December 7 is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This week, we’ll travel back to Hawaii—this time to Oahu—to remember the Date Which Lives in Infamy and examine the area’s geology and volcanism.
Sharon Lyon
Editor, GeoLifestyle
Remembering The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Photo by: View From an Angel/ Shutterstock.com
Pearl Harbor and Oahu geology:
The island of Oahu is made up of two volcanic ranges, the Ko’olau Range, and the Wai’anae Range, remnants of two massive shield volcanoes.
These were formed during a period of volcanism 3.9–1.7 million years ago, as the Pacific Plate migrated across the Hawaiian hot spot.
A broad valley sits between the ranges. At the southern end of the valley, Pearl Harbor occupies a deep cleft at the mouths of several river valleys.
Pearl Harbor history:
Pearl Harbor was referred to as Wai Momi by ancient Hawaiians, meaning ‘Pearl Waters’ and named for the abundant pearl-producing oysters in the embayment.
When Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii in 1778, Wai Momi was inaccessible to large ships because of a coral reef that blocked entry.
In 1902, the U.S. began to dredge the harbor, deepening it to provide access for large naval vessels. In 1908, Pearl Harbor was designated a U.S. naval base.
In 1940, as Japan rose to power in the Pacific, President Roosevelt ordered the Pacific Fleet to move from California to Hawaii, then a U.S. Territory.
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Three hundred and sixty Japanese planes flew in from carriers to the north.
The Result: In less than two hours, the Japanese attackers debilitated the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Two thousand and eight Americans were killed, including 1,777 crew members on the Arizona. President Roosevelt called December 7 “a date which will live in infamy.” The attack led the United States into World War II.
Visiting Pearl Harbor:
In 1962, the USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated to honor the men who died defending Pearl Harbor during the attack, and in 1989, it was designated a national historic landmark.
Today, you can visit the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial, where the ship still lies underwater. Tickets are free but limited.
Visit the USS Missouri, the last U.S. battleship ever built and the ship where the Japanese formally signed the Instrument of Surrender.
Walk through the USS Bowfin, a military submarine, nicknamed the Pearl Harbor Avenger because it was launched exactly one year after the attack. Of the 188 U.S. submarines, Bowfin ranked 15th in number of ships sunk.
Learn more about other historical sites on Oahu here.
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View from summit of Diamond Head, overlooking Honolulu.
A trip to Oahu would not be complete without hiking to the summit of Diamond Head.
Diamond Head geology:
Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone, composed of layers of compacted ash, cinders, and lava that formed 300,000 years ago during a series of explosive eruptions. Erosion and weathering have shaped the landform into its distinctive profile, which provides an impressive backdrop to Waikiki.
The coastline around Diamond Head consists of marine terraces and coral reefs, remnants of ancient shorelines uplifted by tectonic activity.
The name “Diamond Head” comes from 19th-century British sailors who mistakenly believed that calcite crystals found on the slopes of the volcano were diamonds.
Known as Le’ahi in the Hawaiian language, meaning ‘brow of the tuna,’ the volcano was a sacred site in ancient Hawaiian culture. It was used as a navigational landmark and served as a place for religious ceremonies and burials.
During World War II, the U.S. Army transformed Diamond Head into a fortified coastal defense system with bunkers, pillboxes, and observation posts.
Hiking: Today, you can hike up Diamond Head on a moderately easy 1.6-mile, round-trip trail. The trail has steep sections and 99 steps at the top. The summit offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Honolulu.
What did a pilot, a spy, an Army nurse, and a journalist have in common? These were women who helped change the course of World War II. Another worked as a code breaker on the Bombe. One fought with the Resistance. Here are just two of the women featured in this book:
Elizabeth (Betty) Peet MacDonald grew up in Hawaii. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Betty, in her job as a journalist for a Honolulu newspaper, covered the event. However, her descriptions of death and destruction were too much for her editors, and they refused to print them. Betty joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and served as what would now be known as a disinformation officer. Her writings were implanted into Japan to influence the minds of Japanese soldiers and civilians.
Geographer Marion Armstrong Frieswyk constructed 3-D models of topographic maps to support the War Department’s operational planning. Using plaster, sandpaper, and paint, her team of female cartographers worked in Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. Their models were used by General Eisenhower and his staff to determine troop movements and plan supply routes.
The bottom line: These are stories of bold women who made a difference in the war’s outcome. Lest we forget, they are remembered here.
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