Put Pearl Harbor Memorial on Top of Your Hawaii To-Do List
When planning an itinerary for Hawaii, there are many great reasons for embarking on the journey. Online searches for the top attractions in the Aloha State include great beaches, cultural activities, amazing food and exceptional views of nature.
All of those are true, and great reasons to go. But the top attraction for us, and for many of the lists you’ll find online is Pearl Harbor.
Planning Your Visit to Pearl Harbor Memorial Hawaii
The visual images from December 7, 1941 are burnt into our brains through exposure in history books, TV and movies. Seeing the area and the stirring memorial was our top destination when we got to Hawaii, and it exceeded our expectations.
You can spend as much time as you want when you visit Pearl Harbor, which is a National Park. Tours can be found for a couple hours or 8+ hours, depending on your interest and time available. The area is also very friendly, should you decide to do something on your own.
Tickets to gain access to the floating memorial over the USS Arizona are strongly recommended. There was a standby area, but the lines were long and there are no guarantees of getting in, though they do the best they can to accommodate everyone.
Tour Options
A couple things to be on the lookout for when you’re booking tours and planning your visit. There are plenty of tours available, if that is your desire. But be aware that not all tours go out to the USS Arizona Memorial, and they don’t always note that in their description. If you’ve never been there, you might not know so it is worth noting here. Also, if you purchase a tour know that the guides are not allowed to join you throughout your time on the grounds. Our tour guide did a great job of gathering up all that we needed, got us to the park and sent us in the right direction. She then waited for us at a designated area where we continued on with our time.
Your ticket provides you with a set time to get aboard a small boat to take you out to the memorial. The boat was easy to access, and the ride out was only a few minutes.
What to Expect
Once you are docked and off the boat, please note that photography is not allowed on the outside of memorial. Seems obvious to us but worth repeating, this is the spot where nearly half of the 2,341 sailors that died during the Pearl Harbor attacked occurred.
Inside the memorial, you have plenty of opportunities to take your photos. Also inside, there are plenty of stations to read about the fate of the sailors that day. On the day we were there, there was a parks department employee with a vast knowledge of Pearl Harbor offering up a narrative of the events which was a nice touch.
You can look down and still see large pieces of the USS Arizona. There were 1,177 men that were killed that day. The wreckage serves as a reminder of their sacrifice. The wreckage also will from time to time still leak oil, which you might see on the water’s surface during your visit.
While you’re in the park, there is plenty to see. In addition to the USS Arizona Memorial, you can see memorials for USS Utah and Oklahoma. Because of time, we did not do the Ford Island Bus Tour, but for those with more time it is highly recommended. Like the USS Arizona Memorial, reservations are strongly recommended.
Taking your time and strolling the grounds is the best way to see Pearl Harbor, and provides beautiful views of Hawaii’s nature, the ships in the area and the memorial. There are also a couple wonderful memorials along the path. The Lone Sailor statue is beautiful. It is dedicated to all the men and women that have served in the US Navy.
The original anchor for the USS Arizona is also on display on the grounds of the park. Dedicated to those that lost their lives, the plaque simply states, “We will never forget.”
Additional Museum Exhibits
There are several exhibits worth checking out at the museum, which is open to visitors. In addition to the exhibits, they have a 23 minute movie that details the history leading up to and throughout the attack. The movie is highly recommended as a refresher on the events surrounding the attack.
We were particularly impressed with the original copy of the speech that President Roosevelt gave to Congress, calling December 7, 1941 a “date which will live in infamy.”
One negative about the park is some poor signage. In our case, we ended up standing in line for the movie, thinking it was something else because of a lack of clarity. So be on the lookout and don’t be afraid to ask.
Something else to know is the bag policy which is strictly enforced. Most of the policy is common sense but the size of bags was an inconvenience for us, since we had plans for the entire day and had backpacks. They do offer storage lockers for a fee, if necessary for you.
A tour of Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona was at the top of our list for good reason, and we would highly recommend it for anyone. You do not have to be a history buff to appreciate the memorial.
It is a somber experience, but also one that stirs patriotism within you. At least that is what we felt during our visit. If you’re planning a visit there, let us know! And if you’ve been there already, let us know if we’ve missed anything.
There are many islands of Hawaii, and thus many options for your visit. Check out some of our other Hawaii suggestions to help your planning.
