Honolulu's namesake ship is preparing to say farewell to its island home after two decades of service. USS Honolulu (SSN 718), which is scheduled to inactivate next year, will hold a farewell ceremony April 15 prior to departing Hawaii on her final deployment to the Western Pacific. "This is an exciting and challenging time for us," said Cmdr. John Russ, the nuclear-powered attack submarine's commanding officer. The submarine is currently in the third week of a pre-deployment maintenance upkeep period in Pearl Harbor. When she leaves Hawaii for her deployment some time after April 15, it will likely be the last time the submarine ever sees Pearl Harbor.