May 15, 2025 • 41 mins
We journey to Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii. This memorial commemorates the attack on December 7, 1941. It serves as a memorial to the lives lost and a history lesson about how the United States entered World War II.
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(00:01):
We are headed 2,400 miles offthe mainland of the United
States to a spot that serves asa memorial to the 2300 people
who died during a militaryattack, the same attack that
marked the entry of the UnitedStates into World War ii.
Join us as we explore PearlHarbor National Memorial.
I'm your host, Missy Rents, andthis is the Parks podcast.
(00:26):
In this episode, we are so luckyto have David Kilton, who is the
Interpretation, education andvisitor service lead for Pearl
Harbor National Memorial.
David, welcome to the Parkspodcast.
David Kilton (00:38):
Thank you.
I'm glad to be on this andexcited for our opportunity to
talk.
Missy Rentz (00:42):
So we start each episode with some park stats.
I am gonna run through thesejust to set the stage.
The memorial is located inHonolulu, Hawaii.
It was dedicated as Pearl HarborNational Memorial on March 12th,
2019, when Donald Trump wasserving as his first term as
president.
The Memorial Park area is 21.3acres, and in 2024 there were
(01:07):
1,577,798 people who visited.
Some interesting facts.
The attack on Pearl Harbor iswhat brought the US into World
War ii.
That attack killed more than2300 military and civilians.
The USS Arizona Memorial wasbuilt between 1961 and 1962, and
(01:32):
some of the money that wasraised for the memorial was from
a benefit concert where ElvisPresley performed.
The memorial includes the USS,Arizona, USS, Utah, and the USS
Oklahoma.
And even now, survivors of theUSS Arizona attacks can choose
to have their ashes ENT tombedon the ship when they pass.
(01:55):
David, this is a very specialplace.
David Kilton (01:58):
Yeah it's an honor.
I get visitors that say all thetime, thank you for what you do.
And I literally, what I justmentioned, it's an honor to work
at this site and to share thepowerful heart wrenching and
multifaceted aspects of thispiece of history and all that
ties to it on a daily basis forsure.
Missy Rentz (02:19):
I came on vacation to Hawaii and so most of the
vacation was beaches andpineapples and to have this
really somber moment and to bethere was really special.
And for me, my.
Grandfather was on his way toPearl Harbor when it was
attacked.
And we always heard a lot ofstories from that perspective of
(02:40):
he was days away from arriving,which is really interesting.
The first thing I wanna get intois in the stats.
I talked about the creation onMarch 12th, 2019, and I think
people will be like, you'recrazy, Missy.
You didn't do your research.
But that's not the case.
It was the memorial was created,but like we talk about things
shift in the National ParkService.
(03:01):
So can you first explain thetimeline to us?
David Kilton (03:06):
Yeah, so I jokingly say that Pearl Harbor
National Memorials had anidentity crisis because it's
gone through like multiplestages over, over the time and
that really starts going backall the way till just after the
attack.
One of the amazing stories isthe salvage divers that would go
into these wrecks.
(03:27):
And there were 21 total heavilydamaged or sun in ships from the
attack that morning, and theyput 18 of them back into war
service over the next comingmonths and years, and they would
take part in World War ii.
So only three.
Wouldn't go into service.
(03:47):
And you already mentioned them.
That was the Utah, the Oklahomaand the Arizona were the three
that didn't go back into No.
Into service.
And as they were trying tosalvage the Arizona, they
quickly saw that the damage thatwas done from that bomb that.
That debt detonated and kickedoff the ammunitions and fuel.
(04:08):
It had split the keel in half,which is the very heavily
reinforced kind of center lineof the ship that goes from the
bow underneath.
And it had split in half.
So basically broken the back ofthe Arizona, and that's why it
sank so quickly.
So as they saw that they weren'tgonna be able to salvage it and
put it back into war readiness.
Also knew the reality and weregathering how many lives were
(04:33):
lost on that ship.
They decided we're gonna makethis a memorial on a war grave
instead of continuing to try toput money into salvaging the
ship.
Now there were things that weresalvaged off the ship.
I'll just drop that in as alittle aside.
They actually did pullammunition off.
They did pull the three, threeof the main battery guns and
(04:54):
other pieces off to basicallyrecycle and reuse so they didn't
have to build those materialsfrom scratch as they were trying
to now move through having a twoocean war.
And so the initial memorialwould start right then, and
actually the military would putplaques on the ship.
(05:15):
Allow people to come out andland on the ship and hold
different kind of ceremonies andthings like that on these
platforms that were there on theship.
And eventually they there's thedecision that let's actually
make a memorial.
And so that goes into theprocess of starting to put out
this contract and get a memorialmade.
(05:36):
And the actual memorial, as youmentioned was built in, was put
into actual construction, 61, 62and actually dedicated on
Memorial Day in 1962.
And then since after that, theNavy would provide for the
visitation of the memorial forthe next 18 years.
And then it would come to apoint that there would be a
(06:00):
reaching out for the partnershipto begin.
With the Navy and the NationalPark Service starting in 1980.
And so in 1980 Arizona Memorialthe USS Arizona Memorial was
actually established with theNational Park Service in the
United States in tandem.
And then eventually, it wouldbecome World War II Valor in the
Pacific.
(06:20):
And when that was created, itwould actually make so that not
only the story of Pearl Harbor,but multiple other stories
around the Pacific would beshared together.
They would share resources, theywould share stories, and they
would build the story of thePacific Theater of the War.
Jointly.
And then that would last untilthe most recent change where it
(06:45):
would go back to a narrow focusjust on the Harbor National
Memorial and in include theother resources.
Yeah.
Within the Memorial.
Actually the other resources,I'm gonna stop that for just a
second.
The other resources would beactually included, including the
USS Utah and USS OklahomaMemorial and.
(07:05):
Six Chief Petty Officerbungalows, as well as six
mooring keys.
That would actually be where theships would tie off and be side
by side along Battleship Row.
Those would all be added duringthe World War II valor in the
Pacific actually designation.
And then during the most recentfirst Trump administration is
(07:26):
when they would actually be goback to a narrow firm focus and
create Pearl Harbor NationalMemorial.
Missy Rentz (07:32):
And why do you think it's important that it's
part of the Park Service?
David Kilton (07:38):
I think one of the reasons that is important is not
that the Navy doesn't do a goodjob of bringing in opportunities
to connect with the theirhistory and tell different
dynamics, and they have amazingmuseums.
I think one of the things thatallows Pearl Harbor to be unique
(08:01):
and special as being part of theNational Park Service is there
are some barriers for themilitary to get visitors onto
some of their resources andthings like that.
And we still deal with them insome regard as the National Park
Service working with.
The military is it's hard to geton base and it's hard to do
that, but we are able to welcomeand bring in a much, much larger
(08:25):
audience and a much moreinternational audience because
we are, we don't have some ofthe barriers that the military
have in welcoming that audience.
Missy Rentz (08:35):
And the one thing, I don't even know if I have a
question for this.
I just think it's important tonote.
You may have more to say aboutit, but the, we talked about it,
it was a huge loss of life andit might have been, I think the
Navy gets a lot of theattention, but it hit all
branches of the military.
And a lot of civilians.
This was really huge.
David Kilton (08:57):
Yes that's actually something that we get a
pretty common question is howmany.
Pearl Harbor survivors arethere.
That's a and right now that nomis gonna just continue to
dwindle as time goes, but Inever know where to draw a line
on where I would say that linestops or I ended including the
(09:18):
groups that I should, becauseyou can talk about just military
personnel.
You could talk about justmilitary branches, but you have
to take in that their familieswere part of that too.
And even if they didn't takewounds or things like that.
Losing loved ones.
They're part of those World War,Pearl Harbor survivors.
And then if you take intoaccount that there were the
(09:40):
civilian dock workers that wereworking right alongside those
military personnel, and then thecommunities that were hit also,
some of them even by friendlyfire because as they fired
anti-aircraft guns.
They'd actually have the timewhen those explosions would co
go off.
And because they didn't have thetime to calibrate and make that
(10:00):
some of those missed and thenlanded in the local communities
and then detonated thosecommunities causing fires and
things like that.
And whether you want to includethem in those or not.
There was also the attackingimperial Japanese forces that
are part of that story too.
The attackers were part of.
Surviving Pearl Harbor attack aswell.
(10:21):
So there's just a huge differentnumbers and little circles that
you could expand or contract on.
What would be in that, includedin that number?
It's really hard to say whatthat is but even on Ford Island,
which is the little islandbehind the memorial, it is part
of the active military base, theNavy base the, there's families
(10:42):
that were on that island thatgot strafed and things like that
as the imperial Japanese forceswere attacking the airfield and
the ships.
And so they're, I'd say they aredefinitely included in Pearl
Harbor survivor for sure.
Missy Rentz (10:56):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And you talk about the survivorsand one thing I think is so
special about Pearl Harbor isthat for many years you all have
captured the stories of thepeople that were there.
And it's brings tears to my eyesjust remembering it.
And I was there like 19 yearsago and I can still feel walking
(11:20):
through the museum and hearingthese stories and I think.
It is, it's so impactful to hearthem firsthand and you realize
how precious those firsthandstories are as fewer and fewer
survivors remain.
David Kilton (11:38):
Yeah.
And.
One of the things so I've workedat multiple histor historic
sites during my National Parkservice career and I have a
little bit of talking abouteras, I guess you could almost
say.
So my first national historicsite I worked for at was Golden
Swag National Historic Site.
Happened 150 years ago.
So in that case, you're like, wehope the history books have it
(12:00):
right.
'cause we can't talk to anybodythat actually experienced it.
My, my next one and just mostrecent prior to coming here was
Central High School NationalHistoric Site where I got to
meet the Little Rock Nine andwork directly with individuals
that.
Lived those experiences andhappening just over 60 years ago
(12:21):
and get to really connect andget their firsthand reflections
and connections and feelings ofwhat happened.
We also had that opportunitywith Pearl Harbor National
Memorial, and I'm grateful thatso many did take those
opportunities and we still havea lingering ability to connect
with those that had thoseexperiences and lived.
(12:41):
What that was.
One of my really good friendsthat I've met here since I moved
here to the island, his unclewas worked as a diver.
One was actually one of thosesalvage divers.
So hearing reflections of him,remembering what happened with
his uncle, and he is yeah, hedisappeared for two weeks and we
didn't know what was going onand even really what he was
(13:02):
doing and just then eventuallythey.
He talks about, then we wentdown to the docks and we'd see
him come up out of the watercovered in the crude bunker oil
that looked like tar and comingout and there'd be just kids
hanging out on the docks, seeingthat, seeing the reality of what
it was.
So those type of experiencewhere you actually get to hear
the reality, what happened, andthis is a side story to those
(13:24):
that actually lived it and beingable to have had, those stories
captured and be able to be thestewards of carrying them
forward as again, why it's anhonor to.
Missy Rentz (13:34):
Yeah.
And I think I remember it alsoat Ellis Island very, a very
similar feeling, but thememorabilia that you also are
able to get.
So the museum is not, recraftedfrom pictures.
There's actual memorabilia thatpeople have donated in order to
showcase the story of that dayand the time after it.
David Kilton (13:56):
Yeah.
One of, one of my favoritethings when I first came here
that is just incredible to seeis we have basically the edit
of.
Franklin President FranklinDelano Roosevelt's speech that
he would say the famous day ofInfamy speech.
And as you look and see hismarkings of words he changed and
(14:20):
things that he did, it justmakes it so much more real.
And you get to step into alittle bit the mindset of the
president preparing to announcethat.
The United States would nowinter officially into World War
ii and just it just, hisselection of words and some of
the things it just'cause infamywasn't even the first word that
(14:42):
was in that speech and hechanged it to, to bring that
out.
So it's really cool.
Missy Rentz (14:47):
Wow, that is really cool.
Oh, I love that.
Okay, so right now, if you areable to watch the podcast, you
will see that David is sittingin front of this incredible
image.
Of the museum and I, what Iwanna do is we get into planning
a visit.
I'd love to talk about, this isunique because you actually, I'd
(15:08):
just like to talk about like,when you get there, what exactly
is the experience that you'regonna have?
'cause you're not walking into abig stone building that, has has
all the artifacts there.
This is unique.
David Kilton (15:20):
Yeah.
Pearl Harbor the memorial isprobably one of the most sought
after designations ordestination spots on Oahu and.
Even potentially even in Hawaii,the, all the islands.
So we, we get a large number ofpeople to come and I wish I
could say, oh, it's easy.
You know how you come in and youknow how to do everything you
(15:43):
need to, but it does have someconfusing nature of it.
And I I'd say one part of thatis that we do have.
Partners that work out outsideof just the National Park
Service work very closely, andwe all connect at this one
location.
So you come in here and you havethe the USS Missouri a
(16:06):
battleship that you can go overand see as well as Pearl Harbor
Aviation Museum, and then youhave the Pacific, history
summary Museum and our partnersthat also just run the bookstore
and things like that.
So it's not, you come onto thecampus, it's ah, where am I
going?
What am I trying to do?
So there's a lot with that, buteventually you can come over and
(16:27):
specifically for the NationalPark Service, you have our two
museums and you have a placewhere you can watch a film and
then where you actually board.
Active duty, US Navy pilotedboats that take you out to the
Arizona Memorial.
Now, something that's a uniquething that a lot of people don't
know is that they actuallyconsider those boats tenders of
(16:53):
the USS Arizona and the theactive duty sailors are
considered.
Part of the USS Arizona crew.
So they actually are called theArizona Detachment and they
actually get the honor ofhelping visitors go out and have
that experience.
So we work very closely with theUS Navy to provide for this
(17:15):
opportunity.
And if you are looking at thepodcast and see this white
structure that's behind me.
Is the Arizona Memorial, andthat's the like key destination
point that most people want tohave the opportunity to come out
and see.
So we can get just over 4,000visitors a day on these boats.
We take a boat out every 15minutes.
(17:38):
And can load 145 passengers ontothat boat.
And so where it's a quickturnaround, getting folks and
getting as many people thatopportunity to have that honor
and be able to go out there andpay their respect each day.
And there are days whereunfortunately we can have six
8,000 visitors.
So if you can imagine, we canjust only get just over 4,000
(17:58):
out there.
There are days where weunfortunately have to say, I'm
sorry.
You don't get the opportunity togo that way.
And that's hard.
We want everybody to have anequal opportunity to get out
there and get that experience.
But there are some things thatwe do to help provide a little
bit of planning and opportunityto make that a little bit an
(18:19):
easier process.
And one of that is we do releasethrough recreation.gov.
Opportunity to make reservationsto get your spot on one of the
boats.
And they released tickets 56days in advance, so about eight
weeks out, and then also the daybefore and on for the different
time slots.
And I wish I could say, yeah,you jump on that reservation and
(18:41):
again, you can guarantee you'regonna get a spot on the boat,
but they go so quick.
Especially during our busy, likekind of peak seasons and stuff
like that, we really don't havea down season like some other
national parks.
We are a year round visitationdestination spot.
If you can imagine in thewinter, where would you like to
go and get out of the cold?
Let's come to Hawaii.
Missy Rentz (19:01):
So
David Kilton (19:02):
So
Missy Rentz (19:02):
I'm guessing like Christmas break is a big peak.
David Kilton (19:05):
it is huge and actually, the days following
Christmas almost you canguarantee those days between the
holidays, Christmas and New Yearare gonna be the busiest days of
the year.
So that's when you are gonnahave the six to thousand
visitors guaranteed to be onsite.
We also have we do have a bumpfor spring break for sure and
(19:30):
then summer so typical whatyou'll see at a lot.
Of other NPS sites.
December 7th is around thecommemoration.
There are, there is a a bumpwith that as well.
And I'd say dropping to 3000visitor days is not common.
(19:51):
But you do have that some ofthose other times around the
year.
Missy Rentz (19:55):
so if you have the flexibility to go during a off
time, that is a better, you havea better chance to,
David Kilton (20:01):
I'm getting those reservations to guaranteed spots
on the boat.
Now, if you're not able to getthe, oh, I will just mention
real quick to get thosereservations yourself.
It's a dollar per seat and thatjust goes straight to
recreation.gov.
It won't come to the NationalPark Service.
We actually buy mandate.
We'll never charge to getanybody out to the memorial.
(20:23):
That is and it makes sense.
I would feel greasy if I wascharging to get people out to
pay their respects to the debt.
I would you don't do that now ifyou also wanna try to get it
into a package and see otherthings.
There are tour providers thatwill pass.
Provide that in a package dealand they will provide for bus
transportation and other thingslike that.
(20:44):
And so those will be moreexpensive.
I can't tell you the prices onall of those because every tour
company does it different.
But but there's other ways youcan get those reservations.
They get access to us some ofthe some of the time slots as
well so that they can makereservations and provide those
for their guests.
But if you can't get, either, ifyou can't pay for the tour or
(21:07):
you can't do the recreation.govreservation, all hope is not
lost.
There's another option for you.
And we've actually, within thetime I've been here, I've been
here almost four years we'vecreated another option that is
gonna, that has proven to bejust positive feedback and been
so helpful that we're gonna makethis a permanent, situation is
(21:29):
you can actually come in andusing just your phone, you can
sign up for what we call standbyand that basically just saves
your spot in line.
And then when we look like wecan fit you on a boat, we will
send you a text and then youcome and jump in line.
And usually by the time you getthat text, you're gonna be on a
(21:50):
boat within the next 15 to 30minutes and be out.
Missy Rentz (21:54):
That's great.
David Kilton (21:54):
So prior to that, we used to have where people
would get in these long linesand just have to wait and see
what we could do.
And with that being the case,unfortunately we would have
people waiting for hours inline.
They're not connecting with thehistory, they're not learning
about what happened, they'rejust standing in a line and
seeing what their shot might be.
(22:15):
And then also.
Standing out in the heat andthere was a lot of other things
just uncomfortable and thingsand just so this option of the
virtual standby queuing gives usa lot more benefit to try to
help the visitors get the mostout of their experience.
And even on those days when theycan't, get the, get that
opportunity to get on a boat.
If it's a six to 8,000 visitorday, at least they didn't spend
(22:39):
all their time in line and getturned away.
They can go do other thingswhile they're waiting to see if
that might be a possibility.
Missy Rentz (22:45):
And there is so much to do.
I, it sounds like even more thanfrom when I visited, the museum
is spectacular that to get thehistory of it and to experience
it.
David Kilton (22:56):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It, I we, so just recently weconnected our site to the
history of Oshima don't, knowingthe stories are very different,
the, but both of our sites, soOshima, peace Park.
Tells the story of the bombingof Hiroshima and tells about
(23:17):
what kind of happened and allthe ins and outs around that
story and has multiple monumentsand things.
Both of our sites seeing kind ofsome of the things connected is
we both have, part of ourmissions is seeking as we
reflect on these stories, ishoping for peace and
(23:37):
reconciliation.
And sharing what that can bemoving forward.
And then also have a hugeeducational foundation of what
our missions are.
So with those two guidingprinciples being a major factor
in both parks, we felt there wasan opportunity to.
Combine our very differentstories and make an opportunity
to really connect and bringaspects of the story together.
(24:02):
And so we now have a sister parkrelationship with Sima Peace
Park, and we've done someeducational opportunities where
we've done exchanges withstudents going there and
students coming here and justhave those opportunities that
are really neat and just reallyshare our resources and the
knowledge we have to be able tomore effectively tell the
(24:22):
nuances and all the differentconnections and the fabric of
what the reality of the war andeven some of the major events
within the Pacific Theater ofthe, of World War II are
Missy Rentz (24:34):
that's really cool.
That'd be an interesting, justreally, it's really neat to see
the different perspectives fromthe different countries.
That's very cool.
So how do you go about seeingthe USS Oklahoma and USS Utah
memorials?
I.
David Kilton (24:47):
So if you just go right onto our website, there
are ways you can connect andlearn a little bit about the
history, but if you actuallywant to go and see them
unfortunately this brings upsomething we already talked
about.
They are on the active militarybase on Ford Island.
So if you don't have militaryaccess.
You really can't get over to seethem.
(25:08):
So we started with the 80thanniversary of of commemoration
to, we did a kind of a pilot runto see if we could work with the
Navy to get.
To guide Tors over to see thosememorials and connect with their
stories.
It was very well received.
It worked really well and theNavy was really pleased at
(25:31):
things that we established tomake sure that we were, kind of
protecting their interests andthings that they needed to do
with that active military baseas we were trying to guide the
tours.
As I said, it worked so wellthat we started actually
instigating so that we would,that next spring begin so that
we do this tour every week.
(25:51):
We do it three times a weekMonday, Wednesdays, and Fridays
from three 30 to five.
Again, through recreation.gov,people can make their
reservations.
We started out, it was a 25person tour, so very limited.
If you imagine how many youmentioned how many visitors we
get a year, very, a drop in thebucket, drop in the ocean.
(26:14):
How many an opportunity?
And so we but again.
We were doing that and it provedto be so effective that now
we've bumped up.
And so just this last year wejumped up to now we can take 44
visitors per tour.
So just about 150 people a weekget that opportunity to go with
(26:35):
one of our rangers, go over on aprogram, get to hear more, get
to see those stories and reallyhave a unique opportunity to
connect.
We are hoping that as we startedthis relationship to provide
access to those resources withthe Navy, that there will be
more opportunities goingforward, but we definitely want
to continue to maintain andprotect.
(26:57):
I.
The interests of our militarypartners as we move forward and
we'll we're seeing what mightcome moving forward to allow for
that, including even maybe evenaccessing the other resources,
which were the six Chief PettyOfficer bungalows, I mentioned
those briefly.
So there are six units that werebasically given to the National
(27:18):
Park Service to maintain,preserve and tell the stories of
these were homes.
Where military officers andtheir families would've lived
and would've been witnessedbuildings to the attacks on
Pearl Harbor.
And so we are looking to providefor renovation and restoration
as well as preservation of thoseunits to tell more of this
(27:41):
story.
Missy Rentz (27:41):
I can't imagine being there that close,
witnessing that.
Wow.
Wow.
That's special.
How much time should someoneallow when they come to visit?
David Kilton (27:52):
Just the experience going to the Arizona
Memorial, when you get on theboat and get out there, it's
gonna be 45 minutes by itself.
So if you figure in, if youwanna watch the movie, if you
wanna explore the museums, andthen definitely if you wanna.
Check out any of the partnersites.
I'd say plan at least for half aday to a day.
(28:13):
Some people will actually spendmultiple days at the site and
that's, that's just man, yeah,we're, we wanted to come and
just do the Arizona Memorialaspect of things and do the NPS
side of things one day and we'llcome back the next day and do
the partner sites because thosestories are fascinating and have
a lot of interest for us too.
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (28:32):
And then can people drive there themselves?
'cause it's not, it's, Iremember it's not.
Necessarily close to the mainhotels, at least some years ago,
but do they drive there or is itbest to do like a bus or other
transportation?
David Kilton (28:47):
So there's multiple options and that's
something that I'd say isgrowing.
So right now you can definitelyride the bus.
And a lot of people will, Imentioned there's the tour
providers that provide bustransportation.
We we do have parking lots, butthey are fairly limited.
And in fact, because of thelimitation to the parking lots.
(29:09):
Recently to maintain and provideother access and things for the
visitors.
We did institute a parking feejust so we can do what we need
to do with all that.
So there is a$7 parking feecovers the whole day that you
can come and do that.
But then the other option that'sdeveloping is there is a rail
(29:31):
system that is, is, is slowlyprogressing to provide access
mainly on this side of Oahu,Honolulu, going to a lot of the
destinations here in, in thearea.
Right now the open and operatingportion of the rail is really
going from just west of PearlHarbor.
(29:53):
Out to the more western side ofthe island.
But the next leg that will openup will connect with the airport
and really allow better accessto us.
And that's gonna continue toexpand going into Honolulu.
And so that's another option.
Some people use Uber and and,
Missy Rentz (30:11):
lift.
David Kilton (30:12):
Yeah, Lyft and the park and ride.
There are taxi services thathelp too.
So quite a few options.
And from Honolulu, which iswhere a lot of people will be.
If you don't have traffic thatcan sometimes rise and be a
pretty big deal.
If you don't have traffic, it'sabout 30 minutes to.
Missy Rentz (30:30):
And are there food options when you're there or do
people need to pack food?
David Kilton (30:34):
Bring up a couple things with that.
First of all, for food optionson site, there are some things,
we actually have a snack shop.
If you think of convenience,like prep, pre-prepared
sandwiches, chips, that kind ofstuff.
There, there's that is availableright on ground, a myriad of
different drinks.
(30:55):
Then the partners, each of theirsites have some other food
options that they provide, andthe submarine museum will
actually run a hotdog standthat's just out there so people
can grab that.
And then each of them, when youvisit their site which do have a
fees associated with them, youhave like cafe or different
(31:15):
eateries that you can eat onthat.
Bringing your own food.
Actually is not the best ideabecause there is a bag policy to
come on site because from ourlocation you can board a bus
that will take you over ontoFord Island to go see the USS
Missouri and the AviationMuseum.
The Navy has asked us to helpthem provide for basically, base
(31:39):
security and we cannot allowbags onto
Missy Rentz (31:42):
So no bags.
David Kilton (31:43):
outside.
So you can't bring any bags upbigger than like a wallet size,
small little like hand pursetype thing.
Anything bigger than that is notallowed on campus for base
security.
And
Missy Rentz (31:55):
And and that's on the website?
Yes.
David Kilton (31:58):
Yes.
Missy Rentz (31:58):
So it seems like as we wrap up how to plan it seems,
most people when they're gonnacome to Hawaii, they're putting
a plan together anyway, sothey're in planning mode, but
recreation.gov is gonna be yourfriend and getting your
reservations in advance.
I think it sounds like goingearly if you're driving
yourself, because parking couldbe an issue.
(32:19):
And also, at least when I wasthere, going early meant it
wasn't hot, and by the time Ileft, it was still really hot.
But it just, there was a littlebit of, skin preservation in
that one.
And so I think it's justprepare, I think the website.
I'm always saying go to thewebsite, go to the app.
Does an amazing job of walkingyou through different planning
options.
(32:40):
But it, but this is a park wherepreparation is really key.
David Kilton (32:43):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And one of the things I willhighlight with bags is if you
have a clear bag.
You can bring a clear bag.
So as long as our securityguards at the front can look and
see what you're doing andnothing that's being brought in
is at risk, you can bring thatin.
And then if you buy stuff onground, so let's say you do come
in and you wanna buy some snacksto carry through your day,
(33:06):
that's fine.
If you have one of the bags thatyou get in the bookstore and you
have those with you, that'sfine.
You just won't be able to haveany open snacks or treats or
drinks besides water.
When you go out to the ArizonaMemorial to protect, keeping the
boats from getting gross andsticky and everything like that,
as well as the memorial tryingto preserve, to keep that from
(33:26):
getting covered in Coke orwhatever.
Missy Rentz (33:28):
And that's really sacred ground.
It's really very serene andreflective that, that portion of
it.
You have given so muchinformation that I is linked on
the website.
So for listeners on the Parkspodcast website, on this episode
page, I'll link to a lot of thethings that David talked about,
just so you have easy access toget to those tips and tricks and
(33:49):
information.
So we wrap up every episode witha speed round of questions.
So I just want you to answerwith whatever comes to mind.
Okay.
What is your earliest parkmemory?
I.
David Kilton (34:03):
It would be going to the Grand Canyon.
I was I lived in Arizona at thetime and I vaguely remember the
rim, but I was very little.
What I remember more than goingto the Grand Canyon and actually
seeing the rim and looking downinto the canyon.
Is I was bouncing on the wallbetween ours and our neighbor's
(34:25):
house prior to our US loading upin the van and going and I fell
off the wall into our neighbor'syard into a cactus.
I remember my mom pulling thepraying prongs outta me, and
then we went to the GrandCanyon.
So that's my earliest parkmemory.
But we went to the parks a lotand that's one of the reasons I
wanted to work for the parkService is just we have amazing
(34:46):
family memories of going andcamping.
In the parks or at Ks close byand just having amazing family
experiences.
But that's my earliest memory.
Missy Rentz (34:57):
And what made you love the parks?
David Kilton (35:00):
Really the serenity and being out in nature
is one aspect as well as thelove of history and whatever
national Park service site yougo to.
You can go to these amazinglybeautiful things.
See these amazing, have theseamazing experiences, seeing
wildlife and things like that.
But there's always.
(35:21):
Unique history that connectsthem to of the native peoples,
of the connections of people atthose locations, those that
first started to preserve andtell the stories of those
locations and engage with thebeauty of that place as well as
the tragic and.
And difficult stories or thosestories of triumphs that all
(35:42):
connect at the national parksand connecting with those things
and having these amazingexperiences out in the beautiful
areas that help to make, I thinkthe United States have the
unique stories of what make itengaging and just complex in its
history and the reality of whatthis country is.
Missy Rentz (36:02):
What is your favorite thing about Pearl Harb
Harbor National Memorial.
David Kilton (36:11):
So telling the stories of those that were just
beginning their lives and hadthings cut short in such a
unexpected and, a definitiveway.
And having people to come andunderstand that the tragedy of
that moment is real and and thesadness of it can impact our
(36:35):
lives, but it doesn't have todefine our lives or our
relationships.
And that brings to mind again,the peace and reconciliation
story.
One of the most powerful storiesthat I.
I love to share.
It's a story of a Japanesebombardier and a marine bugler
(36:55):
that were on the opposite endsof the story that came together
during one of the commemorationsand ended up forming a
friendship of bond of love forone another.
That is, is such a powerfulreminder of we can move past.
(37:15):
Those differences and thosethose forces that are pulling us
apart or putting us at oddsagainst each other and form
bonds and relationships that aretransformative and beautiful.
Missy Rentz (37:27):
What is your favorite thing to do at Pearl
Harbor National Memorial?
David Kilton (37:32):
Going and being on the sacred ground that you
mentioned being at thatlocation.
And being able to see thoseneeds and know that is a place
we get to honor them.
And one of the things I, wehighlight quite often is that
it's not just a location wherewe memorialize those individuals
with over 900 of the 1,177 thatlost their lives on the Arizona
(37:57):
never being able to be removedfrom the ship.
That's also their burial.
Site, that's the, that's so it'sbasically their graveyard.
And so we being able to connectwith them and have a quiet
moment in that hollowed andRevent location is amazing.
Missy Rentz (38:14):
What park have you yet to visit, but it's on your
bucket list and why?
David Kilton (38:21):
I, some people are gonna go, wait, you've never
been there?
Hawaii volcanoes actually I'mright here and I haven't been
able to go yet.
I went for a training over thereand was like, oh, wait till it
stops raining.
It always rains in Hilo so Ineed to go back and I wanna go.
So I worked at creators of theMoon National Monument in Idaho.
And that location has someconnections to basically the
(38:45):
hotspot that's created theHawaiian Islands.
Yellowstone is the hotspot thatis created, all the geothermal
activity that's there atYellowstone, but also left a
track similar to the HawaiianIslands across Idaho.
So you can see all thesevolcanic formations.
So going and actually connectingwith and being there when
there's an actual eruption is agoal.
(39:05):
And so I definitely wanna go seeit.
Missy Rentz (39:08):
What are three must haves you pack for a park visit.
David Kilton (39:13):
Water bottle camera and can I say my family?
Missy Rentz (39:26):
Perfect.
David Kilton (39:28):
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (39:29):
What's your favorite campfire activity?
I.
David Kilton (39:36):
Although I don't like them, I love roast and
s'mores with my family.
Like I don't like themarshmallows, it's just the
chocolate and Graham.
But just sitting there togetherand talking and just having the,
those treats and just a lot offond memories of that.
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (39:52):
Are you staying in a tent, a camper, or a cabin?
David Kilton (39:57):
As I'm getting older, I need an air mattress,
but still in tents
Missy Rentz (40:03):
And do you hike with or without trekking poles?
David Kilton (40:06):
without
Missy Rentz (40:07):
What is your favorite trail snack?
David Kilton (40:11):
fruit.
Fruit, leather strips.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (40:14):
What is your favorite animal sighting?
David Kilton (40:20):
Grizzly Bear Yellowstone
Missy Rentz (40:22):
What is your favorite sound in the park?
David Kilton (40:26):
at Pearl Harbor.
We have nice quiet, peaceful,calm waters.
Out on the memorial is, it'sjust out there at the memorial.
It's just powerful.
It's amazing.
Missy Rentz (40:39):
And what is the greatest gift that the parks
give to us?
David Kilton (40:46):
Enduring stories and places for generations to
come.
Missy Rentz (40:53):
David, thank you so much for being part of the Parks
podcast and sharing thisincredible space.
It has been too long, and I mayneed to plan another trip out
there to remember so much ofthis.
But thank you for joining ustoday.
David Kilton (41:07):
Glad to.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Missy Rentz (41:10):
That's all for today's episode.
Until next time, we'll see youin the parks.
Thanks for listening.
If you enjoyed today's episode,please be sure to like and share
on your favorite podcastplatform.
Music for the parks podcast iswritten, performed and produced
by Porter Hardy.
For more information, pleasefollow us on Instagram at the
(41:31):
parks podcast.
Or visit ourwebsite@theparkspodcast.com.
We are headed 2,400 miles offthe mainland of the United
States to a spot that serves asa memorial to the 2300 people
who died during a militaryattack, the same attack that
marked the entry of the UnitedStates into World War ii.
Join us as we explore PearlHarbor National Memorial.
I'm your host, Missy Rents, andthis is the Parks podcast.
(00:26):
In this episode, we are so luckyto have David Kilton, who is the
Interpretation, education andvisitor service lead for Pearl
Harbor National Memorial.
David, welcome to the Parkspodcast.
David Kilton (00:38):
Thank you.
I'm glad to be on this andexcited for our opportunity to
talk.
Missy Rentz (00:42):
So we start each episode with some park stats.
I am gonna run through thesejust to set the stage.
The memorial is located inHonolulu, Hawaii.
It was dedicated as Pearl HarborNational Memorial on March 12th,
2019, when Donald Trump wasserving as his first term as
president.
The Memorial Park area is 21.3acres, and in 2024 there were
(01:07):
1,577,798 people who visited.
Some interesting facts.
The attack on Pearl Harbor iswhat brought the US into World
War ii.
That attack killed more than2300 military and civilians.
The USS Arizona Memorial wasbuilt between 1961 and 1962, and
(01:32):
some of the money that wasraised for the memorial was from
a benefit concert where ElvisPresley performed.
The memorial includes the USS,Arizona, USS, Utah, and the USS
Oklahoma.
And even now, survivors of theUSS Arizona attacks can choose
to have their ashes ENT tombedon the ship when they pass.
(01:55):
David, this is a very specialplace.
David Kilton (01:58):
Yeah it's an honor.
I get visitors that say all thetime, thank you for what you do.
And I literally, what I justmentioned, it's an honor to work
at this site and to share thepowerful heart wrenching and
multifaceted aspects of thispiece of history and all that
ties to it on a daily basis forsure.
Missy Rentz (02:19):
I came on vacation to Hawaii and so most of the
vacation was beaches andpineapples and to have this
really somber moment and to bethere was really special.
And for me, my.
Grandfather was on his way toPearl Harbor when it was
attacked.
And we always heard a lot ofstories from that perspective of
(02:40):
he was days away from arriving,which is really interesting.
The first thing I wanna get intois in the stats.
I talked about the creation onMarch 12th, 2019, and I think
people will be like, you'recrazy, Missy.
You didn't do your research.
But that's not the case.
It was the memorial was created,but like we talk about things
shift in the National ParkService.
(03:01):
So can you first explain thetimeline to us?
David Kilton (03:06):
Yeah, so I jokingly say that Pearl Harbor
National Memorials had anidentity crisis because it's
gone through like multiplestages over, over the time and
that really starts going backall the way till just after the
attack.
One of the amazing stories isthe salvage divers that would go
into these wrecks.
(03:27):
And there were 21 total heavilydamaged or sun in ships from the
attack that morning, and theyput 18 of them back into war
service over the next comingmonths and years, and they would
take part in World War ii.
So only three.
Wouldn't go into service.
(03:47):
And you already mentioned them.
That was the Utah, the Oklahomaand the Arizona were the three
that didn't go back into No.
Into service.
And as they were trying tosalvage the Arizona, they
quickly saw that the damage thatwas done from that bomb that.
That debt detonated and kickedoff the ammunitions and fuel.
(04:08):
It had split the keel in half,which is the very heavily
reinforced kind of center lineof the ship that goes from the
bow underneath.
And it had split in half.
So basically broken the back ofthe Arizona, and that's why it
sank so quickly.
So as they saw that they weren'tgonna be able to salvage it and
put it back into war readiness.
Also knew the reality and weregathering how many lives were
(04:33):
lost on that ship.
They decided we're gonna makethis a memorial on a war grave
instead of continuing to try toput money into salvaging the
ship.
Now there were things that weresalvaged off the ship.
I'll just drop that in as alittle aside.
They actually did pullammunition off.
They did pull the three, threeof the main battery guns and
(04:54):
other pieces off to basicallyrecycle and reuse so they didn't
have to build those materialsfrom scratch as they were trying
to now move through having a twoocean war.
And so the initial memorialwould start right then, and
actually the military would putplaques on the ship.
(05:15):
Allow people to come out andland on the ship and hold
different kind of ceremonies andthings like that on these
platforms that were there on theship.
And eventually they there's thedecision that let's actually
make a memorial.
And so that goes into theprocess of starting to put out
this contract and get a memorialmade.
(05:36):
And the actual memorial, as youmentioned was built in, was put
into actual construction, 61, 62and actually dedicated on
Memorial Day in 1962.
And then since after that, theNavy would provide for the
visitation of the memorial forthe next 18 years.
And then it would come to apoint that there would be a
(06:00):
reaching out for the partnershipto begin.
With the Navy and the NationalPark Service starting in 1980.
And so in 1980 Arizona Memorialthe USS Arizona Memorial was
actually established with theNational Park Service in the
United States in tandem.
And then eventually, it wouldbecome World War II Valor in the
Pacific.
(06:20):
And when that was created, itwould actually make so that not
only the story of Pearl Harbor,but multiple other stories
around the Pacific would beshared together.
They would share resources, theywould share stories, and they
would build the story of thePacific Theater of the War.
Jointly.
And then that would last untilthe most recent change where it
(06:45):
would go back to a narrow focusjust on the Harbor National
Memorial and in include theother resources.
Yeah.
Within the Memorial.
Actually the other resources,I'm gonna stop that for just a
second.
The other resources would beactually included, including the
USS Utah and USS OklahomaMemorial and.
(07:05):
Six Chief Petty Officerbungalows, as well as six
mooring keys.
That would actually be where theships would tie off and be side
by side along Battleship Row.
Those would all be added duringthe World War II valor in the
Pacific actually designation.
And then during the most recentfirst Trump administration is
(07:26):
when they would actually be goback to a narrow firm focus and
create Pearl Harbor NationalMemorial.
Missy Rentz (07:32):
And why do you think it's important that it's
part of the Park Service?
David Kilton (07:38):
I think one of the reasons that is important is not
that the Navy doesn't do a goodjob of bringing in opportunities
to connect with the theirhistory and tell different
dynamics, and they have amazingmuseums.
I think one of the things thatallows Pearl Harbor to be unique
(08:01):
and special as being part of theNational Park Service is there
are some barriers for themilitary to get visitors onto
some of their resources andthings like that.
And we still deal with them insome regard as the National Park
Service working with.
The military is it's hard to geton base and it's hard to do
that, but we are able to welcomeand bring in a much, much larger
(08:25):
audience and a much moreinternational audience because
we are, we don't have some ofthe barriers that the military
have in welcoming that audience.
Missy Rentz (08:35):
And the one thing, I don't even know if I have a
question for this.
I just think it's important tonote.
You may have more to say aboutit, but the, we talked about it,
it was a huge loss of life andit might have been, I think the
Navy gets a lot of theattention, but it hit all
branches of the military.
And a lot of civilians.
This was really huge.
David Kilton (08:57):
Yes that's actually something that we get a
pretty common question is howmany.
Pearl Harbor survivors arethere.
That's a and right now that nomis gonna just continue to
dwindle as time goes, but Inever know where to draw a line
on where I would say that linestops or I ended including the
(09:18):
groups that I should, becauseyou can talk about just military
personnel.
You could talk about justmilitary branches, but you have
to take in that their familieswere part of that too.
And even if they didn't takewounds or things like that.
Losing loved ones.
They're part of those World War,Pearl Harbor survivors.
And then if you take intoaccount that there were the
(09:40):
civilian dock workers that wereworking right alongside those
military personnel, and then thecommunities that were hit also,
some of them even by friendlyfire because as they fired
anti-aircraft guns.
They'd actually have the timewhen those explosions would co
go off.
And because they didn't have thetime to calibrate and make that
(10:00):
some of those missed and thenlanded in the local communities
and then detonated thosecommunities causing fires and
things like that.
And whether you want to includethem in those or not.
There was also the attackingimperial Japanese forces that
are part of that story too.
The attackers were part of.
Surviving Pearl Harbor attack aswell.
(10:21):
So there's just a huge differentnumbers and little circles that
you could expand or contract on.
What would be in that, includedin that number?
It's really hard to say whatthat is but even on Ford Island,
which is the little islandbehind the memorial, it is part
of the active military base, theNavy base the, there's families
(10:42):
that were on that island thatgot strafed and things like that
as the imperial Japanese forceswere attacking the airfield and
the ships.
And so they're, I'd say they aredefinitely included in Pearl
Harbor survivor for sure.
Missy Rentz (10:56):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And you talk about the survivorsand one thing I think is so
special about Pearl Harbor isthat for many years you all have
captured the stories of thepeople that were there.
And it's brings tears to my eyesjust remembering it.
And I was there like 19 yearsago and I can still feel walking
(11:20):
through the museum and hearingthese stories and I think.
It is, it's so impactful to hearthem firsthand and you realize
how precious those firsthandstories are as fewer and fewer
survivors remain.
David Kilton (11:38):
Yeah.
And.
One of the things so I've workedat multiple histor historic
sites during my National Parkservice career and I have a
little bit of talking abouteras, I guess you could almost
say.
So my first national historicsite I worked for at was Golden
Swag National Historic Site.
Happened 150 years ago.
So in that case, you're like, wehope the history books have it
(12:00):
right.
'cause we can't talk to anybodythat actually experienced it.
My, my next one and just mostrecent prior to coming here was
Central High School NationalHistoric Site where I got to
meet the Little Rock Nine andwork directly with individuals
that.
Lived those experiences andhappening just over 60 years ago
(12:21):
and get to really connect andget their firsthand reflections
and connections and feelings ofwhat happened.
We also had that opportunitywith Pearl Harbor National
Memorial, and I'm grateful thatso many did take those
opportunities and we still havea lingering ability to connect
with those that had thoseexperiences and lived.
(12:41):
What that was.
One of my really good friendsthat I've met here since I moved
here to the island, his unclewas worked as a diver.
One was actually one of thosesalvage divers.
So hearing reflections of him,remembering what happened with
his uncle, and he is yeah, hedisappeared for two weeks and we
didn't know what was going onand even really what he was
(13:02):
doing and just then eventuallythey.
He talks about, then we wentdown to the docks and we'd see
him come up out of the watercovered in the crude bunker oil
that looked like tar and comingout and there'd be just kids
hanging out on the docks, seeingthat, seeing the reality of what
it was.
So those type of experiencewhere you actually get to hear
the reality, what happened, andthis is a side story to those
(13:24):
that actually lived it and beingable to have had, those stories
captured and be able to be thestewards of carrying them
forward as again, why it's anhonor to.
Missy Rentz (13:34):
Yeah.
And I think I remember it alsoat Ellis Island very, a very
similar feeling, but thememorabilia that you also are
able to get.
So the museum is not, recraftedfrom pictures.
There's actual memorabilia thatpeople have donated in order to
showcase the story of that dayand the time after it.
David Kilton (13:56):
Yeah.
One of, one of my favoritethings when I first came here
that is just incredible to seeis we have basically the edit
of.
Franklin President FranklinDelano Roosevelt's speech that
he would say the famous day ofInfamy speech.
And as you look and see hismarkings of words he changed and
(14:20):
things that he did, it justmakes it so much more real.
And you get to step into alittle bit the mindset of the
president preparing to announcethat.
The United States would nowinter officially into World War
ii and just it just, hisselection of words and some of
the things it just'cause infamywasn't even the first word that
(14:42):
was in that speech and hechanged it to, to bring that
out.
So it's really cool.
Missy Rentz (14:47):
Wow, that is really cool.
Oh, I love that.
Okay, so right now, if you areable to watch the podcast, you
will see that David is sittingin front of this incredible
image.
Of the museum and I, what Iwanna do is we get into planning
a visit.
I'd love to talk about, this isunique because you actually, I'd
(15:08):
just like to talk about like,when you get there, what exactly
is the experience that you'regonna have?
'cause you're not walking into abig stone building that, has has
all the artifacts there.
This is unique.
David Kilton (15:20):
Yeah.
Pearl Harbor the memorial isprobably one of the most sought
after designations ordestination spots on Oahu and.
Even potentially even in Hawaii,the, all the islands.
So we, we get a large number ofpeople to come and I wish I
could say, oh, it's easy.
You know how you come in and youknow how to do everything you
(15:43):
need to, but it does have someconfusing nature of it.
And I I'd say one part of thatis that we do have.
Partners that work out outsideof just the National Park
Service work very closely, andwe all connect at this one
location.
So you come in here and you havethe the USS Missouri a
(16:06):
battleship that you can go overand see as well as Pearl Harbor
Aviation Museum, and then youhave the Pacific, history
summary Museum and our partnersthat also just run the bookstore
and things like that.
So it's not, you come onto thecampus, it's ah, where am I
going?
What am I trying to do?
So there's a lot with that, buteventually you can come over and
(16:27):
specifically for the NationalPark Service, you have our two
museums and you have a placewhere you can watch a film and
then where you actually board.
Active duty, US Navy pilotedboats that take you out to the
Arizona Memorial.
Now, something that's a uniquething that a lot of people don't
know is that they actuallyconsider those boats tenders of
(16:53):
the USS Arizona and the theactive duty sailors are
considered.
Part of the USS Arizona crew.
So they actually are called theArizona Detachment and they
actually get the honor ofhelping visitors go out and have
that experience.
So we work very closely with theUS Navy to provide for this
(17:15):
opportunity.
And if you are looking at thepodcast and see this white
structure that's behind me.
Is the Arizona Memorial, andthat's the like key destination
point that most people want tohave the opportunity to come out
and see.
So we can get just over 4,000visitors a day on these boats.
We take a boat out every 15minutes.
(17:38):
And can load 145 passengers ontothat boat.
And so where it's a quickturnaround, getting folks and
getting as many people thatopportunity to have that honor
and be able to go out there andpay their respect each day.
And there are days whereunfortunately we can have six
8,000 visitors.
So if you can imagine, we canjust only get just over 4,000
(17:58):
out there.
There are days where weunfortunately have to say, I'm
sorry.
You don't get the opportunity togo that way.
And that's hard.
We want everybody to have anequal opportunity to get out
there and get that experience.
But there are some things thatwe do to help provide a little
bit of planning and opportunityto make that a little bit an
(18:19):
easier process.
And one of that is we do releasethrough recreation.gov.
Opportunity to make reservationsto get your spot on one of the
boats.
And they released tickets 56days in advance, so about eight
weeks out, and then also the daybefore and on for the different
time slots.
And I wish I could say, yeah,you jump on that reservation and
(18:41):
again, you can guarantee you'regonna get a spot on the boat,
but they go so quick.
Especially during our busy, likekind of peak seasons and stuff
like that, we really don't havea down season like some other
national parks.
We are a year round visitationdestination spot.
If you can imagine in thewinter, where would you like to
go and get out of the cold?
Let's come to Hawaii.
Missy Rentz (19:01):
So
David Kilton (19:02):
So
Missy Rentz (19:02):
I'm guessing like Christmas break is a big peak.
David Kilton (19:05):
it is huge and actually, the days following
Christmas almost you canguarantee those days between the
holidays, Christmas and New Yearare gonna be the busiest days of
the year.
So that's when you are gonnahave the six to thousand
visitors guaranteed to be onsite.
We also have we do have a bumpfor spring break for sure and
(19:30):
then summer so typical whatyou'll see at a lot.
Of other NPS sites.
December 7th is around thecommemoration.
There are, there is a a bumpwith that as well.
And I'd say dropping to 3000visitor days is not common.
(19:51):
But you do have that some ofthose other times around the
year.
Missy Rentz (19:55):
so if you have the flexibility to go during a off
time, that is a better, you havea better chance to,
David Kilton (20:01):
I'm getting those reservations to guaranteed spots
on the boat.
Now, if you're not able to getthe, oh, I will just mention
real quick to get thosereservations yourself.
It's a dollar per seat and thatjust goes straight to
recreation.gov.
It won't come to the NationalPark Service.
We actually buy mandate.
We'll never charge to getanybody out to the memorial.
(20:23):
That is and it makes sense.
I would feel greasy if I wascharging to get people out to
pay their respects to the debt.
I would you don't do that now ifyou also wanna try to get it
into a package and see otherthings.
There are tour providers thatwill pass.
Provide that in a package dealand they will provide for bus
transportation and other thingslike that.
(20:44):
And so those will be moreexpensive.
I can't tell you the prices onall of those because every tour
company does it different.
But but there's other ways youcan get those reservations.
They get access to us some ofthe some of the time slots as
well so that they can makereservations and provide those
for their guests.
But if you can't get, either, ifyou can't pay for the tour or
(21:07):
you can't do the recreation.govreservation, all hope is not
lost.
There's another option for you.
And we've actually, within thetime I've been here, I've been
here almost four years we'vecreated another option that is
gonna, that has proven to bejust positive feedback and been
so helpful that we're gonna makethis a permanent, situation is
(21:29):
you can actually come in andusing just your phone, you can
sign up for what we call standbyand that basically just saves
your spot in line.
And then when we look like wecan fit you on a boat, we will
send you a text and then youcome and jump in line.
And usually by the time you getthat text, you're gonna be on a
(21:50):
boat within the next 15 to 30minutes and be out.
Missy Rentz (21:54):
That's great.
David Kilton (21:54):
So prior to that, we used to have where people
would get in these long linesand just have to wait and see
what we could do.
And with that being the case,unfortunately we would have
people waiting for hours inline.
They're not connecting with thehistory, they're not learning
about what happened, they'rejust standing in a line and
seeing what their shot might be.
(22:15):
And then also.
Standing out in the heat andthere was a lot of other things
just uncomfortable and thingsand just so this option of the
virtual standby queuing gives usa lot more benefit to try to
help the visitors get the mostout of their experience.
And even on those days when theycan't, get the, get that
opportunity to get on a boat.
If it's a six to 8,000 visitorday, at least they didn't spend
(22:39):
all their time in line and getturned away.
They can go do other thingswhile they're waiting to see if
that might be a possibility.
Missy Rentz (22:45):
And there is so much to do.
I, it sounds like even more thanfrom when I visited, the museum
is spectacular that to get thehistory of it and to experience
it.
David Kilton (22:56):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It, I we, so just recently weconnected our site to the
history of Oshima don't, knowingthe stories are very different,
the, but both of our sites, soOshima, peace Park.
Tells the story of the bombingof Hiroshima and tells about
(23:17):
what kind of happened and allthe ins and outs around that
story and has multiple monumentsand things.
Both of our sites seeing kind ofsome of the things connected is
we both have, part of ourmissions is seeking as we
reflect on these stories, ishoping for peace and
(23:37):
reconciliation.
And sharing what that can bemoving forward.
And then also have a hugeeducational foundation of what
our missions are.
So with those two guidingprinciples being a major factor
in both parks, we felt there wasan opportunity to.
Combine our very differentstories and make an opportunity
to really connect and bringaspects of the story together.
(24:02):
And so we now have a sister parkrelationship with Sima Peace
Park, and we've done someeducational opportunities where
we've done exchanges withstudents going there and
students coming here and justhave those opportunities that
are really neat and just reallyshare our resources and the
knowledge we have to be able tomore effectively tell the
(24:22):
nuances and all the differentconnections and the fabric of
what the reality of the war andeven some of the major events
within the Pacific Theater ofthe, of World War II are
Missy Rentz (24:34):
that's really cool.
That'd be an interesting, justreally, it's really neat to see
the different perspectives fromthe different countries.
That's very cool.
So how do you go about seeingthe USS Oklahoma and USS Utah
memorials?
I.
David Kilton (24:47):
So if you just go right onto our website, there
are ways you can connect andlearn a little bit about the
history, but if you actuallywant to go and see them
unfortunately this brings upsomething we already talked
about.
They are on the active militarybase on Ford Island.
So if you don't have militaryaccess.
You really can't get over to seethem.
(25:08):
So we started with the 80thanniversary of of commemoration
to, we did a kind of a pilot runto see if we could work with the
Navy to get.
To guide Tors over to see thosememorials and connect with their
stories.
It was very well received.
It worked really well and theNavy was really pleased at
(25:31):
things that we established tomake sure that we were, kind of
protecting their interests andthings that they needed to do
with that active military baseas we were trying to guide the
tours.
As I said, it worked so wellthat we started actually
instigating so that we would,that next spring begin so that
we do this tour every week.
(25:51):
We do it three times a weekMonday, Wednesdays, and Fridays
from three 30 to five.
Again, through recreation.gov,people can make their
reservations.
We started out, it was a 25person tour, so very limited.
If you imagine how many youmentioned how many visitors we
get a year, very, a drop in thebucket, drop in the ocean.
(26:14):
How many an opportunity?
And so we but again.
We were doing that and it provedto be so effective that now
we've bumped up.
And so just this last year wejumped up to now we can take 44
visitors per tour.
So just about 150 people a weekget that opportunity to go with
(26:35):
one of our rangers, go over on aprogram, get to hear more, get
to see those stories and reallyhave a unique opportunity to
connect.
We are hoping that as we startedthis relationship to provide
access to those resources withthe Navy, that there will be
more opportunities goingforward, but we definitely want
to continue to maintain andprotect.
(26:57):
I.
The interests of our militarypartners as we move forward and
we'll we're seeing what mightcome moving forward to allow for
that, including even maybe evenaccessing the other resources,
which were the six Chief PettyOfficer bungalows, I mentioned
those briefly.
So there are six units that werebasically given to the National
(27:18):
Park Service to maintain,preserve and tell the stories of
these were homes.
Where military officers andtheir families would've lived
and would've been witnessedbuildings to the attacks on
Pearl Harbor.
And so we are looking to providefor renovation and restoration
as well as preservation of thoseunits to tell more of this
(27:41):
story.
Missy Rentz (27:41):
I can't imagine being there that close,
witnessing that.
Wow.
Wow.
That's special.
How much time should someoneallow when they come to visit?
David Kilton (27:52):
Just the experience going to the Arizona
Memorial, when you get on theboat and get out there, it's
gonna be 45 minutes by itself.
So if you figure in, if youwanna watch the movie, if you
wanna explore the museums, andthen definitely if you wanna.
Check out any of the partnersites.
I'd say plan at least for half aday to a day.
(28:13):
Some people will actually spendmultiple days at the site and
that's, that's just man, yeah,we're, we wanted to come and
just do the Arizona Memorialaspect of things and do the NPS
side of things one day and we'llcome back the next day and do
the partner sites because thosestories are fascinating and have
a lot of interest for us too.
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (28:32):
And then can people drive there themselves?
'cause it's not, it's, Iremember it's not.
Necessarily close to the mainhotels, at least some years ago,
but do they drive there or is itbest to do like a bus or other
transportation?
David Kilton (28:47):
So there's multiple options and that's
something that I'd say isgrowing.
So right now you can definitelyride the bus.
And a lot of people will, Imentioned there's the tour
providers that provide bustransportation.
We we do have parking lots, butthey are fairly limited.
And in fact, because of thelimitation to the parking lots.
(29:09):
Recently to maintain and provideother access and things for the
visitors.
We did institute a parking feejust so we can do what we need
to do with all that.
So there is a$7 parking feecovers the whole day that you
can come and do that.
But then the other option that'sdeveloping is there is a rail
(29:31):
system that is, is, is slowlyprogressing to provide access
mainly on this side of Oahu,Honolulu, going to a lot of the
destinations here in, in thearea.
Right now the open and operatingportion of the rail is really
going from just west of PearlHarbor.
(29:53):
Out to the more western side ofthe island.
But the next leg that will openup will connect with the airport
and really allow better accessto us.
And that's gonna continue toexpand going into Honolulu.
And so that's another option.
Some people use Uber and and,
Missy Rentz (30:11):
lift.
David Kilton (30:12):
Yeah, Lyft and the park and ride.
There are taxi services thathelp too.
So quite a few options.
And from Honolulu, which iswhere a lot of people will be.
If you don't have traffic thatcan sometimes rise and be a
pretty big deal.
If you don't have traffic, it'sabout 30 minutes to.
Missy Rentz (30:30):
And are there food options when you're there or do
people need to pack food?
David Kilton (30:34):
Bring up a couple things with that.
First of all, for food optionson site, there are some things,
we actually have a snack shop.
If you think of convenience,like prep, pre-prepared
sandwiches, chips, that kind ofstuff.
There, there's that is availableright on ground, a myriad of
different drinks.
(30:55):
Then the partners, each of theirsites have some other food
options that they provide, andthe submarine museum will
actually run a hotdog standthat's just out there so people
can grab that.
And then each of them, when youvisit their site which do have a
fees associated with them, youhave like cafe or different
(31:15):
eateries that you can eat onthat.
Bringing your own food.
Actually is not the best ideabecause there is a bag policy to
come on site because from ourlocation you can board a bus
that will take you over ontoFord Island to go see the USS
Missouri and the AviationMuseum.
The Navy has asked us to helpthem provide for basically, base
(31:39):
security and we cannot allowbags onto
Missy Rentz (31:42):
So no bags.
David Kilton (31:43):
outside.
So you can't bring any bags upbigger than like a wallet size,
small little like hand pursetype thing.
Anything bigger than that is notallowed on campus for base
security.
And
Missy Rentz (31:55):
And and that's on the website?
Yes.
David Kilton (31:58):
Yes.
Missy Rentz (31:58):
So it seems like as we wrap up how to plan it seems,
most people when they're gonnacome to Hawaii, they're putting
a plan together anyway, sothey're in planning mode, but
recreation.gov is gonna be yourfriend and getting your
reservations in advance.
I think it sounds like goingearly if you're driving
yourself, because parking couldbe an issue.
(32:19):
And also, at least when I wasthere, going early meant it
wasn't hot, and by the time Ileft, it was still really hot.
But it just, there was a littlebit of, skin preservation in
that one.
And so I think it's justprepare, I think the website.
I'm always saying go to thewebsite, go to the app.
Does an amazing job of walkingyou through different planning
options.
(32:40):
But it, but this is a park wherepreparation is really key.
David Kilton (32:43):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And one of the things I willhighlight with bags is if you
have a clear bag.
You can bring a clear bag.
So as long as our securityguards at the front can look and
see what you're doing andnothing that's being brought in
is at risk, you can bring thatin.
And then if you buy stuff onground, so let's say you do come
in and you wanna buy some snacksto carry through your day,
(33:06):
that's fine.
If you have one of the bags thatyou get in the bookstore and you
have those with you, that'sfine.
You just won't be able to haveany open snacks or treats or
drinks besides water.
When you go out to the ArizonaMemorial to protect, keeping the
boats from getting gross andsticky and everything like that,
as well as the memorial tryingto preserve, to keep that from
(33:26):
getting covered in Coke orwhatever.
Missy Rentz (33:28):
And that's really sacred ground.
It's really very serene andreflective that, that portion of
it.
You have given so muchinformation that I is linked on
the website.
So for listeners on the Parkspodcast website, on this episode
page, I'll link to a lot of thethings that David talked about,
just so you have easy access toget to those tips and tricks and
(33:49):
information.
So we wrap up every episode witha speed round of questions.
So I just want you to answerwith whatever comes to mind.
Okay.
What is your earliest parkmemory?
I.
David Kilton (34:03):
It would be going to the Grand Canyon.
I was I lived in Arizona at thetime and I vaguely remember the
rim, but I was very little.
What I remember more than goingto the Grand Canyon and actually
seeing the rim and looking downinto the canyon.
Is I was bouncing on the wallbetween ours and our neighbor's
(34:25):
house prior to our US loading upin the van and going and I fell
off the wall into our neighbor'syard into a cactus.
I remember my mom pulling thepraying prongs outta me, and
then we went to the GrandCanyon.
So that's my earliest parkmemory.
But we went to the parks a lotand that's one of the reasons I
wanted to work for the parkService is just we have amazing
(34:46):
family memories of going andcamping.
In the parks or at Ks close byand just having amazing family
experiences.
But that's my earliest memory.
Missy Rentz (34:57):
And what made you love the parks?
David Kilton (35:00):
Really the serenity and being out in nature
is one aspect as well as thelove of history and whatever
national Park service site yougo to.
You can go to these amazinglybeautiful things.
See these amazing, have theseamazing experiences, seeing
wildlife and things like that.
But there's always.
(35:21):
Unique history that connectsthem to of the native peoples,
of the connections of people atthose locations, those that
first started to preserve andtell the stories of those
locations and engage with thebeauty of that place as well as
the tragic and.
And difficult stories or thosestories of triumphs that all
(35:42):
connect at the national parksand connecting with those things
and having these amazingexperiences out in the beautiful
areas that help to make, I thinkthe United States have the
unique stories of what make itengaging and just complex in its
history and the reality of whatthis country is.
Missy Rentz (36:02):
What is your favorite thing about Pearl Harb
Harbor National Memorial.
David Kilton (36:11):
So telling the stories of those that were just
beginning their lives and hadthings cut short in such a
unexpected and, a definitiveway.
And having people to come andunderstand that the tragedy of
that moment is real and and thesadness of it can impact our
(36:35):
lives, but it doesn't have todefine our lives or our
relationships.
And that brings to mind again,the peace and reconciliation
story.
One of the most powerful storiesthat I.
I love to share.
It's a story of a Japanesebombardier and a marine bugler
(36:55):
that were on the opposite endsof the story that came together
during one of the commemorationsand ended up forming a
friendship of bond of love forone another.
That is, is such a powerfulreminder of we can move past.
(37:15):
Those differences and thosethose forces that are pulling us
apart or putting us at oddsagainst each other and form
bonds and relationships that aretransformative and beautiful.
Missy Rentz (37:27):
What is your favorite thing to do at Pearl
Harbor National Memorial?
David Kilton (37:32):
Going and being on the sacred ground that you
mentioned being at thatlocation.
And being able to see thoseneeds and know that is a place
we get to honor them.
And one of the things I, wehighlight quite often is that
it's not just a location wherewe memorialize those individuals
with over 900 of the 1,177 thatlost their lives on the Arizona
(37:57):
never being able to be removedfrom the ship.
That's also their burial.
Site, that's the, that's so it'sbasically their graveyard.
And so we being able to connectwith them and have a quiet
moment in that hollowed andRevent location is amazing.
Missy Rentz (38:14):
What park have you yet to visit, but it's on your
bucket list and why?
David Kilton (38:21):
I, some people are gonna go, wait, you've never
been there?
Hawaii volcanoes actually I'mright here and I haven't been
able to go yet.
I went for a training over thereand was like, oh, wait till it
stops raining.
It always rains in Hilo so Ineed to go back and I wanna go.
So I worked at creators of theMoon National Monument in Idaho.
And that location has someconnections to basically the
(38:45):
hotspot that's created theHawaiian Islands.
Yellowstone is the hotspot thatis created, all the geothermal
activity that's there atYellowstone, but also left a
track similar to the HawaiianIslands across Idaho.
So you can see all thesevolcanic formations.
So going and actually connectingwith and being there when
there's an actual eruption is agoal.
(39:05):
And so I definitely wanna go seeit.
Missy Rentz (39:08):
What are three must haves you pack for a park visit.
David Kilton (39:13):
Water bottle camera and can I say my family?
Missy Rentz (39:26):
Perfect.
David Kilton (39:28):
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (39:29):
What's your favorite campfire activity?
I.
David Kilton (39:36):
Although I don't like them, I love roast and
s'mores with my family.
Like I don't like themarshmallows, it's just the
chocolate and Graham.
But just sitting there togetherand talking and just having the,
those treats and just a lot offond memories of that.
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (39:52):
Are you staying in a tent, a camper, or a cabin?
David Kilton (39:57):
As I'm getting older, I need an air mattress,
but still in tents
Missy Rentz (40:03):
And do you hike with or without trekking poles?
David Kilton (40:06):
without
Missy Rentz (40:07):
What is your favorite trail snack?
David Kilton (40:11):
fruit.
Fruit, leather strips.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Missy Rentz (40:14):
What is your favorite animal sighting?
David Kilton (40:20):
Grizzly Bear Yellowstone
Missy Rentz (40:22):
What is your favorite sound in the park?
David Kilton (40:26):
at Pearl Harbor.
We have nice quiet, peaceful,calm waters.
Out on the memorial is, it'sjust out there at the memorial.
It's just powerful.
It's amazing.
Missy Rentz (40:39):
And what is the greatest gift that the parks
give to us?
David Kilton (40:46):
Enduring stories and places for generations to
come.
Missy Rentz (40:53):
David, thank you so much for being part of the Parks
podcast and sharing thisincredible space.
It has been too long, and I mayneed to plan another trip out
there to remember so much ofthis.
But thank you for joining ustoday.
David Kilton (41:07):
Glad to.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Missy Rentz (41:10):
That's all for today's episode.
Until next time, we'll see youin the parks.
Thanks for listening.
If you enjoyed today's episode,please be sure to like and share
on your favorite podcastplatform.
Music for the parks podcast iswritten, performed and produced
by Porter Hardy.
For more information, pleasefollow us on Instagram at the
(41:31):
parks podcast.
Or visit ourwebsite@theparkspodcast.com.
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