Pearl Harbor
The Hawaiians called this lagoon Wai Momi, meaning Waters of Pearl. They also named it Puuloa, which translates to long hill. Local legends describe the area as the home of Kaahupahau, a shark goddess. Her brother or son was Kahiuka. These figures guarded the waters in traditional stories. Keaunui led the powerful Ewa chiefs. He is credited with cutting a navigable channel near the present saltworks. This work made the estuary accessible for navigation. The name Pearl River appeared on early maps. The original outlet existed before Keaunui widened it. His efforts deepened the passage significantly.
American interest grew from whaling and trading activity in the Pacific. An Agent of the United States for Commerce and Seamen arrived in 1820. American missionaries became part of the Hawaiian political body. The newspaper Polynesian advocated for a naval base in 1841. Robert Crichton Wyllie served as British Hawaiian Minister of Foreign Affairs. He noted that events rushed toward annexation to the United States in 1840. King Kalākaua granted exclusive rights to enter Pearl Harbor in March 1874. The Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 followed shortly after. Congress approved an appropriation of $50,000 on the 1st of March 1869. The Senate allowed the Navy exclusive rights on the 20th of January 1887. The US took possession on November 9 that year.
The shallow entrance prevented large ships from entering before 1899. Naval officers acted as arbitrators in business disputes after 1868. The North Pacific Squadron formed in 1865 embraced Hawaii. A vessel surveyed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands toward Japan in 1866. The Secretary of the Navy reported 42 American flags flying over vessels in Honolulu by November 1867. The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom occurred before 1899. The United States Navy established a base on the island in 1899. No fortifications existed for sixty years due to the shallow barrier. The Spanish, American War of 1898 influenced the decision to build permanently. The treaty continued until August 1898 without major changes.
Imperial Japanese Navy airplanes attacked the base on the 7th of December 1941. Midget submarines also participated in the surprise assault. American commanders thought the Japanese would attack Wake Island or the Philippines instead. There was no meaningful plan for air defense of Hawaii. Lt. Gen. Walter Short and Adm. Husband Kimmel commanded forces at the time. Both men were demoted of their full ranks shortly after the attack. They later sought to restore their reputations and full ranks. The attack led the United States to declare war on the Empire of Japan. This marked the United States' entry into World War II. Had the Pacific Fleet sortied, ships might have sunk in deep water.
Pearl Harbor remained a main base for the US Pacific Fleet after World War II. Naval Base San Diego served alongside it as a primary facility. The Navy and Air Force merged their two nearby bases in 2010. Pearl Harbor joined with Hickam Air Force Base to create Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hickam. Admiral Clarey Bridge stands within the complex. The harbor hosts warships from various nations during exercises like RIMPAC. Environmental contamination became an issue by the 14th of October 1992. The US Environmental Protection Agency added the Naval Complex to the National Priorities List. A sailor killed two civilian workers on the 4th of December 2019.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a joint visit to Pearl Harbor in December 2016. US President Barack Obama accompanied him on this trip. This event marked the 75th anniversary of the attack. It was the first official visit by a sitting Japanese leader. Astronaut photographs captured the harbor from space in October 2009. British Pathé holds online archives of related footage. The History Channel features programs about the location. Trade agreements continue to shape relations between the nations today.
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Common questions
What is the original Hawaiian name for Pearl Harbor and what does it mean?
The Hawaiians called this lagoon Wai Momi, meaning Waters of Pearl. They also named it Puuloa, which translates to long hill.
When did the United States Navy establish a base at Pearl Harbor after the shallow entrance was deepened?
The United States Navy established a base on the island in 1899. The shallow entrance prevented large ships from entering before that year.
Who commanded American forces during the attack on Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December 1941?
Lt. Gen. Walter Short and Adm. Husband Kimmel commanded forces at the time. Both men were demoted of their full ranks shortly after the attack.
Which two military installations merged to create Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hickam in 2010?
Pearl Harbor joined with Hickam Air Force Base to create Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hickam. The Navy and Air Force merged their two nearby bases in 2010.
Why did the US Environmental Protection Agency add the Naval Complex to the National Priorities List on the 14th of October 1992?
Environmental contamination became an issue by the 14th of October 1992. The US Environmental Protection Agency added the Naval Complex to the National Priorities List due to this problem.