Pearl Harbor anniversary events open to all

Advertiser Staff

The following are some of the Pearl Harbor 60th anniversary events that are open to the public:

PUNCHBOWL

Remembrances on Dec. 7 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl begin at 10 a.m., with more than 3,000 expected to attend. The ceremony will include a "missing man" and B-52 bomber fly-over, wreath-laying, joint color guard and 21-gun Marine Corps artillery salute.

Due to the number of visitors anticipated, the cemetery will curtail gravesite visiting until 1 p.m. Attendees will be required to arrive at the cemetery in buses because of limited parking and security considerations. City buses will leave Alapa'i Street every 15 minutes beginning at 9:15 a.m. Normal bus fares of $1.50 each way, and bus passes in effect. Special buses will leave Neal Blaisdell Center, Ward Avenue side starting at 8 a.m., with a $2 donation for the round-trip sugested.

Call 532-3720 for more information.

USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL

The National Park Service, which operates and manages the USS Arizona Memorial and its shoreside facilities, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor with a weeklong schedule of special events for the public until Dec. 7 on the grounds of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center.

Activities include guest speakers, author book signings, entertainment, military bands, exhibits, color guard presentation ceremonies, historic Pearl Harbor Boat Tours, and visits by Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona survivors played host by the National Park Service, Arizona Memorial Museum Association, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department and the different branches of military service.

Due to new security precautions, no bags, purses, diaper bags or other containers that could conceal items will be allowed at USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. All events are free and open to the public.

• Kama'aina days

Commemorative activities with a kama'aina theme ends today, 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Activities include color guard presentations; performances by the 25th Infantry Division (Light) Tropic Lightning Band, Royal Hawaiian Band, HPD Pipe and Drum Band, 442nd Hula Halau and other local entertainment; as well as special exhibits and historical displays depicting the roles civilians and civilian authorities played during the Pearl Harbor attack. The exhibits and displays will be presented by the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department and will feature the original fire truck that responded to attack fires at Hickam Field. Special speakers include Honolulu Police Department Eddie Croom, Ed Ichiyama on the 442nd Infantry Recognition, Stanley Akita, 100th Battalion Recognition, and DanTakehara, Military Intelligence Service.

• Military days

Each of the following days will feature entertainment, ceremonies, displays and speakers from a different branch of military service:

Tomorrow, 7:30 a.m.-noon — U.S. Army Recognition Day
Tuesday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — U.S. Navy Recognition Day
Wednesday, 7:30 a.m.-noon — U.S. Marine Recognition Day
Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — U.S. Air Force Recognition Day

• Historical Pearl Harbor Boat Tours

Special historically themed Pearl Harbor boat tours will be offered free to the public today, 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. The tours will be available by advance reservation on a first-come, first-serve basis by calling 422-2771, ext 128.

These special boat tours will offer visitors the opportunity to travel through time, from the geologic formation of Pearl Harbor to its importance to native Hawaiians and subsequently, to its strategic significance to the military. Visitors also will discover how the history of Pearl Harbor extends far beyond Dec. 7, 1941. There will be no stops, during these special boat tours, at the USS Arizona Memorial.

In addition, all visitors taking the normally scheduled complimentary USS Arizona Memorial interpretive tours that take place daily every 15 minutes, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., will receive a special Pearl Harbor 60th Anniversary commemorative keepsake ticket. Tickets for these tours are dispensed on a first come basis.

• Dec. 7 Ceremony

60th anniversary commemoration public ceremony at the memorial:

7:30-9:30 a.m. (Pacific Fleet Band, National Park Service 60th Anniversary Ceremony and special speakers.)

9:30 a.m.-noon (Pacific Fleet Band, 108th Arizona Army National Guard Band, USS West Virginia Survivor Dick Fiske and Japanese Pilot Zenji Abe, USS Arizona Reunion Association Ceremony.)

• Arizona Memorial

USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center museum, bookstore and exhibits open daily, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. USS Arizona Memorial interpretive boat tours depart every 15 minutes, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. No reservations. Tickets dispensed on a first-come basis. (No public tours to memorial Dec. 7.)

For more information on National Park Service events call 422-2771, ext. 110, or go to pearlharborevents.com.

FILM SCREENING

The History Channel has created a new documentary on the USS Arizona, which Hawai'i audiences will have the opportunity to see prior to its air date. A free world premiere will be held at Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Tapa Ballroom:

Today, 7-9:30 p.m.: The History Channel Night: "Save Our History: USS Arizona"

Seating is free and available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Filmmakers will be present and special History Channel product giveaways and student/teacher educational materials will be provided to attendees.

For more information call 422-2771, ext 110, or visit pearlharborevents.com.

PARK SERVICE CONFERENCE

The National Park Service is sponsoring the "Pearl Harbor 60th Anniversary Conference: A Day to Remember, A Time Not Forgotten," Hilton Hawaiian Village, Dec. 1-5. Conference registration is $249, or $75 a day; active/reserve, retired military and students/faculty, $149 or $50 a day. For registration and program schedule, call 422-2771, ext. 110, or go to pearlharborevents.com.

• Gala banquet, Wednesday, 6-10:30 p.m., Hilton Hawaiian Village. Survivors gather for dinner, dancing and silent auction, $150. Special National Park Service entertainment and re-creation of jitterbug dance contest. Tickets, 422-2771, ext. 110.

"PEARL HARBOR" MOVIE

Special screening of the movie, Tuesday, 7-10:30 p.m., Waikiki 3 Theater, with introduction and commentary by Disney executives, $15. Money raised will help build a new museum for the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. For tickets, call 422-2771, ext. 110.

FLAG-RAISING

Pearl Harbor Survivors Association National Reunion flag-raising ceremony, Hawai'i Convention Center, Wednesday, 7:55 a.m. Mayor Jeremy Harris, keynote speaker

Correction: A National Park Service banquet Wednesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village included 1940s entertainment and re-creation of a jitterbug dance contest. A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the activity with the USO, an organization not involved in the event.