Babbit the Aloha Rabbit: Day Four

We began our fourth day in Hawaii by visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and due to the sensitive nature of the visit,
Babbit's appearances are few.

We prepared for our visit by reading books borrowed from the library, and our trip to the Memorial really made history come alive. The kids watched a film about WWII, saw things pulled from the wreckage in the museum, and met Arizona survivors. Even in their immature understanding, they were so interested in the events at Pearl Harbor and exhibited a great deal of respect. I was so proud (and surprised)!



The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial
(which spans the width of the sunken ship)



The Memorial filling with sunlight


The wall of the Shrine Room is carved the names
of the 1,177 men who died on the Arizona,
many of whom are still entombed inside.



The U.S.S. Abe Lincoln


Scenes from the Day
(click to enlarge)


We were finished at the Memorial while it was still early in the day, so we went souvenir shopping at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet where local artisans sell their wares beside t-shirt vendors and sock dealers.


We browsed through all sorts of things...


... but Gracie preferred the jewelry stalls...


... while Babbit exhibited a penchant for Asian snack foods...


... and coconut brassieres.


Silly Babbit, bras are for girls!

We spent a little more than two hours circling the entire stadium, shopping all the way. We came away with armfuls of t-shirts, postcards, Hawaiian necklaces and bracelets, floral leis, shell leis, dried pineapple and mango, sarongs, sarong knot keepers, and carved wooden honu (sea turtles). After a quick lunch, we dropped our treasures in the hotel room and spent the rest of the day in the lagoon. What fun!