first, let me just say that despite my active application of bug repellent yesterday, those damn mosquitoes still managed to dine on my leg. i sit here typing with toothpaste spots on my calf. i am a firm believer in the toothpaste on mosquito bite remedy by the way, it always works for me.

when i first came to Oahu with my Mom a million years ago we went and saw the Pearl Harbor Memorial. since it had been awhile, this seemed like a good time to see it again. things have changed since my first visit, and now the USS Arizona Memorial is part of a much bigger site called the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

the site has a fantastic visitors center and surrounding grounds. there are two museums, a film, and the USS Arizona tour you can see for free and then for a fee you can also see the USS Bowfin submarine, the Battleship Missouri, and the Pacific Aviation Museum. you can purchase a passport for $56 which covers all of the sites and includes the self-guided audio tour at each place. totally worth every penny.

the whole tour was great, although is does make for a long day. after close to five hours of military history i had to call it quits and i didn’t even make it to the Aviation Museum. next time.

there was a quick afternoon poolside rest, a shower, and then a short walk to the Royal Hawaiian in time for a sunset cocktail.

dinner with friends at Uncle Bo’s, followed by the bestest sweet treat, a malasada (think Portuguese doughnut) from Leonard’s. the perfect way to end the evening.