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National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (in Punchbowl Crater)
Nestled in the bowl of Puowaina, or Punchbowl Crater, this 112-acre cemetery is the final resting place for more than 44,000 U.S. war veterans and family members. Among those buried here is Ernie Pyle, the famed World War II correspondent who was killed by a Japanese sniper off the northern coast of Okinawa. Puowaina, formed 75,000-100,000 years ago during a period of secondary volcanic activity, translates to "Hill of Sacrifice." Historians believe this site once served as an altar where ancient Hawaiians offered sacrifices to their gods. The cemetery has unfettered views of Waikiki and Honolulu -- perhaps the finest on Oahu.
www.cem.va.gov/nchp/nmcp.htm