Point Man International Ministries

OAHU, HAWAII — Amid the calm waters of Pearl Harbor, the steel remains of the USS Arizona (BB-39) still stand—silent, rusting, but never truly dead. The massive circular structure that once held the war cannons now rises from the sea like an old wound that refuses to be forgotten.

More than eight decades after the tragedy of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, drops of oil still slowly rise to the surface. Witnesses call them “black tears”—silent traces of fuel that continue to seep from the hull of the ship that became the tomb of its 1,177 crew. Each shimmer of oil on the water seems to be a whisper from the past, a reminder that the story of sacrifice is not over.

Above them, rainbows occasionally cross—beautiful, serene, almost incongruous with the sorrow hidden beneath. This contrast creates a jarring scene: peaceful nature embracing a wounded history. It is here that silence speaks loudest.

The remains of the barbettes, ventilation shafts, and now-exposed cavities are more than mere ruins. They are symbols of resilience—that even in destruction, a story of courage remains. Now part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, this place is not just a monument, but a space for reflection.

Because in these waters off Oahu, history doesn't sink. It lives on—gently floating along with every drop of "black tear" that rises to the surface.

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