USS Hawaii To Be Home Ported At Pearl Harbor
By Mass Communications Specialist Third Class Luciano Marano, COMSUBPAC Public Affairs, December 1, 2008

Commander, Submarine Force Pacific Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny announced today USS Hawaii (SSN 776) will be the first Virginia-class submarine to be home ported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor this summer.

“SUBPAC is thrilled to be welcoming the most technologically advanced submarine in the U.S. inventory to our ohana, said McAneny Virginia class submarines like USS Hawaii are the first to be designed post Cold War to excel in the littorals, while maintaining the ability to conduct open ocean operations, which will directly support my ability to meet and defeat threats to maritime security in the Pacific.”

Commissioned May 5, 2007, Hawaii was the third Virginia class attack submarine constructed and the first submarine to be named after the island state.  Her crew is excited to represent its namesake state, as they continue to build upon our already sustained relationships with our multi-national partners in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Adm. Robert Willard, Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet, was eager to take advantage of the capabilities USS Hawaii will bring to the Pacific USS Hawaii represents our very newest technologies and advancements in submarine design and capability, said Willard.  These boats contribute to a great deal of what we do to maritime security, to the employment of our special operations forces, and all dimensions of warfare in the Pacific.”
Hawaii’s Governor Linda Lingle, the submarine‚s sponsor, was also pleased with the announcement of USS Hawaii‚s new homeport. As Governor, I am elated the USS Hawaii (SSN 776) will make Pearl Harbor home,” said Lingle.  “This fabulous journey began with the keel laying in 2004, continued with the christening in 2006 and the proud day of commissioning in 2007.  As the submarine‚s sponsor, watching our submarine be brought to life‚ has been an honor and a privilege. Now, to have our namesake submarine call Hawai`i home is the culmination of an important and exciting venture.  I look forward to welcoming the entire crew and the families to our state.

Measuring 377 feet long, weighing 7,800 tons when submerged and with a complement of more than 130 crewmembers, Hawaii is one of the Navy’s newest and most technologically sophisticated submarines.  USS Hawaii conducted its first operational deployment prior to its post-shakedown availability, demonstrating the Virginia-class program‚s capability to immediately support the fleet.
Hawaii‚s senior Senator Daniel Inouye reflected on the importance of USS Hawaii‚s home porting in the Aloha State It is indeed fitting that the first Virginia Class submarine to arrive into Pearl Harbor will be the USS Hawaii, said Inouye.  I have no doubt that the men and women of the shipyard will ensure that she is fit and remains fit to fight today and in the years to follow.  The USS Hawaii will be a national security beacon throughout the Asia-Pacific region.  I wish its crew Godspeed and calm seas.

USS Hawaii is a state-of-the-art submarine capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, strike group support, and mine warfare.  She will join the force of fifteen Los Angeles-class submarines presently home ported in Pearl Harbor.

Navy: USS Hawaii To Be Based At Pearl Harbor
Associated Press, December 4, 2008

The Navy has officially announced it will base the USS Hawaii submarine at Pearl Harbor.

Gov. Linda Lingle and Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye have long said the submarine would be based in the islands. But the Navy didn’t make a formal announcement until Thursday.

The Hawaii is only the third Virginia-class submarine, the Navy’s most advanced underwater vessel.

The 377-foot ship has a crew of more than 130 sailors and officers.

It will join 15 Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarines at Pearl Harbor.

The Hawaii is the first submarine to be named after the island state.

Inouye has also said two other Virginia-class submarines ˆ the USS Texas and the USS North Carolina ˆ would join the Hawaii at Pearl Harbor.

USS Hawai`i Might Arrive In Time For Statehood Day Celebration
By William Cole, Honolulu Advertiser, December 5, 2008

The Navy has speeded up the arrival of Pearl Harbor’s first Virginia-class attack submarine, the USS Hawai`i, with the state-named sub expected be in its new home port around June, officials said.

Officials hope the namesake submarine can take part in the 50th anniversary of Statehood Day, which is celebrated on the third Friday in August. On Aug. 21, 1959, Hawai`i became the 50th state in the union.

Pearl Harbor is expected to receive three of the first four of the latest-generation subs to be built after the lead ship in the class, the USS Virginia.

The Hawai`i, Texas and North Carolina would be based here and augment and begin to replace the 15 older Los Angeles-class attack subs that operate out of Pearl Harbor.

The Texas was projected to arrive first in 2009, but the arrival of the Hawai`i has now been moved up ahead of the Texas. Officials said the flip-flop is a result of some political clout working to bring the USS Hawai`i to Pearl Harbor as fast as possible and the need for some work on the Texas.

Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, the state adjutant general, said it’s hard to say what the new submarine’s operational commitments will be, but “we would like to work with the Navy to see how we could work in the USS Hawai`i as part of statehood celebrations.”

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai`i, said it is fitting that the first Virginia-class submarine to be home-ported at Pearl Harbor will be the USS Hawai`i.

“I have no doubt that the men and women of the shipyard will ensure that she is fit and remains fit to fight today and in the years to follow,” Inouye said.

The 377-foot Virginia-class subs are expected to provide work for the shipyard, the state’s largest industrial employer. Inouye in August 2007 announced that the Hawai`i, Texas and North Carolina would be coming to Pearl Harbor.

The $2.4 billion to $2.7 billion high-tech submarines are designed to operate in both the open ocean and nearshore shallows, and have improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements.

“USS Hawai`i represents our very newest technologies and advancements in submarine design and capability,” said Adm. Robert Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet.