Pearl Harbor was originally an extensive shallow embayment called Wai Momi (“Waters of Pearl”) by the Hawaiians. Puʻuloa was regarded as the home of the shark goddess, Kaʻahupahau, and her brother, Kahiʻuka, in Hawaiian legends.
Attack on Pearl Harbor[]
he attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.
Japan intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan planned in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. Over the next seven hours there were coordinated Japanese attacks on the U.S.-held Philippines, Guam and Wake Island and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. All but U.S.S. Arizona were later raised, and six were returned to service and went on to fight in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. The 3 U.S. Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers (Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga) were all out of port at the time of the attack.188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded.
The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II. The following day, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.
Series[]
- Steve McGarrett's grandfather was present, and died in the attacks on December 7. Although this detail became retconned in Season 9 in the episode The Smoke Seen in the Dream Now Rises where it is revealed that McGarrett's grandfather was once an HPD cop who witnessed Pearl Harbor from afar, and joined the military afterwards.