PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- One of Hawaii's most popular monuments is back in business after three months in dry dock and $18 million worth of repairs and renovations. The battleship Missouri was reopened to the public on Sunday, drawing a huge crowd.

Admission was free to the thousands who streamed aboard.

Harold Estes, a 95-year-old World War II veteran, sounded a whistle and declared, "The battleship is ready to be boarded." Estes was instrumental in the campaign to make a home port for the Missouri in Hawaii.

The ship has new paint from top to bottom, new signs, and a new tent on the fan tail for special events. It also has state-of-the-art leak-detecting equipment and rust prevention formulas to preserve the ship for decades.

"I wanted them to experience the mighty Mo," said Ewa Beach resident Joann Macho, who brought along five family members. "I can actually see the difference because we have been here before."

Michael Carr, Missouri Memorial Association president, said, "It looks really good. It looks brand new, actually. They've done a really good job."

Now the ship is ready for the 65th anniversary commemoration of the end of World War II. The Japanese surrendered on the deck of the battleship on Sept. 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay.

"This ship looks new -- magnificent as it was on the day it was first launched," Carr said.

Missouri volunteers and donors were honored Saturday in a special ceremony for their help in the refurbishment.

Daniel Matsuura, part of the ukelele band, was awed by the battleship.

"It's really big. The only boats I have seen are fishing boats and stuff, and this is like 100 times bigger," he said.