Hard to believe, but on this day 68 years ago, Pearl Harbor was attacked, throwing us into World War II. But you didn’t need me to tell you that. The only reason I am posting about this today is that I was recently going through some old photos I have taken over the years, and came across this group from my trip to Hawaii in 1984. I was 13, and armed with my Kodamatic instant camera. Anyone old enough to remember it knows that this was the Kodak version of the Polaroid, and that the film production had to cease because of a lawsuit from Polaroid. I think I got a rebate check for $30 from Kodak as a way of saying “sorry, we shouldn’t have sold you this camera.”

Nearly everyone agrees that a good photo should evoke some sort of emotion. In that regard, I love these pics. I can’t remember much of that weeklong trip (except the Dole pineapple cannery tour, Hilo Hattie’s signs everywhere, the beach), but these pictures remind me vividly of what it was like on the Arizona Memorial that day. It was a strange feeling, standing on the monument, straddling the remains of the Arizona, and knowing there were still people (their remains anyway) in there. There were also reminders that the ship is not done settling in, as there were small oil slicks (maybe a few inches across) hanging out near the rusted gun turret mounts. It’s a powerful mood, being out there and seeing these things. No, these Kodamatic pics don’t do it justice, but if you have been there, maybe these are all it takes to bring your memories back. If so, let me know by commenting below.