Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Davis | 25th Infantry Division Soldiers discuss King Kamehameha's amphibious landings at...... read more read more
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WAHIAWA, Hawaii – Waikiki has the reputation of being the center of tourism on Oahu and is one of the most popular beaches in the world. Its idyllic backdrop and soft ocean waves make it the dream of many people around the world to come and visit. It is easy to forget that in 1795, Waikiki was the site of King Kamehameha’s invasion to unite the Hawaiian Islands. 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, explored Waikiki, Punchbowl, and Pali cliffs, looking at it from a different viewpoint.
“Being able to see the tactics the Hawaiians used help us in our own battle drills,” Staff. Sgt. Scott Simpson, an Alpha Company squad leader, stated. “I have a new level of respect for the Hawaiian culture.”
“The battle of Nu’uanu is important because of where we live, said Staff Sgt. Richard Dyal, an Alpha Company Platoon Sgt.
The local community have deep ties to those who were in the battle and it is important to understand their history.”
The Alpha Company Soldiers prepared to make the most of their time while visiting the battle sites. They began with a 45-minute video and divided different parts of the battle for research.
A total of 33 Soldiers participated in the training ensuring their junior and senior Soldiers were involved in this professional development opportunity.
“As a leader, it was good to get Soldiers involved in something they would not normally do,” Dyal stated. “The junior Soldiers were able to join in the discussion and build confidence.”
“Because we went over a board overview, they were able to see the bigger picture. It also allowed them to work on their communication skills. It was a good learning environment because they were around their peers,” Simpson said.
The company also enlisted the aid of Professor Brendon Bliss, Hawaii Pacific University, to expand upon the company’s self-study.
“Written history is vague. Having someone who studied the culture and battle helped clear up what actually happened,” Simpson said.
The battle had approximately 25,000 Warriors. Comparatively, the Battle of Bunker Hill had only 5,400 Soldiers involved. This makes the Battle of Nu’uanu one of the largest battles in the world at the time.
“I have a new level of respect for culture on the island. Their history is as colorful as those in the lower forty-eight,” Simpson said.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2016 15:24 |
| Story ID: | 199902 |
| Location: | HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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