It was standing room only Wednesday afternoon at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl as veterans and community members gathered to honor the anniversary of the West Loch Disaster.

The West Loch disaster was a deadly — and often forgotten — World War II incident in Hawaii that prompted major reforms in the U.S. military due to the disproportionate death toll of Black service members.

At the anniversary, hosted by the cemetery, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum, organizers initially put out 75 chairs. But as attendees rolled in, they put out 75 additional chairs as more guests arrived and many were left standing in the back watching and listening intently.

“My spirit is glowing,” Deloris Guttman, a local historian and the director of the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “Of all the years that we’ve had it, this is the best turnout we’ve ever had.”

This year’s anniversary takes place after the DPAA recently disinterred several of the unidentified dead from the disaster buried at Punchbowl as part of a new effort to finally attach names to the remains and bring closure to the families. John M. Figuerres, acting deputy director of DPAA, said that 73% of the DNA samples the agency believes it needs to identify the dead already has been collected.

Figuerres told attendees “this is a remarkable achievement, made possible not only by federal efforts, but by committed individuals in our community, many sitting here today.” He singled out Guttman and her staff at the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum for research and outreach to families.

On May 21, 1944, American sailors, Marines and soldiers were working on several vessels docked at West Loch loading weapons and supplies to support Operation Forager, the invasion of the Japanese-occupied Mariana Islands. But at at 3:08 p.m. something caused an explosion aboard LST-353 near its bow, igniting the explosive munitions and fuel on board, causing a chain reaction.

The blast sent flaming debris raining down on other ships, ultimately destroying five more vessels. The explosions blew men apart and maimed them, and those who survived the immediate blast had to contend with flames and smoke. Fuel leaked onto the surface of the water and caught fire as survivors tried to escape. Many burned to death, suffocated from smoke or drowned in the loch.

By the time the smoke cleared, at least 163 people were dead and 396 injured — though some historians suspect shoddy record-­keeping by Army officials in a rush to keep Operation Forager on track could have as many as 100 more uncounted.

The blasts and smoke during the incident could be heard and seen for miles by surrounding communities. But to ensure that Operation Forager was not delayed and that the U.S. military didn’t reveal potential weaknesses, the military ordered a press blackout. Four days after the incident, officials released a notice acknowledging an explosion had occurred causing “some loss of life, a number of injuries and resulted in the destruction of several small vessels.”

“(There was) no public accounting, no decorations, no headline tributes. Families of the dead were not told what happened. Survivors were ordered not to speak up,” Figuerres said. “It became one of the least-known disasters of World War II, not because it mattered less, but because it was hidden more. … Yet here we are today, decades later, on the anniversary of the disaster, as we begin the process to add their names into history, and because remembrance is part of our national duty.”

A disproportionate number of the dead and wounded were Black members of the Army’s segregated 29th Chemical Decontamination Company. During the war Black troops were often assigned menial, thankless and sometimes dangerous tasks that were considered undignified by white military leaders.

That included handling munitions and hazardous materials. Two months after the West Loch disaster, another munitions explosion at Port Chicago in California killed 320 sailors and wounded 390, most of them Black. Survivors at Port Chicago mutinied a month later as they protested continued unsafe conditions.

The West Loch and Port Chicago disasters led the Navy to change the way it handled munitions, as well as played a key role in spurring desegregation of the military. But the West Loch disaster would remain secret until the military finally declassified all files on the incident in 1962.

Tom Leatherman, the National Park Service’s superintendent for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, was previously superintendent of the Port Chicago site in California.

“As I reflect this year, as I have in the past, on how we honor those people who lost their lives here at West Loch and there at Port Chicago, I can’t help but continue to repeat that we honor them by not just remembering their names and mourning their loss,” he said. “We have to honor them by making sure that we fully understand this history and that we need to understand the role segregation, racism, discrimination had in putting those men in harm’s way and not properly acknowledging their contributions to the war effort.”

Dr. Adam Robinson, a retired admiral who served as the 36th surgeon general of the Navy and went on to work at the Department of Veterans Affairs before retiring as director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System in March, said “the rigor utilized and the safety instructions for loading these munitions were quite different in those years, and they were quite different from the standards today. It is not an exaggeration to also assume that minority citizens were not given the same consideration or respect that is often taken for granted. In short, the safety and health needs and requirements were not met.”

During his remarks, Robinson seemingly took aim at efforts by the new administration of President Donald Trump to dismantle diversity programs and downplay aspects of American history such as slavery.

Robinson said “our nation was forged in the cauldron of otherness. We struggled as different people with different colors, languages, customs, ways of thinking and attitudes toward liberty, life and happiness into a society which has until recently, accepted and nurtured diversity. Whether you like it or not ladies and gentlemen, we are a diverse nation.”

Theo Alexander, a Navy veteran and commander of the AMVETs West Loch Post, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the disaster and has been a consistent organizer in commemoration events. He told the Star-Advertiser he was happy to see a record turnout this year and said he hoped to see more members of the public next year.

“Keep them coming, because we need more attention on this,” he said. “There have been 80 years of opportunity to acknowledge the people that have served the military, the less-known people who served the military. And to be unknown for 80 years after their service, I think it’s really important to what we’re doing today to be able to acknowledge and then reconnect these unknown soldiers who are now known with their families.”

A perfect Hawaii vacation is still possible. But more than ever, travelers find that one slip-up can sour the whole trip, whether in Hawaii or not. That’s not just a gut feeling—it’s backed by data. In a new Go City survey of U.S. travelers, 92 percent said one bad element—like poor service, delays, or surprise fees—could ruin an entire vacation. It resonates with us and it might you too.

Hawaii is clearly high-stakes travel. The flights are long, the price tags are increasingly steep, and the emotional investment is big. So when something does go wrong—even something small—it tends to hit harder than on a weekend getaway.

But it doesn’t have to. Knowing where the traps are found and how Hawaii travelers often stumble, you can design a trip that works for you, your budget, and your high expectations. Here’s how to avoid the most common vacation breakdowns in paradise.

The first 24 hours can make or break your trip.

Many visitors plan their Hawaii trips for months or even years, then arrive and expect joy and aloha to hit them immediately. But as with other destinations, the first 24 hours can seem anything but relaxing, between long flights, jet lag, airport delays, and room check-in issues.

One Beat of Hawaii reader told us, “We were exhausted from the flight, then waited an hour for our rental car. By the time we got to the hotel, nothing felt relaxing anymore.”

So what helps? Start with a soft landing. Don’t overbook arrival day. Build in time for rest, easy food, a beach walk—something gentle that puts you into Hawaii smoothly. Don’t count on your first day being the best one. Let it be the slowest one.

When a budget trip to Hawaii still costs a fortune.

In the Go City survey, 88% of travelers said they’re willing to sacrifice comfort to afford a better vacation. But in Hawaii, that trade doesn’t always work. You might book a more affordable hotel or vacation rental, only to discover you’re still paying hundreds a night after taxes and resort fees, with no view, breakfast, or daily cleaning.

One reader told us, “We spent months cutting costs to afford the trip. Then we got there and felt like second-class citizens for not splurging on every little extra.”

So what helps? Know clearly what’s included before you book, even down to the exact view. Then add up the parking, cleaning fees, taxes, tips, and how much food will cost. You’re not cheap for choosing a budget—you’re smart for making it work where it matters most. In a word, knowing what you’re getting helps avoid wrong expectations and disappointments.

When your Hawaii vacation turns into a marathon.

Many Hawaii visitors overpack their itineraries, especially if they’re island-hopping or trying to hit every beach, hike, and lookout. Honestly, this is the most unrealistic part of Hawaii travel that we see.

With today’s reservation systems, worse-than-expected traffic, and long drive times even without congestion, a packed schedule can quickly turn into a stress spiral. We’ve known people who planned to start the day hiking on Kauai’s north shore and end it at Waimea Canyon. Technically possible—but not if you came to relax. That’s not a vacation. That’s a marathon.

One reader described it perfectly: “We spent more time in the car than in the water.”

So what helps? Pick fewer priorities and do them better. If you’re visiting more than one island, allow buffer days. Book one or two must-do experiences—like a boat trip or cultural event—early. Then leave open time to explore without pressure. The less you chase Hawaii, the more it tends to show up.

When the welcome feels different than you expected.

Some travelers come to Hawaii expecting unshakable cheer and constant warmth. However, the tone of tourism here has changed, just as many destinations are facing intense visitor pressure. While many here remain gracious hosts, others are understandably fatigued. Visitors who arrive with a demanding mindset, or are unaware of that tension, may feel it more sharply.

One commenter put it: “The Aloha wasn’t there this time. We felt tolerated, not appreciated.”

But another offered a different take: “Visitors who come with entitlement won’t get Aloha back. I meet respectful travelers every day—and they’re the ones who still feel it.”

So what helps? Think of yourself as a guest, not a customer. The warmth is often still there, but it meets you where you are. A little patience and kindness go further than you might expect, especially in a place where the welcome used to be automatic and now takes more effort on both sides.

What still works—and why it matters more than ever.

Not every Hawaii trip ends in disappointment. We’ll suggest that most don’t. Visitors still return home glowing after being here. And often, the difference isn’t the weather, room, or cost—it’s just the mindset.

One reader told us that the moment they stopped expecting to be catered to and started seeing themselves as a guest, “everything shifted. We had a wonderful trip.” Another pointed out that while Hawaii doesn’t work like it did in 2005, approaching it with curiosity still led to “moments of magic.”

That shift toward flexibility, curiosity, and extra patience might provide the most reliable experiential upgrade money can’t buy.

The dream of Hawaii hasn’t disappeared. But it’s no longer quite so automatic. As pointed out in the survey, travel today is more complicated everywhere—it’s not just in the islands. But here in Hawaii, where expectations naturally run high, the contrast feels sharper when things go even slightly sideways.

If you know where the traps are, it can help you step around them. You can plan wisely, move slowly, spend intentionally, and show up with a great mindset.

That’s not just how you avoid a ruined trip. That’s how you still find the Hawaii that lives in your imagination.

We’d love to hear how you’ve done it. What worked? What would you change? And how do you make Hawaii feel like Hawaii again? Let us know below.