‘Mighty Mo’
to call on Waikiki
on Father’s Day

The celebrated battleship
will strut its stuff before moving
to its mooring spot

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Mark down this day: Father's Day, June 21.

That's when the "Mighty Mo" at noon will pass Diamond Head on the final leg of its voyage to its resting place at Pearl Harbor.

Then for the rest of that day, the USS Missouri Association plans to tow the World War II battleship between Diamond Head and Keehi Lagoon so residents can view it.

"This is the last time the world will see the ship afloat and moving in the water," said Roy Yee, association president, "and we want to share that vision.

"It will be absolutely awesome."

On the following day, the association will tow the historic vessel to its final resting place at Ford Island.

The Missouri left Astoria, Ore., Wednesday under tow for Hawaii. It is slated to be a floating museum and will be open to the public in January.

The battleship, veteran of three wars, was the site of the Japanese surrender ending World War II on Sept. 2, 1945.

It had been mothballed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., before leaving for Astoria, en route to Hawaii.

In September, a private ceremony commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the end of the war in Japan will be held on the Missouri's deck.

Follow the USS Missouri online as she heads for home at: http://www.ussmissouri.com or http://starbulletin.com