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At about noon the 4 of us went to eat fried shrimp just across from the beach. It was delicious; of course I had chili shrimp my favorite, along with fried rice and a salad. We returned home after spending the day sightseeing and riding to many famous spots, my wife Keiko wanted to cook a Japanese meal for dinner since Lucas and Raeanna haven't had Japanese food for some time we all enjoyed the meal and slept early since we had experience some jet lag. 

On the next day Lucas also took us to the many different bases and military exchanges for shopping, the naval exchange was a huge mall and where there is a really great food court for lunch. We also visited the militaries National memorial cemetery of the Pacific, also called the Punch Bowl. While there we visited the naval memorial wall of sailors missing at sea. I found my Uncle Joseph Anthony Barron's name there along with many thousand who were missing at sea during WWII. My uncle Joe was a Ship fitter 2nd/Class serving on the U.S.S.Franklyn C.V A.13.On that fatal day when he died a Japanese dive bomber crashed into the flight deck and killed many sailors. At that time he was involved in a firefighting operation etc. as a damage control party member.

Ironically Uncle Joe was killed only 23 miles from where I live now off of Kitakyushu City in the Sea of Japan. Remember we are both from Gloucester City, N.J.!

I must say it was an emotional time for me to be there at the Punch Bowl Memorial. We also visited the Tin Can Sailors Memorial; this memorial is dedicated to the Destroyer men of the U.S. Navy who served on a destroyer at any time. My brother Joe and I are lifetime members of The Tin Can Sailors Association. At the Punch Bowl there are graves for all the military services that died during the war and after.

We had such a great visit to Hawaii, we will never forget it. We remember places we visited such as Waipahu where Lucas and Raeanna live, Haleiwa bay where we enjoyed a day swimming and snorkeling, Mililani, Turtle bay where we had a relaxing time just sitting and taking in the view it's also a great place to swim with large sea turtles also. Kaneohe where President Obama has his home, he was there when we were there also but “no we couldn't get near," the Secret Service were everywhere.

We went to Waikiki about 30 minute drive from where Lucas & Raeanna live, we just strolled along shopping and stopping for drinks and snacks at Jimmy Buffets famous restaurant & Musical Bar to just relax and unwind after a tiring day.

We visited Pearl Harbor on several occasions but this time we didn't go out to the U.S.S. Arizona, Hawaii Kai we also did some walking about enjoying the scenery. We went Hickam Air Field and visited the WWII museum where we saw many WWII era planes and Japanese planes as well; we viewed a half hour movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor and Hickam field. We also went to ford Island to see other WWII artifacts, also visited Wheeler Army Airfield we the red and white tower was still there we could see that it was riddled with bullet holes everywhere. We also viewed wrecked planes that had been all shot up from the Japanese attack. Later during the week we went to Fort Derussey army museum and viewed many pictures and artifacts, such old tanks, jeeps, riffles, guns of every type that were captured uniforms of the Japanese and U.S.Army’s old style and equipment that were from during the area of the Japanese attack Hawaii. It was an experience and an education for us all.

On our last day we all went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, where we saw a show put on by the islands of Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand Fiji, Marquesas, Tahiti, Rapa Nui, and Tonga were represented. Their members put on a fantastic show. Of Hula Dancing, Fire Knife Dancing and other cultural events etc. It was a great display of their cultures and talents. After the show we had dinner there was a buffet laid on with all of the island foods who took part in the show. It surely was a gala event, educational and a really great experience to say the least; I must say it was an extremely delicious Buffet also, as we all ate quite a lot. Also before leaving Hawaii we went to Diamond Head and took some great pictures all over the area.

This was a very memorable trip. We have been to Hawaii on several occasions and each time we return we have had to opportunity to learn something new or visit some place new we haven't been to before, but now we have covered all of the island of Oahu and we loved the experience completely.

Aloha!     

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

The Miller Family, Hank, Keiko, Lucas, Raeanna, Max, & Rachel