The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl is one of the oft-visited tourist destinations in Honolulu. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl is built in the memory of the brave soldiers of the United States Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation. It was in 1948 that this cemetery was built in the Pu'owaina Crater which was previously known as the "Hill of Sacrifice". The cemetery is a reminder of the precious lives that were lost at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour. The first casualties of Pearl Harbour were buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl. Pearl Harbour was attacked by the Japanese soldiers in 1941 and the bombing took 776 precious lives.
Among the tourist destinations in Honolulu the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl has an interesting history. The name of Punchbowl is directly related to the history of the place. This crater was used by the local people as an altar of sacrifice where humans were killed to satisfy the pagan gods. In the beginning of 1800 the crater was the homeland of the Oahu tribes who fearlessly defended their homeland against the attacks of the Army of Kamehameha. The kingdom of Kamehameha was destroyed in 1893.
Later in the 1930's the Hawaii National Guard used to practice rifle range here. At the time of World War II trenches and tunnels were dug to store shore batteries so that Honolulu Harbour and the Pearl Harbour were guarded properly. In 1964 the American Battle Monuments established the Honolulu Memorial. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl is located in a quiet place and comprises map galleries, non-sectarian chapels and a staircase which leads to the Court of Honor. There is a Courts of the Missing and it documents the names of the soldiers about whom the Armed Forces had found no information.
The huge Tower consists of a chapel and one can see the figure of "Columbia" in the chapel. This figure of a woman has a laurel branch in her left hand which embodies the power of the US Navy force. The inscription reads the famous words of President Abraham Lincoln. As for the figure of Lady Columbia in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl the lady stands for all the mothers who mourn the death of their sons in war. One can realize the pangs of warfare while looking into this remote figure who stands with all her glory in spite of losing her precious son.
travel.mapsofworld.com provides important information about National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
| 
