All over the island

The map above shows the main attacks of the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Not pictured is the Marine Corps Air Station at Ewa ("west" of Hickam) and Bellows Air Field ("south" of Kaneohe Naval Air Station.)

Oahu has two mountain ranges running "north and south" (Hawaii does not fit neatly in a traditional north/south axis. Directions are still given by your relative position to the mountains, ocean, or particular landmarks. In the center of the ranges [called "Central Oahu"] were the sugar cane and pineapple fields.)

I'm trying to give you an idea of what was going on all over the island. To get a perspective of distance, go to a google map and ask for directions from one place to another. You'll see how close things are. (For example: Kaneohe to Honolulu is about fifteen miles.)

So, you have all major military installations being attacked. Fires, smoke, and military dependents that must be evacuated from that area. There are fires in Iwilei at the gas tanks, fires in Kalihi ("north" of Honolulu) and an evacuation there. There is traffic going into the bases (civilian and military workers trying to get to their posts) and traffic going out (military dependent families trying to evacuate), there are fire trucks coming in from civilian fire houses, there are "bombs" downtown including Iolani Palace, sirens are going off...and yet, there are families in the central, leeward and north shore areas that don't even know there is a war going on.