Yet the tropical lagoon that was catapulted into the spotlight that fateful day has a history of its own. Long before it became known as Pearl Harbor, it was a placid bay fed by streams that flowed down from Oahu's mountains. This massive lagoon, known to the Hawaiians as Puuloa, was once home to an extensive system of fishponds that provided a rich and plentiful bounty.

Granted to the U.S. in negotiations with the Hawaiian government related to the import of Hawaiian sugar in 1888, Pearl Harbor grew in importance over the years, making a quantum leap when the U.S. headquartered its Pacific Fleet there in 1940. By 1941, America was on war footing, with Hawaii at the helm as the central defense post of the western front. The stage was set, yet few anticipated the extremity of events to come.

From Fishponds to Warships: Pearl Harbor provides a sweeping view of the region's past, from geologic origins to fishpond days, through the tense moments before and after the attack, and the years of reflection and repair right up to the present. A valuable resource for anyone interested in Pearl Harbor, it is a colorful work filled with rare photographs documenting the key military figures involved and the intense battle. Wartime posters, advertisements and propaganda are also included, along with a nostalgic look at life in wartime Hawaii.