![]() ![]() After that, it took more than 13 years for the Navy to begin to recognize the potential of Pearl Harbor. Navy had its first contact with the Hawaiian Islands, when the schooner USS Dolphin sailed into port. At that time, nearby Honolulu Harbor was an infinitely more hospitable destination. When the first Westerner, British seafarer Captain James Cook, came to the islands in 1778, a coral reef barred the entrance of the place known as Wai Momi, making it unsuitable as a port for deep-draft shipping. Over the years, the face of Pearl Harbor has changed dramatically. Just as the Hawaiian people treasured Wai Momi in the old days, the United States honors and values Pearl Harbor today. According to legend, a benevolent shark goddess watched over this precious natural resource and protected the area. This natural abundance made Wai Momi a prime location for fishing and diving. The sweeping shoreline that caressed the pristine bay also boasted the most fishponds of any area in the islands. The ancient Hawaiians called this area Wai Momi, or "Waters of Pearl," for the wealth of pearl-producing oysters that once rested on the bed of the peaceful bay. Long before the morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor had been captivating people with its dramatic beauty and provocative history. The sheltered blue-green oasis glitters with scenic, historic and strategic importance - importance that predates the attack that drew the United States into World War II. In fact, it's long been the envy of every nation that has tried to control it. This remarkable port, home to the great US Pacific Fleet, has been called "majestic," one of the greatest harbors in the Pacific. Just as the luster of a pearl seems to change with the shifting light of day, so has Pearl Harbor changed in the shifting light of history. ![]()
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