No matter how far we move or where our Ohana or our family is at any given moment,

Hawaii will always be home to us. It's where we grew up. Of course, we made the most incredible

memories. We came of age. Many of those memories are happy, joyous, loving.

But don't get me wrong, there were a lot of hard times too.

And I know, I know what you're thinking, okay?

How can you have a bad day when you live in paradise?

It's hard to imagine, but it's true.

Life in Hawaii at the end of the day is still life.

It's not shielded from the regular things that life can throw at you, or even the heartbreak of generational trauma or war.

In fact, one of the most defining tragedies in American history happened right on the

island where we were raised on the beautiful island of Oahu. I'm talking about Pearl Harbor.

It's something that as Kaima Aina, as locals, many of us pass by and we're reminded every single day.

It's like a forever imprint embedded in our souls and in our spirits.

On what would have been the most beautiful, magical Hawaiian Sunday morning, on December 7, 1941 at 7.56 a.m., Japanese forces bombed the U.S. Air Force Base in Pearl Harbor, targeting the Pacific Fleet.

Battleships were hit one after the other. Airfields were stranded, ships sunk, and thousands were caught in the destruction. We're talking sailors, Marines, soldiers, civilians. Some died instantly in explosions.

Others drowned in burning oil,

and some were trapped in the darkness of sinking ships.

And by the end of the attack,

2,403 Americans were dead.

Many were recovered, many were buried with honor, but more than a thousand souls were not,

still trapped inside the USS Arizona, which may be why people have such a visceral reaction

when they visit Pearl Harbor today.

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