Millions of women became “Rosie the Riveters” during World War II. Some didn’t talk about their work for years. Erlinda Avila, now 101, tried to enlist in the Army after her brother was drafted following the start of World War II. She was turned away because she was female. When she learned women were needed in defense plants, she pursued that instead. Still a teenager, she went to work as a bucker on B-29 bombers in Arizona. Years later, she finally told her family about the work she had done on the home front. Watch for Erlinda’s oral history interview coming soon: https://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/rosies 📷: Jim McCoy and Greg Yamamoto/PHP; Dmitri Kessel/LIFE Video created by Rebecca Schwab

Join Mae and Deb as they sit down with Jim McCoy and Westin Saito from Pacific Historic Parks.

As we close out 2025, we reflect on a year spent honoring history and those who shaped it — and look ahead to continuing this work in the years to come. Photos: PHP; DVIDS Music: Music_for_video/Pixabay and Dmitrii Kolesnikov/Pixabay Video created by Rebecca Schwab

After 91 years, Smith's Union Bar - Hawaii's oldest bar and one that was specifically frequented by USS Arizona sailors before the Pearl Harbor attack - is likely closing soon, as the landlord has chosen not to renew the lease. Photos and video: Jim McCoy Music: Dmitrii Kolesnikov/Pixabay Video created by Rebecca Schwab

The America250 flag, a single U.S. flag traveling to historic military locations around the world in honor of the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, arrived at Pearl Harbor recently, where it was raised above the USS Arizona Memorial by National Park Service rangers. After flying over American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in Europe, the flag reached Hawaii and was raised at four of the harbor’s most sacred sites: the USS Arizona, USS Utah, USS Oklahoma, and Battleship Missouri Memorials. Pearl Harbor marks the flag’s first U.S. stop before it continues to military sites across the Pacific, then to the continental United States. Beginning on the West Coast, the flag will travel across the country and culminate with final flyings in the 13 original colonies ahead of July 4, 2026. “As we look toward America’s 250th anniversary, the flag’s visit to Pearl Harbor reminds us of the courage, unity, and resilience that define our nation,” said Aileen Utterdyke, President and CEO of Pacific Historic Parks (PHP), the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service at Pearl Harbor. “This is where our country’s history was forever changed on December 7, 1941, and where generations continue to come to reflect, remember and honor those who served." Photos and video: Jim McCoy, Shane Kaneshiro Video created by Rebecca Schwab

Pearl Harbor survivor Raymond Wans, now 101, enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 in March 1941. After training, he was assigned to a brand new seaplane tender, USS Curtiss, and sent to Pearl Harbor. After bringing aircrew and cargo to Wake Island, USS Curtiss arrived back at Pearl Harbor just days before the attack. On December 7th, Ray was on cooking duties and peeling an apple when he heard a plane dive. He looked out and saw a bomb drop on the airstrip at Ford Island. Ray ran to his battle station. Bombs and strafing caused fires on the ship, but USS Curtiss stayed afloat. In all, 20 crew members were killed, including Ray’s close friend Nick Ganas. Ray continued to serve on USS Curtiss until July 1943. He then transferred to other ships and continued serving in the Pacific. He was only about 200 miles from Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped on Aug 6, 1945. He left the Navy in October 1945 and lived in Washington with his family. Ray said it was his love of music (which he shared with another good friend and fellow USS Curtiss crew member Robert Fernandez) that helped him get through the war. Photos and video: Jim McCoy, Chase Nuuhiwa, Raymond Wans, US Navy archive footage. Music: Ashot Danielyan/Pixabay Video created by Rebecca Schwab

In this interview, US Navy veteran CR Drumheller talks about his close friendship with Pearl Harbor survivor Sterling Cale. CR started his service at Pearl Harbor in the 1980s, working in satellite communications all around the Pacific Theater. He later volunteered for submarine service, serving on the last two Sturgeon-class attack submarines - USS L. Mendel Rivers and USS Richard B. Russell. After teaching at sub school, he went aboard USS Columbia for five years, spent time in Tennessee as a detailer, and finally found himself back in Pearl Harbor aboard USS Pasadena. He now works with the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC) and serves as Commander of American Legion Post 17 in Hawaii. Uncle Sterling, as he was affectionately known, was a longtime Hawaii resident who met and shared his stories with thousands of visitors at Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Starting in 2019, CR assisted Sterling during these visits. On December 7, 1941, Sterling was a 20-year-old pharmacist mate assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital and had just finished an overnight shift when heard gunfire and saw puffs of smoke. At first he thought a training exercise was taking place, but then he saw a plane with the rising sun. He rushed to the harbor and helped retrieve 46 men from the burning waters. In the following days, he was assigned to remove remains from the USS Arizona. Sterling didn’t visit the USS Arizona Memorial until 1974, twelve years after it opened, due to his difficult memories of the attack. Uncle Sterling passed away on January 20, 2024, age 102, surrounded by family at his Aiea home. Photos and video: Jim McCoy, Westin Saito Music: Ashot Danielyan/Pixabay Video created by Rebecca Schwab