- published: 14 Jun 2016
- views: 50146
Coordinates: 21°22′04″N 157°58′38″W / 21.3679°N 157.9771°W / 21.3679; -157.9771
Pearl Harbor is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet. The U.S. government first obtained exclusive use of the inlet and the right to maintain a repair and coaling station for ships here in 1887. The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7, 1941 was the immediate cause of the United States' entry into World War II.
Pearl Harbor was originally an extensive shallow embayment called Wai Momi (meaning, “Waters of Pearl”) or Puʻuloa (meaning, “long hill”) by the Hawaiians. Puʻuloa was regarded as the home of the shark goddess, Kaʻahupahau, and her brother (or son), Kahiʻuka, in Hawaiian legends. According to tradition, Keaunui, the head of the powerful Ewa chiefs, is credited with cutting a navigable channel near the present Puʻuloa saltworks, by which he made the estuary, known as "Pearl River," accessible to navigation. Making due allowance for legendary amplification, the estuary already had an outlet for its waters where the present gap is; but Keaunui is typically given the credit for widening and deepening it.
Touched down in Hawaii, we fell from the sky
A B-17 full of lonesome GI's
Inspected by generals with gold on their chests
Then a girl she put garlands of lfowers
Round my neck
Aloha... Aloha... to Pearl Harbor
The Pacific at midnight and stars filled the sky
I was holding her so tight, her swimsuit was dry
Then on the horizon and out of the dawn
Came the sound of tuned thunder
A mechanical swarm
Aloha...
(something's comin', comin', engines hummin', hummin')
Aloha...
(She's got warm lips, smooth hips, makes my soul flip,
wow!)
Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor...
(Chorus:)
Tora Tora, Dive bomb love
Tora Tora can't get enough
Tora Tora you're the one
Take me to the land of the rising sun
Tora Tora don't break my heart
Promise me we'll never part
Tora Tora you're the one...
To the sound of Glenn Miller, we danced cheek to cheek
[vocalised horns] I've waited all week
To call you and tell you this time it's goodbye
My bags are all packed and I'm ready to fly
Aloha...
(Repeat chorus)
(Repeat chorus, fade)
Sayanora...