Aloha for Army DPR/TV/1597 & 1598 (DPR/S/164)

Aloha the first word of greeting one receives on arrival in Hawaii was extended to 120 Australian soldiers as they disembarked at Pearl Harbour after an 11 day trip from Sydney aboard HMAS Melbourne. On the flight deck soldiers in Hawaii for an exchange exercise formed up against a background of rugged volcanic mountains on Oahu Island with Honolulu nestling below in preparation for their arrival. Two pipers and the Navy band were also on the flight deck to give the arrival a musical flavour. After a slow passage through the harbour the berthing of HMAS Melbourne with saliors and soldiers lining the deck was greeted by Hula dancers. Baggage was quickly lowered while a colour party with an American Army guard unfurled the flags of the United States, Australia and the 25th United States Infantry Division. The Division is hosting the Australian contingent during Exercise Pacific Bond Two. Soldiers were led from the ship by two pipers and immediatley found themselves being greeted with kisses and Hawaiian leis a symbol of Aloha meaning welcome. In a brief ceremony which followed the national anthem of both the United States and Australia were played and further greeting were extended by United States military personnel and the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, before the soldiers marched from Pearl Harbour to bases waiting to take them to Schofield Barracks which will be home for the next three weeks during the Exercise.