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Who is buried at the Punchbowl cemetery?
Eventually, over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl.
Why is it called Punchbowl cemetery?
The “punchbowl” from which the cemetery gets its name was created anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000 years ago by a volcanic blast that left a crater giving the punchbowl its unique shape and name.
How many graves are in Punchbowl Cemetery?
53,000 veterans
Located just north of Downtown Honolulu in a long-extinct volcano called Punchbowl Crater, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is the resting-place for almost 53,000 veterans (and eligible family members).
When was Punchbowl Cemetery built?
1948
Built in 1948, this National Cemetery is located in the Pu’owaina Crater (Punchbowl). In ancient times, this crater was known as the “Hill of Sacrifice.” So today the cemetery is a memorial to the sacrifice made by the men and women in the United States Armed Services.
What is Punchbowl Hawaii?
Designated as National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific in 1949, Punchbowl Hawaii was a barren expanse of a volcanic crater with no trees and no memorial shrines or buildings. The first to be interned here in 1949 were many unknown sailors from the Pearl Harbor attack and one civilian, Pulitzer prize winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle.
Why was the Punchbowl chosen as a National Cemetery?
Fifty years later, Congress authorized a small appropriation to establish a national cemetery in Honolulu with two provisions: that the location be acceptable to the War Department, and that the site would be donated rather than purchased. In 1943, the governor of Hawaii offered the Punchbowl for this purpose.
Is there parking at Punchbowl Cemetery?
Parking is limited and public transportation (“TheBus”) is strongly recommended. One of the more distinct traditions is the placing of lei upon every gravesite within Punchbowl for Memorial Day. Some 38,000 flower leis and American flags are placed on each grave on Sunday before the Monday ceremony.
What is the history of the Punchbowl?
Early in the 1880s, leasehold land on the slopes of the Punchbowl opened for settlement and in the 1930s, the crater was used as a rifle range for the Hawaii National Guard. Toward the end of World War II, tunnels were dug through the rim of the crater for the placement of shore batteries to guard Honolulu Harbor and the south edge of Pearl Harbor.