s only 3pm.   Best of all, thanks to SPF 192, I’m not even slightly sunburned.

Life is good in Hawaii … and it’s only Day 1.