Friday, July 24, 2009
USS Hawaii submarine arrives at new home port of Pearl Harbor
First Virginia-class sub in Isles greeted by crew's families, as well as state and Navy officials
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
PEARL HARBOR — A state with a warrior tradition yesterday welcomed a 21st-century combatant to its shores: the Virginia-class submarine USS Hawai'i.
The state's new namesake submarine, a $2.5 billion technological marvel, was greeted accordingly when it pulled up to Pier Sierra 9 just after 10 a.m. to a reception of about 90 crew family members and more than 100 other invited guests.
The Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club performed a pierside chant and war song that had been sung by the warriors of King Kamehameha I as they prepared to go to battle in Waimea on the Big Island.
"We're thankful (the Hawai'i) is here to protect our nation," club member Clif Carpenter told the audience.
Also on display was the human side of the separation that comes from being at sea — in this case, the voyage from Groton, Conn., to Pearl Harbor.
A cheer rang out as the 377-foot black submarine came close to the pier with about 24 sailors standing at attention on the mostly submerged hull. About four command members looked on from the sail.
"Hi, Daddy!" shouted one small child as the sailors smiled back.
There also was a a fly-over by three F-15 fighters, a performance by young hula dancers, and a blessing and haka with koa spears.
Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny, who commands the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force, said it's been 30 years since Pearl Harbor has been home to a new class of submarine. Hawai'i is the first Virginia-class submarine to be based in the Pacific.
"USS Hawai'i is not just a good-looking boat with a great name," McAneny said. "It is exactly the submarine we need to face the challenges in the Pacific well into the 21st century."
Commissioned on May 5, 2007, Hawai'i was the third Virginia-class attack submarine built.
The sub and its 120-man crew left Connecticut in May and stopped in Florida and Georgia before passing through the Panama Canal. The sub arrived off Diamond Head yesterday morning.
Gov. Linda Lingle, the sub's "sponsor," went out by boat to greet the lei-draped Hawai'i as it came through the Pearl Harbor channel, and spent a few minutes aboard shaking hands with crew.
The ship follows in a tradition of submarines with Hawai'i-related names. Preceding the USS Hawai'i were the ballistic missile sub Kamehameha, and Los Angeles-class sub Honolulu.
Hawai'i is just the first of a succession of Virginia-class subs headed for Pearl Harbor. The Texas, North Carolina and California also will be home-ported here, officials said. Sixteen Los Angeles-class submarines already are based in Hawai'i.
Chrystal Robinson was reunited on the pier with her husband, Machinist Mate 3rd Class Eric Robinson, 22, after last seeing him in May.
Robert Darrin, who helps with navigation and also is 22, said the technology on the Hawai'i is "just amazing."
"There's a lot to see down the road," Darrin said. "I'm not sure what the (Pacific) has in store for us. I'm sure a lot of exciting things."
Much of the submarine forces' missions are clandestine. But some of the ship's features were shown to visitors by crew, including a topside lockout chamber that can hold 18 SEAL commandos.
Gone is the hull-penetrating periscope and viewing tradition known as "dancing with the one-eyed lady." "Photonics masts" now provide the view, with cameras operated by joystick.
With the removal of the periscope, the ship's control room was moved down one deck, creating more room. Modularity in the way up to 24 4,000-pound torpedoes or Tomahawk missiles are stored has freed up space for dozens of commandos.
At a crew reception, Hawai'i skipper Cmdr. Ed Herrington said he felt like a "rock star" with all the attention his crew received.
Lingle welcomed the crew as part of Hawai'i's 'ohana. She also acknowledged that some in the state oppose the military's presence but added that "on balance, there's overwhelming support in the state — we're very proud Americans here in Hawai'i."
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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Absolutely, tell those yankies go home with style and access. Accessing is what it's all about 'alaloa.' said, George Helm, "alaloa and stop the bombing." Think hard!!! Kaohi
Right On, you had Da Chance and YOU went to the Yankee for Dinner............ Actions Speaks Louder then Venting..................... Think Hawaiian, Pomaikaiokalani
It's no secret, I'm sure Darrin and Lingle will have lots of clandestine moments on the carpet at our Queen's house. And, it's no secret that Pearl Harbor bay will be filling up with Plutonium and our mullets will swim it's nuclear waste to Waianae for the robots to clean up. It's no secret that LCC students are white washing this 'notion' to lotion. As in go to the beach and get a sun tan, which I'm sure members of the crew will be doing that this week end. Maybe China will act up and all subs will leave Hawaii for Taiwan, for a pre-empted movement by the US.
Ethnic cleansing, unregulated surveillance and accountability are all things that happens in Waianae 24/7 with homeless/houseless over crowding human conditions. Why, because they are our last makaainana village settlements. By the way, DHHL is not a Hawaiian village, it's a prison with open door policy. Getting back to what I was saying, or, in the pigs eye our houseless is a communal living village and that's socialism to their understanding. I am not a predictor of our future, but like Prof. Jim Dator would say, what you going do? Or, the braddah living on the side of the road with his baby in his arms, saying "so what? Or, the sistah, gesturing 'F@$% you in front of Bellows (our Na Iwi place of rest). I say right on, yanky go home and take care your ohana, and country as in de-occupation! Worst of all the scholarly PH.D candidate with no experience, says "I'm confused, but I have lots of questions."
In clandestine, "the removal of the ship's control room was moved down one deck...Modularity in the way up to 24 4,000-pound torpedoes or Tomahawk missiles are stored has freed up space for dozens of commandos." Huh? Are we reading this with one eye or both maka's? Each Tomahawk cost over a million, one Tomahawk can take out a huge population of people (as in dominal effect) in a 360 degree direction, and we have 23 more to go... where? Jupiter or Mars to take out fantasy islanders? GOD is not in the details, god went home to another galaxy, yeah and 'den what'? GOD is a smart guy.
Pictures of babies with tumors is not the first line of defense! Talking is not the second! Standing on the side of the road is not the third! As uncle Sam Lono would say, use your head! And, I don't mean your pepe either. Sorry guys, that was a cheap shot, no can help nevah have for long time--too busy. Let's move on to chapter 2 million and one, see you all on the 26. I'm going back to bed and play with myself--yeah I said that! Nah, I going have coffee and clean house.
Venting is CHEAP. Cheap as going to the Enemy for a Dinner Show. Cheap as standing on the side of the Roiad at Bellows whille your Friends hold the Signs. Pojmaikaiokalani
Replies
Ethnic cleansing, unregulated surveillance and accountability are all things that happens in Waianae 24/7 with homeless/houseless over crowding human conditions. Why, because they are our last makaainana village settlements. By the way, DHHL is not a Hawaiian village, it's a prison with open door policy. Getting back to what I was saying, or, in the pigs eye our houseless is a communal living village and that's socialism to their understanding. I am not a predictor of our future, but like Prof. Jim Dator would say, what you going do? Or, the braddah living on the side of the road with his baby in his arms, saying "so what? Or, the sistah, gesturing 'F@$% you in front of Bellows (our Na Iwi place of rest). I say right on, yanky go home and take care your ohana, and country as in de-occupation! Worst of all the scholarly PH.D candidate with no experience, says "I'm confused, but I have lots of questions."
In clandestine, "the removal of the ship's control room was moved down one deck...Modularity in the way up to 24 4,000-pound torpedoes or Tomahawk missiles are stored has freed up space for dozens of commandos." Huh? Are we reading this with one eye or both maka's? Each Tomahawk cost over a million, one Tomahawk can take out a huge population of people (as in dominal effect) in a 360 degree direction, and we have 23 more to go... where? Jupiter or Mars to take out fantasy islanders? GOD is not in the details, god went home to another galaxy, yeah and 'den what'? GOD is a smart guy.
Pictures of babies with tumors is not the first line of defense! Talking is not the second! Standing on the side of the road is not the third! As uncle Sam Lono would say, use your head! And, I don't mean your pepe either. Sorry guys, that was a cheap shot, no can help nevah have for long time--too busy. Let's move on to chapter 2 million and one, see you all on the 26. I'm going back to bed and play with myself--yeah I said that! Nah, I going have coffee and clean house.
Mahalo for the space and time to vent, Kaohi