Information
Landmark: Punchbowl Crater (National Memorial Cemetery of Pacific)City: Honolulu
Country: USA Hawaii
Continent: North America
Punchbowl Crater (National Memorial Cemetery of Pacific), Honolulu, USA Hawaii, North America
Overview
Punchbowl Crater-officially the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific-stands among Hawaii’s most solemn places, where rows of white headstones gleam under the shining island sun, then tucked inside an extinct volcanic crater in Honolulu, it honors the men and women of the United States Armed Forces-especially those who gave their lives in the Pacific theater during World War II and in the battles that followed.Punchbowl Crater-known to Hawaiians as Puowaina-rose from volcanic ash and rock some 75,000 to 100,000 years ago, its rim still etched against the sky, after that in Hawaiian, “Puowaina” means “Hill of Sacrifice,” a name rooted in its past as a spot for solemn ceremonies and burials, slightly In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the crater echoed with rifle fire from a military range, in turn after World War II, the U. S, not only that chose the Punchbowl for a national cemetery in the Pacific, dedicating it on September 2, 1949, beneath a luminous, wind-swept sky.The cemetery holds more than 53,000 military dead-soldiers, sailors, and airmen from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam-along with Pearl Harbor victims and others lost in Pacific battles, also many lie in graves without names, their white headstones carved with the simple words, “Known Only to God.”At the heart of the cemetery, a soaring memorial honors the sacrifices of U. Curiously, S, in addition military personnel, while rows of marble tablets bear the names of more than 28,000 missing from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, their inscriptions catching the light like faint silver in stone.From the memorial and crater rim, you can take in sweeping views of downtown Honolulu, Diamond Head, and the curve of Waikiki’s shoreline, then inside, mosaics and detailed maps trace pivotal Pacific battles, and a towering Lady Columbia-solemn, graceful-stands watch as an emblem of mourning and peace.The grounds are open daily from 8 a.m, in turn to 6 p.m, with free entry and on-site parking, though visitors are asked to speak softly and tread respectfully.Over the years, U, therefore s.Presidents, foreign leaders, and military figures have come here, and every Memorial Day the graves bloom with Hawaiian lei and luminous flags, then set within Punchbowl Crater, the site weaves U. S, not only that military history into Hawaii’s cultural and natural beauty, with nearby attractions like the Honolulu Museum of Art, Iolani Palace, and Pearl Harbor offering more to explore, maybe A visit here blends breathtaking scenery, moving history, and quiet gratitude, on top of that whether you’ve come to honor the fallen, trace the island’s history, or just sit quietly as the trade winds stir the palms, this spot captures the spirit of sacrifice and peace, making it one of Hawaii’s most powerful and memorable sites.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-09-10
