The USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa Class Battleship launched January 29th, 1944 and commissioned on June 11th, 1944. She served in the US Navy until 1955 when she became part of the ready reserve “Mothball Fleet” but was recommissioned in 1986 and went back into service until 1992. At 270.4 metres (887.3 feet) in length with a displacement of 45,000 tonnes she is a big…
Tag: Hawaii
Pearl Harbour 1941: Past to Present
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date that will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” – US President Franklin D. Roosevelt Pearl Harbour, Oahu, Hawaii 1941 On December 7th, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted a surprise attack upon the US Navy…
The Demise of Captain James Cook
Captain James Cook (1728-1779) of the Royal Navy was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer. He joined the navy in 1755 and served in the Seven Years War (1754-1763, it was called that as the main fighting during the war occurred from 1756 onwards) that was fought out between the main European powers in their quest for…
Magnum, P.I. – Robins Nest
Magnum, P.I. starring Tom Selleck as the legendary and beloved private investigator Thomas Magnum, was a classic TV series that ran from 1980 – 1988. The show with a back drop of beautiful Hawaii had great characters (regulars along with Magnum were Higgins and Magnum’s Vietnam War buddies T.C. and Rick) and story lines that offered action, drama, comedy, beautiful women and…
Black Sand & Green Turtles in Hawaii
With all the nearby volcanic action on the Big Island of Hawaii it is not too surprising to see black sand beaches. Punalu’u Beach on the south-east coast of the island is a great example. The black sand is formed by tiny grains of volcanic rock washed in from the ocean and provides a stunning contrast…
Mauna Kea, Hawaii – Dormant Volcano
Mauna Kea is the highest point in Hawaii (4,207 metres / 13,803 feet above sea level) and is located more or less right in the middle of The Big Island. This is a barren almost desert like area on the island. It is windswept, dusty and hot.Why? Well Mauna Kea is a long dormant volcano (it last erupted over…
Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
The volcano was cranky but not angry. Sadly there was no lava flow when I visited the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii the Big Island but there was plenty of evidence of the destructive power of the Kīlauea Volcano in the surrounding volcanic landscape.
Life Amongst the Devastation
In 1959 a volcanic eruption occurred that created Pu’u Pua’i, a cinder cone on the rim of the Kīlauea Iki crater in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The pit of the crater became a superheated sea of lava. Today you can hike along the floor of the Kīlauea Iki crater. Although when you enter the trail you…
R&R in Hawaii – state number 48 for me
Aloha! As a little diversion from my posts from New England and surrounds I thought it was time I gave an update on my quest to visit all 50 states in the USA. I am still way behind in writing about my travels, but currently I am in beautiful Hawaii (a long way from Vermont!) and this is state…
Deano In America 