The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, not far from downtown Honolulu. It is the final resting ground for more than 44,000 United States war veterans (and their family members), more than half of whom died in the Pacific arena during World War II. The cemetery sits in an extinct volcano called Pouwaina and is referred to in Hawaii as “Punchbowl” because of its shape. Roughly translated, “Puowaina” means “Consecrated Hill” or “Hill of Sacrifice.” Historians say the first known use of Puowaina was as an altar where early Hawaiians offered sacrifices … Continue reading →