Paying My Respects at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

This post was written by Amanda Williams|Last updated on: January 5, 2018

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii

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I'm usually a fan of cemeteries. I think they can be beautiful places to visit, and many of them around the world are really unique. But there's one kind of cemetery that is harder for me to visit: the military cemetery.

And it’s not because I don’t appreciate the fact that the thousands of men and women buried in them sacrificed their safety — and, in many cases, their lives — for their country. In fact, the reason is almost exactly the opposite.

I get really emotional at military cemeteries. At memorials. Even sometimes at parades to celebrate holidays like Memorial Day. Hearing “Taps” played slow and sure on a trumpet almost always brings me close to tears.

I stood at a burial and watched a veterans group fold the American flag — methodically, and almost fiercely — next to my grandfather’s casket as the poem “Freedom is Not Free” was read aloud. I bawled my eyes out, both because I was already missing my Papa, and also because I could not fathom having to witness the same ceremony for a sibling or parent or spouse killed in action overseas. It breaks my heart to think about.

But, the reality is, these things happen. Men and woman go off to war and return home in flag-draped caskets — if they return home at all. Some are buried in beautiful national cemeteries with pristine grave markers and close-cropped grass, while others rest in unknown graves. Some even get their names etched on walls that honor our nation’s fallen.

And, even though they often turn me into a blubbering mess, places like the national cemeteries and memorials are important to visit.

When I was in Hawaii last month, visiting Pearl Harbor was at the top of my list. I knew it was a site not only of national military importance, but also of importance to every American. It was the spot where we were attacked on our own soil.

After spending an afternoon at Pearl Harbor, someone suggested I should also check out “The Punchbowl,” which is the colloquial name for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. I hadn’t even heard of this place before; it hadn’t come up in any of the guidebooks or online Hawaii guides I’d read about the state’s “must-visit” attractions.

But I decided to visit it anyway. And I’m so glad I did.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific: The History

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific lies in a volcanic crater sitting high above the city of Honolulu. The crater, formed thousands of years ago, resembles a shallow punch bowl – hence its nickname.

Congress appropriated money to begin constructing the cemetery in 1948, years after it was first proposed. The project had been in limbo for about 5 years due to finances, but, after World War II, the remains of thousands of soldiers were awaiting permanent burial in Guam, and so the government finally decided to fund the national cemetery in Hawaii.

The first burial took place in the cemetery on January 4, 1949, and the cemetery was opened to the public on July 19 of the same year. Eventually, more than 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during WWII would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl. In total, 34,000 veterans of WWI, WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars have been interred in the cemetery, filling all the gravesites.

In 1976, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and today sees roughly 5 million visitors per year.

Visiting the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

When I arrived to the cemetery grounds on foot, I was immediately struck by how incredibly huge this cemetery is. Graves with flat markers stretch in every direction — dark spots on the otherwise perfectly-groomed grass.

When you enter the Punchbowl, one thing immediately catches your eye beyond its sheer size — and that’s the white marble memorial itself.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, the Punchbowl, Oahu, Hawaii — National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Located at the end of a long drive lined with towering white-barked trees, the memorial is striking. Built in 1964, this impressive structure contains a small chapel, tributes to various battles fought in the Pacific, as well as walls with names etched on them of those who were never recovered from battle.

Lining the memorial’s grand staircase are marble slabs making up the “Courts of the Missing.” Here, the names of 28,788 military personnel who are missing or who were lost or buried at sea in the Pacific during WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War are etched into the stone in neat rows.

A dedication stone at the base of the staircase reads: “In these gardens are recorded the names of Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country and whose earthly resting place is known only to God.”

I ran my fingers over the names of young soldiers from Ohio, New York, Washington and everywhere in between. Soldiers who never made it home.

At the top of the wide, white staircase hovers Lady Columbia in the Court of Honor. She is there to represent all grieving mothers, and is almost like a silent guard over the memorial.

After reading some of the names listed in the Courts of the Missing and having at least a few tears leak out the corners of my eyes, I made my way into the back of the memorial, where a covered hallway is lined with mosaic maps depicting different battles that took place in the Pacific.

There’s also a little nondenominational chapel that’s open for anyone to use. Here, it’s cool and quiet. Even I was tempted to stay and sit quietly for a while, but I was afraid that sitting and reflecting on death might just make me cry more.

So, instead, I headed back out into the afternoon sunshine and pointed my feet in the direction of the Memorial Walkway, which is lined with plaques honoring America’s veterans.

And while it’s nice to read all the inscribed messages, the real reason people take to this walkway is for the view at the end.

Perched on the rim of the Punchbowl crater, the overlooks at the end of the Memorial Walkway offer arguably the best views out over Honolulu. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Waikiki, and even beyond it to Diamond Head.

I took my time going through the cemetery. I walked slowly and quietly between the graves. I tried to be respectful when I took my camera out. I sat for a while on a bench and hoped I wasn’t being too rude as I watched a nearby family picnicking next to the grave of a loved one.

It was a perfect, sunny Hawaiian afternoon. Most people like me — that is to say, tourists — were probably lying on towels in the sand somewhere, perhaps sipping on chilled fruity drinks.

But I wouldn’t have traded my visit to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific for any amount of beach time.

If ever you find yourself in Honolulu, I hope you'll take the time to visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, too.

IF YOU GO

WHERE: The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located at 2177 Puowaina Dr in Honolulu.

WHEN: The cemetery is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and there is no fee to visit.

TRAVEL TIP: Pair up your visit with a tour of Pearl Harbor, like this Deluxe Stars and Stripes Tour.

Do you visit national and/or war memorials when you travel? Do you agree that it's important to visit such places, even if they make us sad?

Amanda Williams

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!

www.dangerous-business.com

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