The USS Missouri, also known as the "Mighty Mo", is currently located to the Pearl Harbor Naval Base on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  Built in the mid-1900's at Brooklyn’s New York Navy Shipyard, the USS Missouri was launched on January 29, 1944 and commissioned as the USS Missouri on June 11, 1944 with Capt. William M. Callaghan in command.  
 
On September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri, the Empire of Japan signed the documents that would officially end World War II.  General MacArthur (who signed the documents on behalf of the Allied Powers) concluded the document signing ceremony by saying: 

With those words, World War II was over...... 

The USS Missouri served as part of the strongest Naval Force in the world, The United States Navy utilized her in various training exercises and wartime missions.  Her wartime missions included:  World War II, The Korean War and Operation Desert Storm / The Persian Gulf War.  She was temporarily decommissioned after The Korean War and then recommissioned on May 10, 1986.

The USS Missouri boasts a total length of almost 900 feet.  She weighs 45,000 tons and could hold approximately 2500 officers and enlisted seamen.  The Mighty Mo could reach speeds of 30 knots and her Gatling-style guns were capable of firing 20mm ammunition at a rate of 50 rounds per second (3000 rounds per minute) for self-defense against missiles and aircraft.  Her main armament is nine 16" - .50 caliber guns with a range of 23 miles.

She received her final decommission on March 31, 1992.  On January 29, 1999, The Battleship Missouri Memorial opened to the public on Battleship Row, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.  Today the USS Missouri can be seen moored at Ford Island, just behind the USS Arizona Memorial.  For more information and details about tours of the USS Missouri please visit https://ussmissouri.org.

Once again, it's that time of the year!  The Billabong Pipe Masters Surf Contest has commenced the holding period for this, the #11 stop for the Men's World Championship Tour.  After 10 previous events in exotic surf locations around the globe, this year's professional surfing circuit will culminate on the North Shore of Oahu.  The stage is now set at the world-famous Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach.  "Pipe" is world-renowned as one of the most dangerous, high-performance waves on the planet.   Now, the top 34 professional surfers in the world will challenge each other, themselves and the awesome power of Mother Nature on the North Shore of Oahu.  The 2014 Men's Professional Surf Champion will be crowned within the next two weeks....

Ehukai Beach is located on the North Shore of Oahu.  The holding period for this contest is December 8th through December 20th.  For more information, please visit the ASP World Tour website.