USS Hawaii

On May 5th, 2007, the USS Hawaii was commissioned as the third Virginia class submarine in the United States Navy. The sub was actually completed ahead of schedule, in late December of 2006. When commissioned on May 5th, the sub will see its first tour of duty stationed out of Groton, CT. In 2009, the USS Hawaii is due to report in the state from where it gets its namesake.

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.