10th Anniversary of Ehime Maru Incident

By Wendy Osher

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist David Rush. Image courtesy U.S. Navy.

Governor Neil Abercrombie today will visit the Ehime Maru Memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park.  Today is the 10th Anniversary of the Ehime Maru incident in which a U.S. submarine struck the Japanese fishery vessel during a surface training drill about 9 miles off the coast of Oahu. Nine crewmembers from the Japanese vessel were killed in the incident including four high school students.

In the wake of the accident, the Navy updated its policies involving civilian visits aboard the USS Greeneville and other naval ships.

More than 100 people are invited to the commemoration ceremony that includes dozens of family members and relatives from Japan.  The event also includes a wreath presentation and tree planting ceremony.