While on our Pacific Island Tour, our first stop after departing Los Angeles was the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The cruise ship docked at Pier 2. We would be in port until 11pm. Our first tour wasn’t scheduled until noon, where we had a 10 1/2 hour exploration at the Polynesian Cultural Center planned to fill our afternoon and evening hours. Never ones to waste time, this meant we still had a couple of hours available to explore the capital city of Waikiki, before the tour began.
A scout around the internet had given me a historical/architectural walking tour, which I figured we could complete in a couple of hours. After being at sea for four days, we were more than ready to explore. Waving over our shoulders to the ships camera, with the hope of our family seeing us, Alan and I were off the ship by 9am. With the time changes, we had already been up for several hours as we had watched the ship pull in.
Hand in hand we began walking, our goal was to see any of the 8 historical landmarks in Hawaii. Many of these are Heritage Sites. These locations provide cultural explanations and the history behind them. Today we had a goal of seeing the Kawaiahao church, the Capitol Building, the beautiful Iolani Palace, the Parliament building and the King Kamehameha Statue and finally the Eternal Flame monument. This is how the Eternal Flame Memorial became our letter “E”. It was a 30 minute walk and we had a lot to see before getting there, so we stepped up our pace. The flame is located directly across from the Capitol Building at 420 So. Beretania St.
The original Eternal flame has burned since 1944, in memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but this sculpture was re-dedicated in 1972 to all the men and women of Hawaii who have bravely served. A palm lined path gently guides the visitor past the homeless population which often hangs out in the area. It makes sense that they find the area inviting as this area overlooks the beautiful land which is Hawaii. With the capitol of Waikiki behind us, the Eternal Flame lends a quiet, contemplative air in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the busy city.
The flame is protected from the elements by an interesting metal sculpture which shields it from the wind, ensuring that it burns non-stop. Perhaps this is the same embrace we should offer to all our vets.
Many of the homeless here are former vets. As they huddle beneath the statue, I can’t help but be honored to be in the presence of those who have protected us. After all, isn’t awareness the real reason that this flame burns endlessly?
