On a rainy day with flash flood warnings we headed over the pali to visit Punchbowl, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. It looks out over Honolulu and Waikiki with an amazing view of Diamond Head that shows the length of the crater. We weren't able to get a photo of this spectacular view because a heavy rain started which covered the view. There are many fresh flowers on the graves and many people were visiting to pay their respects and remember their loved ones. The Hawaiians have a deep connection to their ancestors which is alive and tangible and call them aumakua for family guardians or ancestors who can assume the form of animals and plants or other natural forms.
From wikipedia: It serves as a memorial to honor those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, and those who have given their lives in doing so. It is administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Millions of visitors visit the cemetery each year, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii.
