Before the 1900's Hawaiians called it "Wai Momi" or "Harbor of Pearl" because of the numerous oysters that lined the ocean floor.

In 1887, King Kalakaua granted the U.S. exclusive rights to the area. The reason he saw it as a way to export sugar without having to pay tarrifs, and he saw the U.S. as a powerful friend.

"Remember there had been an earlier settlement of Russia in Kauai and the British had come in their rediscovery mission. So this was a very vulnerable place," said Daniel Martinez.

In return, the U.S. got to develop a coaling and repair station in the middle of the Pacific and that's all it was for years until a perceived threat by the Japanese.

"Japan at some point sends over a battle cruiser to park between two American ships in Honolulu Harbor to send a message regarding what they perceived as ill treatment of their immigrants who are coming here from Japan. So there's a recognition from Congress that action needed to be taken and fairly quickly to build up the facilities here at Pearl harbor, specifically Navy Base Pearl Harbor," said Kerry Gershaneck.

On May 13, 1908 Pearl Harbor is born. Congress authorized work to dredge the channel with $3-million funding the dredging begins.

"As we're doing this, one of the local kahuna's is trying to tell the workers that this is the home of the shark goddess. You have to ask permission. You have to have a blessing before you do that. The people who were in charge weren't from Hawaii. They didn't understand the warning," Gershaneck said.

So they didn't stop and three and a half years in with the work almost finished dry dock one collapses. Most blamed sloppy engineering, but just to be sure as reconstruction begins they hold a small, private ceremony and Hawaiian blessing to appease the shark goddess.

They finally completed dry dock one dock in 1919. By then the Navy had also purchased ford island from Dr. Seth Ford, a boston physician who worked at the marine hospital.

In 1925, dredging began to create the naval base. Things slow down during the great depression, but with the threat of war looming construction escalates in 1940. Congress approves $14 million to build dry docks 2 and 3 and a new power plant.

Then on December 7th, 1941, there are many stories of tragedy and triumph from that fateful day, and several more that followed.

June 1, 1942, the USS Yorktown pulls into harbor badly damaged after a direct hit from an enemy bomb. 1,400 shipyard workers labor around the clock and miraculously finish a 4 month job in 2 days.

During the war the work staff reaches it's peak. Twenty-five-thousand civilian workers and another 7,000 military personal there are so many employees at this point that military housing expands well beyond the shipyard you see today.

"What you see is just row upon row of kwanza huts. And up until 15 years ago you could still see them out in the West Loch area and Waipio Point. but what people don't realize when they went to the stadium, there was an entire city built in there for workers that stretched all the way up Halawa Valley so the landscape changed dramatically," Martinez said.

Sports were a big part of overall morale, of course after 1945 employment declines, but there are spikes. During the Korean and Cold Wars and as dictated by demand. Still the significance of this place never changes.

Not just historically, but now and for generations ahead. As we embark on a century of work, courage and sacrifice it's important to look back at the men and women who kept our navy fit to fight.

Related Stories:

KGMB9.com Extra - December 7,1941, A Shipyard Worker's Story
Pearl Harbor: A Legacy of Labor
Preserving Pearl Harbor

---