D-WORLD+WAR++II+VALOR+IN+THE+PACIFIC+NATIONAL+MONUMENT

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument

__** PARK PROFILE **__ Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
 * Park Size:** 11 acres; this includes the monument along with the shore side memorial
 * General Climate:** The climate in Honolulu, Hawaii is a very warm tropic climate. The most rain they recieve in their rainy season is a little less than three inches, while in their dry season it's about 0.45 inches. The highs in this area range from about 65 degrees F in the cold months to about 89 degrees F in the warm months. The lows in this area range from about 66 degrees F in the cold season to about 75 degrees F in the warm season.
 * Region of the US:** [|The West]
 * Visitors per year:** 1.5 million per year; 4,500 people per day
 * Most popular sites in the park:** The visitors center and the museum are the most visited sites apart from the actual memorial. At the visitors center you can view a video of the pearl harbor attack before you view the actual monument. The museum is also a high attraction because it has many different artifacts of the attack. These sites help bring the visitors closer and more personal with the monument.

The USS Arizona became a National Park on September 9, 1980. This was due to the help of [|President George Bush], Mr. Gratz (put together the commision to create this memorial), and Admiral Arthurt Radford. Some [|setbacks] that they endured were that they had to raise about $100,000 for the construction and operation of the actual monument because it was said that this memorial would be built without the help of federal funding. In the end the federal funding donated $150,000 to complete the construction. The other setback that occured in making this National Park was the construction of it. This was troubling because they were going to build a bridge over the remains of USS Arizona, to hold 200 people, but it could not touch the remains. It took many people to figure out the construction of this monument. This park was created and became a park in rememberance of all the sailors and soldiers who were lost during the attack of December 7, 1941. This land became a park because it was over where the actual USS Arizona lays. It was put here so that the memorial could be like a graveyard for all of the [|sailors] and soldiers who could not be saved from the wreck.This is a historical site because this is where the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7, 1941.This is a natural site because it is being preserved for research only. No other divers of researchers are allowed to go near the USS Arizona due to the fight to preserve it as well as the area around it.This National Park is run and protected specially to preserve and represent the sailors, soldiers, and events of December 7, 1941. It is run by the Pacific War Memorial Commission. Above is a picture of the creation of the USS Arizona Memorial Above is a picture of the USS Arizona being sunk
 * __HISTORY__ **

Above is a picture of sailors of the USS Arizona

__** ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES **__ The area in which the USS Arizona was sunk at, the water on either side of the ship is only ten [|meters] deep. The weather in Honolulu, HI is nice. It is most often sunny with warm temperatures. They do get an average rainfall of about three inches which is not much different from other places. There are many ecosystems in the area of the USS Arizona. This memorial is both on land and in the water. There are ecosystems here both in the water and on the land. Hawaii has ecosystems envolving coral reefs, fish, sea animals, birds, trees, grasses, plants as well as land animals. Honolulu, HI is one of the seventeen [|cleanest] cities in the United States. Although Honolulu has clean [|air], on low wind days you can notice the smog from the automobiles that are in the Hawaiian Islands. Water Quality in Hawaii has been troublesome because the only drinking water which they recieve is ground water. This ground water is usually contaminated by chemical runoff from agriculture, gas spills and other chemical spills. In Hawaii there are volcanoes which cause Hawaii to have geological activity. When a volcanoe erupts, the shape and size of the island expands due to the lava hardening among the land. The hydrology of Hawaii is great. There is such a large amount of water in the states basins that it can, most times, cause flash flooding. Due to all of the rainfall and the ocean surrounding Honolulu, there is not much fire activity except from volcanoes and rarely a lightening storm. There is hydrothermal features in Hawaii due to the eruptions of volcanoes. When the volcanoes erupt the lava spreads into the waters causing hot water to be created. Also due to the waters underneath the volcanoe in some parts of the ocean near Hawaii there are hydrothermal vents. Some [|animals] that live in Hawaii are the Hawaiian green sea turtle, the Hawaiian monk seal (which is an endangered species), the humpback whales, Nene geese, bottlenose dolphines, spinner dolphines, and Albatross chicks live in areas in which the USS Arizona Monument lies. There are many conservation efforts going on inside of the USS Arizona Valor Pacific Monument. Many scientists and researchers are working on ways to help preserve the USS Arizona vessel and the areas around it. Some of the natural land features are streams, basins, cliffs, and bays. //Above is a picture of a Nene Goose//

//Above is a picture of the USS Bowfin Submarine//
 * __ RECREATIONAL ACTIVITES __**
 * What activities are there for park visitors?** There is a [|visitors center], a museum, a bookstore, exhibits. Most days there are Pearl Harbor survivors who go and like to talk to the visitors. There is the entry room, the assembly room, and the shrine room. There are also other Pearl Harbor museums nearby such as the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & park, USS Missouri.
 * Why would someone want to visit?** Somebody would want to visit this National Park because there are many [|sites to see]. This is a place where many sailors and soldiers died for our country and for us to stay a free country. As US citizens, we should all visit a National Park such as this one to show respect for the people who died. Hawaii is a beautiful place and has lots of nature and history to enjoy.