Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base | April 10, 2026

On Friday, April 10, 2026, the submarine community gathered at the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu to celebrate the 126th anniversary of the U.S. Submarine Force. The prestigious event, held annually to commemorate the inception of the Navy’s submarine service on April 11, 1900, brought together sailors, veterans, and leadership from the Pacific Submarine Force homeported in Pearl Harbor.

A Night of Tradition and Excellence

The celebration kicked off with a cocktail hour, followed by formal ceremonies. The evening honored the naval tradition of recognizing submarine sailors’ dedication to protecting America’s interests beneath the waves. Attendees dressed in accordance with Navy protocol, with enlisted personnel E-6 and below in Dress Whites, while senior enlisted and officers wore Choker White or Dinner Dress White Jackets.

Distinguished Guest Speaker Rick West

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick D. West delivered remarks as the keynote speaker, bringing decades of experience and institutional knowledge to inspire the gathered submariners. West’s presence at the event underscored the significance of the occasion, as his address resonated with sailors at all levels of the submarine force.

Leadership and Ceremony

Rear Admiral Chris Cavanaugh, Commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), and Master Chief Aaron Lee, Force Master Chief of COMSUBPAC, participated in the evening’s formal cake-cutting ceremony, a cherished tradition at submarine birthday balls. Additionally, a formal POW/MIA memorial table honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Honoring the Missing: POW/MIA Table Presentation

Retired Submarine Veteran Pat Suenaga, representing the Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base submarine veterans, led one of the most solemn moments of the evening with the POW/MIA remembrance ceremony for all service members. In the quiet ballroom, he guided guests through the symbolism of the small table set for one—the white cloth for the purity of their service, the red rose for sacrifice, the yellow ribbon for hope, the lemon and salt for bitterness and tears, the inverted glass and empty chair for those who cannot return. His presence gave voice to the silent roll call of the missing.

Many in attendance bowed their heads in reflection, remembering shipmates, mentors, and friends who now exist only in stories, photographs, and the silent roll call of memory. The ceremony closed as the room remained in quiet reverence, a collective promise that those still missing will never be forgotten.

The Submarine Force Mission

The 126th Submarine Birthday Ball celebrated more than a century of excellence. As noted in official materials, the Pacific Submarine Force continues to provide strategic deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, precision land strike, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, and special warfare capabilities around the globe.

For submariners stationed in Hawai’i or attending the event, the evening served as a powerful reminder of their place within a proud and storied tradition.

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