USS Hawaii adds ‘class’ to Pearl Harbor sub lineup - Honolulu Star-Bulletin
USS Hawaii submarine arrives at new home port of Pearl Harbor - Honolulu Advertiser
USS Hawaii SSN 776 Submarine - Slide Show - KITV

Here are news coverage links on the USS Hawaii arrival.

News Videos on the USS Hawaii arrival:
Grand Welcome for USS Hawaii at Pearl Harbor - KGMB
USS Hawaii Arrives at Homeport - KHON
USS Hawaii Arrives At Pearl Harbor - KITV

News Articles on the USS Hawaii arrival:
USS Hawaii steams into Pearl today - Honolulu Star-Bulletin
USS Hawaii arrives at Pearl Harbor - Honolulu Advertiser
Arrival of USS Hawaii heralds new era in Pacific - Honolulu Advertiser
New submarine docks at Pearl Harbor, reunites families - KHNL

Virginia class subs such as the USS Hawaii are the latest crowning achievement where all the great teams and intricate facets of R&D, production, legislation, accounting, and more come into play. The Virginia class subs were designed using more conventional off-the-shelf technology and components, which is unconventional for the military, as way to help offset costs. Still, each warship was coming in at around 2.2 billion dollars. In response to this, Congress agreed to purchase two ships at once rather than one at a time, if they could get them for $2 billion each. This would allow for an overall lower production cost, ordering twice as many components at once than before.

Sonar and periscope technologies have been left in the wind onboard the USS Hawaii, now replaced by a vast network of fiber optics, digital cameras, and high definition video. What would seem to be a relatively simple change for comfort, a new design has allowed for more room by carrying torpedoes differently, which allows for more torpedoes to be carried or for a special room for a team of up to 30 SEAL members. This new style of submarine is designed to operate in open waters and just offshore with enhanced stealth and surveillance capabilities as well as special warfare support. More firepower and more versatility for a lower overall cost is part of what brings submarines such as the USS Hawaii to the forefront in military technology.

In 1945, the USS Hawaii was to be the third Alaskan class cruiser, and was given the designation of CB-3. It was actually a project that was started back before the end of WWII in 1942, but was put on hold to build more urgently needed ships such as the ASW escorts. Construction was resumed in 1943, and the ship actually set to sea for the first time in 1945. Some construction continued while afloat, but building of the USS Arizona CB-3 was once again suspended in 1947. In 1952, it seemed new life would be breathed into the battle cruiser, reclassifying it as a large tactical command ship, but the project was later dropped. Without every being completely built or commissioned, the first USS Arizona was finally sold for scrap in 1959.

Now, in a new age, the USS Hawaii sails as one of the most advanced submarines available. The Virginia class sub has highly advanced capabilities, and will be docking in Pearl Harbor in 2009. Considering the uncertain future once held by the previous USS Hawaii, the warship that now bears this name has an illustrious path set before it. Bringing honor to the men and women—both service and civilian—of Hawaii, this new sub will patrol the waters with its peacekeeping mission in mind, protecting US soil from all threats both foreign and domestic.

The Navy doesn’t just affect the jobs of their personnel and the influx of cash from Sailors visiting local retailers, although this can easily be seen in any area with a major naval station or even more particularly in an area where a base has closed down. A number of private sectors are affected, because the military will often hire outside contractors to handle a variety of events and purposes. From private security to cleaning and setting up for ceremonial events, the Navy and other US Armed Forces often handle a lot of things in house, but they also have a strong belief in strengthening and supporting surrounding economics and fostering partnership with nearby businesses.

Now, with the Pacific Fleet continuing to grow, bringing in ever-more advanced equipment such as the latest in sub maritime endeavors—the USS Hawaii—it only shows that Pearl Harbor is still a major strategic area for the US forces. As such, money will continue to flow into the region due to the presence of the United States Navy. Beyond that, new firms will sprout up with new ideas, each requiring the most technically advanced and intuitive staff to find ways to sell to the Navy. This will undoubtedly lead to several advances in the civilian sector as well. So, as the USS Hawaii and other ships continue to make their way into the Hawaiian islands, we will only continue to see a strong economic boost from these military applications.

So far, Virginia class submarines include the USS Virginia, USS Texas, USS Hawaii, USS North Carolina, USS New Hampshire, USS New Mexico, USS Missouri, USS California, USS Mississippi, and USS Minnesota. Of those, only the first four are in service. The USS Virginia and the USS Hawaii are due to be stationed in Pearl Harbor sometime during 2009. Hawaii will receive the USS North Carolina sometime after that.

There are several enhancements to this style sub over previous designs. The style is called post-Cold War and puts more of an emphasis on special forces than on nuclear firepower. Virginia class subs such as the USS Hawaii will include torpedo room that can be converted to carry Navy SEALs as well as a deck area that can be converted to a dry deck for SEAL purposes. The USS Hawaii and similar ships will also be equipped with Tomahawk land-attack missiles, Mark-48 advanced capability missiles, 12 VLS (or, Vertical Launching Systems), four torpedo tubes, advanced mobile mines, and a host of unmanned undersea vehicles.

Having this most advanced submarine named after their state has brought pride to many Hawaiians, who will get a chance to see the ship in their native waters sometime in 2009. It is unlikely that there will be tours, as the warship is in active duty, but there will most likely be a docking/landing/homecoming ceremony, which will undoubtedly borrow from the rich island traditions of Hawaii as all the ship’s ceremonies do.

As the USS Hawaii is only the third type of sub with its design, others will first be assigned to the major Navy port in Virginia. The USS Texas will start its tour in the waters off of Hawaii before the USS Hawaii and the USS North Carolina will report sometime after.

Since before the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the strategic importance of Hawaii has been well known and sought after. For this reason, Hawaii is one of the first places to receive the latest and greatest military hardware to protect its shores and maintain peace on the water. Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, who is also the warship’s sponsor stated that it was a great honor for the name of her state to be given to the new submarine. The submarine will be stationed at historic Pearl Harbor once it reaches the island state in 2009. Commanding the USS Hawaii is Cmdr. Ed Herrington.

It is uncertain yet whether there will be tours of the submarine given once it reaches the port in Hawaii, as the vehicle will be in active duty, but there will surely be a docking ceremony. This should be a real treat as the USS Hawaii has worked Hawaiian tradition into each of their ceremonies thus far. Also, no firm date has been given as to the arrival date of the USS Hawaii in Pearl Harbor, only that it will be sometime in 2009.

It is equipped with the VLS tubes, tomahawk missiles, MK 48 torpedoes, 4-torpedo tubes, advanced mobile mines, and unmanned undersea vehicles.