visiting pearl harbor: a moving and memorable experience on oahu
A journey into history, honor, and the enduring spirit of those who served
While Oʻahu offers beaches, hikes, and island beauty around every corner, there are some places that reach deeper than the scenery — places where history lingers in the air, and silence says more than words.
One of those places is Pearl Harbor.
I recently visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and it was one of the most memorable and moving experiences of my time in Hawaiʻi. Whether you’re a history buff or simply want to understand the island’s past on a deeper level, this is a site that stays with you long after you leave.
What Is Pearl Harbor?
Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base that was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941, leading the United States to enter World War II. Today, the site is both a working naval base and a memorial complex, honoring the lives lost that day and preserving the stories that shaped the modern world.
The USS Arizona Memorial
The centerpiece of the visit is the USS Arizona Memorial — a white, open-air structure that floats directly over the sunken remains of the battleship USS Arizona, which was hit during the attack and exploded, killing 1,177 sailors and Marines.
What makes it especially profound is that the ship still lies where it sank, and the bodies of the fallen remain entombed within it — a permanent underwater grave that now rests in peaceful waters.
How to Get There
Visitors take a boat ride operated by the U.S. Navy out to the memorial. The short journey across the harbor is quiet and reflective, with most passengers lowering their voices or simply watching the water glide by.
The Optional Film
Before (or after) your boat trip, you can watch a short documentary in a small on-site theater. The film offers a powerful overview of the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, including historical footage and survivor testimonies.
The film used to be shown at the start of the tour, in one of the theatres on-site. However it is now offered as an optional watch.
It’s optional, but I highly recommend it — it adds emotional and historical context to everything you’ll see afterward.
At the Memorial
Once you arrive at the memorial, you’ll walk through a central open space that allows you to look down into the water, where parts of the USS Arizona are still visible, resting just beneath the surface.
At the far end is the marble Remembrance Wall, carved with the names of those who perished aboard the ship. As I read the names, I noticed many belonged to brothers — and even a father and son who died together that morning.
There’s also a second, smaller marble wall nearby, honoring survivors of the attack who chose to be interred with their shipmates after they passed. It’s a powerful tribute to lifelong loyalty and sacrifice.
How Long Does a Visit Take?
Plan for at least 2–3 hours, especially if you also want to visit:
- The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
- The exhibits on naval history
- Optional additions like the Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfin Submarine, or Pacific Aviation Museum (these require separate admission)
How to Visit pearl harbor: Practical Info
- Admission to the memorial is free, but you must reserve tickets ahead of time at www.recreation.gov
- Tickets open 8 weeks in advance and go quickly, especially during busy seasons
- Arrive early for your time slot — security is tight, and no bags are allowed inside (locker storage available)
- Bring water, sunscreen, and wear respectful clothing — this is a place of remembrance
Final Thoughts
Visiting Pearl Harbor is not just a tour — it’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and honor. Standing over the wreckage of the USS Arizona, surrounded by still water and history, you feel the weight of that moment in time, but also the resilience and unity that followed.
If you find yourself on Oʻahu, I encourage you to carve out time for this experience. It’s not flashy or tropical. It’s quiet. It’s sacred. And it’s something you’ll carry home with you — in your heart, and in your understanding of what this island, and this history, truly mean.
Have you visited Pearl Harbor?
Share your experience in the comments or tag me on Instagram @abiteabroad — I’d love to hear how it impacted you.
Pearl Harbor: A Moving Place to Visit to Remember History
ByLunds1July 27, 2025
Our Hawaiian vacation was full of sun-soaked beaches, lush hikes, amazing food and drink and outstanding scenery —but visiting Pearl Harbor was something that we felt compelled to do. It’s more than a historical site; it’s a place of remembrance, reflection, and deep national significance. Located just west of Honolulu, Pearl Harbor is one of the most visited landmarks in Hawaii, with over 2 million visitors every year.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked in a surprise attack by Japanese forces, resulting in the loss of over 2,400 American lives and prompting the United States to enter World War II. Today, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial stands as a powerful tribute to those who lost their lives and a reminder of the resilience of the American spirit.
The entire visit was extremely moving – being there, surrounded by the names, the photographs, and the preserved remains of the USS Arizona beneath the water,
How to Get to Pearl Harbor
Getting to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki was easy. We took an Uber and we got there fairly early – before the crowds descended. Security is tight—you can’t bring bags inside (including purses), but there is a bag storage facility for a small fee. I’d recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing water and sunscreen, especially if you’re planning to visit multiple sites at the memorial.
Tickets and Reservations for Pearl Harbor
You can either purchase tickets and do a self guided tour of the site (with your own transportation to and from the site), or sign up for a tour. Tours are all available on the recreation.gov website, and they vary in different offerings. Individual tickets are easy to purchase on the website, and reservations are recommended and best for visiting Pearl Harbor, as you are guaranteed entrance and a time slot.
The site is free to enter, but if you want tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial program, it’s best to reserve them in advance on recreation.gov. A certain amount of tickets are released ahead of time. If you cannot get a ticket on the day you want to visit you can sign up for alerts to let you know when tickets become available. This is sent to you via email and you have to act fast to purchase tickets once you get that notification.
It is possible if you don’t have reservations to get standby tickets. We were successfully able to do this the day we went to visit. Go as early as possible in the day for this, and line up in the standby line. The site admits ticket holders first by entry time on the ticket, then will admit from the standby queue if there is room.
The majority of visitors do their own self-guided tour. There is also an audio tour available with headsets available near the information desk at the entrance to the site. Your purchased ticket gives you unhindered access to the main attractions at Pearl Harbor, including the boat shuttle to and from the USS Arizona memorial.
Hours for Visiting Pearl Harbor
The Pearl Harbor National Park is open from 7am to 5pm 7 days a week. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
The last shuttle boat departs for the USS Arizona memorial at 3pm.
Tips for Visiting Pearl Harbor
The Pearl Harbor site is a National Park that has . The main part of the site is the remains of the USS Arizona, which was the battleship that h
No bags, except clear bags are allowed into the memorial site. You can bring your own clear bag, or purchase a special memorial one at the bag check. If you bring another bag in you will need to check it in at the bag check at the entrance to the site. The current cost at the time of writing this post was $7 per bag. The special clear plastic bag that you can purchase is $6.99.
If you can avoid bringing a bag you will save money and time. You are allowed to take in cell phones and water, and smaller wallets – not more than about an inch in thickness. If you have a medical device, such as an epi pen, you will be allowed to take that in with you.
The USS Arizona memorial is basically a visit to a cemetery – as all the men who died onboard the ship on that day in 1941 were left inside the sunken battleship. Therefore it is expected that you are respectful when visiting the memorial. They ask that you are silent and use quiet ‘indoor’ voices when visiting the memorial.
As it is a national park site, the program is designed to accommodate those needing additional accessibility. The restrooms, theater, exhibits, bookstore, information desks, Navy shuttle boats, and Arizona Memorial are all fully-accessible to visitors in wheelchairs.
Parking is available at the site at a charge of $7 per day.
Key Sites to Visit at Pearl Harbor
There are several important memorials and museums to explore within the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. Each one offers a different perspective on the events of World War II and those who served.
USS Arizona Memorial
This was the most emotional part of the visit for me. The memorial is built over the sunken remains of the USS Arizona, which still holds the final resting place of over 1,100 sailors and Marines. You reach it by a Navy-operated shuttle boat, and the quiet ride across the harbor gives you a moment to reflect before stepping into the white memorial structure. Seeing the ship beneath the water, along with the oil that still seeps from it—known as the “black tears of the Arizona”—was haunting. Inside, the wall of names brought home just how many lives were lost in mere minutes.
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
Nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger,” the USS Bowfin launched exactly one year after the attack. You can actually climb aboard and walk through the submarine’s tight quarters, getting a sense of what life was like for the sailors who served aboard. The museum next to it was full of fascinating details about submarine warfare during WWII.
Battleship Missouri Memorial (USS Missouri)
The USS Missouri is docked just across the harbor on Ford Island. This was where the Japanese formally surrendered, ending World War II in 1945. Walking the deck of such a historic ship—where war both raged and finally ended—was surreal. There are guided tours available, and we learned so much about the role the ship played in the Pacific.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Located in the old hangars on Ford Island that survived the attack, this museum is a must for aviation enthusiasts. From restored WWII aircraft to modern fighter jets, it spans decades of military aviation history. I especially liked seeing bullet holes still in the windows from the attack—they’ve been preserved as a reminder.
Other Things to Visit at Pearl Harbor
The Documentary Movie on the Attack
A short documentary movie, “Pearl Harbor – the Attack” was previously shown to everyone before taking the boat out to the site of the USS Arizona, but now it is an optional visit at allotted times during your visit. We chose to do it after we visited the Arizona site. To view the movie just stay to the left of the line for entrance for ticket holders and standby tickets in the visitor center.
The movie is 23 minutes long and is shown in one of the theaters at the visitor center. The documentary provides historical context about the events on the day of the attack, and also events leading up to the attack. It contains real archival footage of the attack.
The movie is extremely informative and deeply respectful. I don’t think you could hear a pin drop as it played as everyone was totally engrossed in the movie. After the movie finished there was a sombreness to everyone piling out of the theater, all reflecting on what they had just watched and the enormity of the attack.
How Much Time is Needed to Visit Pearl Harbor
Once you are admitted by your ticketed time, you are led into a theater in the visitor center. You are given a short talk, and then you file out to board a boat to the memorial of the USS Arizona. The boat journey is less than 10 minutes each way.
Once you get to the memorial itself, things are very tightly timed. You actually probably have around 15-20 minutes at the memorial site. There is some information as you enter the memorial building, and you can peak out onto the remains of the Arizona battleship. You then enter the shrine where there is a brief presentation in front of the wall of names of those who died in the attack.
After that presentation you file out along the right hand side of the memorial and you are then put back onto a boat that takes you back to the visitor center. You really cannot linger at the memorial site – they have a strict policy that the boat that brings one group in, takes the group from before back to the visitor center.
In total the time spent at the memorial, between the talk, boat ride there and back, and the time at the actual memorial is probably around 45 minutes.
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum
- Plan 1.5 to 2 hours to tour the submarine, museum exhibits, and outdoor displaysPearl Harbor Aviation Museum
- Allocate about 1 to 1.5 hours to enjoy aircraft displays, hangar exhibits, and interactive experiences