Guardians of the Pacific

Honolulu is the capital and largest city of Hawaii, known for its tropical glamour, diverse population, and unique blend of Asian, Western, and Pacific cultures. It is situated along the southeastern coast of the island of Oʻahu and is the westernmost and southernmost major U.S. city. The city is a major hub for business, finance, hospitality, and military defense in both the state and Oceania.

It is a well-known fact that all U.S. citizens are familiar with Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii holds great historical importance, featuring the USS Arizona Memorial constructed above the submerged USS Arizona, where a large number of the 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives during the Pearl Harbor attack are laid to rest. Our prior visit to the memorial left us with a profound impression of its remarkable yet somber significance.

Hawaii is home to all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Space Command. There are 12 key military installations and bases across the state that support the U.S. armed forces. The military presence in Hawaii includes a significant number of military personnel and their families, with over 42,000 active duty service members calling Hawaii home. There is no doubt this reflects Hawaii's pivotal position in America's defense strategy in the Pacific. It's with mixed emotions we watched Pacific Tracker based in Norfolk, VA move into the harbor. Would you feel reassured or concerned?

The Pacific Tracker ship is used in missile defense to gather telemetry during ballistic missile tests. It is provides incredibly accurate and detailed data necessary for countering or improving missile systems. The ship works in conjunction with other specialized sensor ships and is part of a pocket fleet of highly customized tracking and ballistic missile defense support ships.

It was formerly a crane ship named SS Beaver State and was converted to its current role in 2009. The vessel is maintained in readiness status for both scheduled and no-notice mission activations. The Pacific Tracker, along with the MV Pacific Collector, monitors the results of dummy missile tests conducted by the Missile Defense Agency, providing essential data for the development and improvement of anti-missile systems.

With all that's happening in the world around us, it's reassuring to know we're constantly working to improve our defenses!