The USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu is one of the most visited destinations in Hawaii. Arizona Memorial marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on USS Arizona (BB-39). This will be a once in a lifetime experience for you as you watch history unfold itself right from the fateful day of December 7, 1941, when Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Along with the USS Arizona Memorial, the World War II Valor in the Pacific Park has a number of other memorials. You will get the chance to see the USS Bowfin submarine, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, take a ride on the shuttle bus to the Ford Island and the USS Missouri battleship which is also called the “Mighty Mo,” on whose deck Japanese official surrendered to the United States in 1945. Book your Arizona Memorial tours now and get ready to explore this historical place.
Best Time of Day to Visit Arizona Memorial:
In order to save yourself from the hassles of standing in long line and waiting, you can reserve your tickets online. You can also get in touch with a tour company who will look after all your requirements. It is advisable to book them at least two months in advance so that your ticket gets confirmation. Also, keep in mind to book tickets for late morning or mid-afternoon so that you can evade the biggest crowds.
In case you have not got your tickets in advance, ensure to reach the Visitor Center closest to 7:00 am otherwise the crowd will make it impossible for you to get the tickets. The best month to visit is from June to August and the winter holidays but you can also go off-season to avoid the crowds.
What to Do at USS Arizona Memorial:
During USS Arizona Memorial tour, your guide will tell you a short introduction outside Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater after which you will go to see the Pearl Harbor documentary at the theater. You will see the actual footage of the attack along with other important information about the history. You will ride a Navy Shuttle boat crewed by Navy service men and women. Your next stop will be USS Arizona Memorial which has a wall listing the name of each of the 1,177 Navy sailors and Marines who sank along with the ship.
You will get the chance to see various exhibits, galleries, and monuments. You will see the waterfront memorials, the Walk of Remembrance, and also two tiny museums called “The Road to War” and “Attack.”
Tips for Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial:
- Be sure to reserve tickets in advance at least 2 months before your visit
- Ensure that you have woken up early to stand in line at the Visitor Center
- You can also book a complete tour
- Pearl Harbor Visitor Center provides free parking
- Starting from 7:00 am every day, there are 1,300 free walk-in tickets that are provided to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis
- You will receive a free headset for the audio tour from Go Oahu Card. All you need to do is show your card at the audio kiosk near the ticket counter once you have collected up your tickets
- With the help of Go Oahu Card, you can get admission to the other Pearl Harbor Historic Sites such as Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
- It will take you at least 3 hours to finish the narrative tour properly
- Keep in mind that you will not be allowed to take any type of concealable item such as bags, purses, backpacks inside the memorials due to security protocols
- You can get the lockers to keep your bags and other items safe by paying a minimal amount of fee
- You cannot take strollers inside the theater, shuttle boat, or on the USS Arizona Memorial. However, the places are wheelchair accessible
- You cannot take any type of food or beverage inside the theater, on the shuttle boat, and at the memorial except the clear bottled water
- You can use the snack shop and a fast food stand at the Visitor Center
- You can take the audio tour which is available in nine languages starting from English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Russian, Italian, German and Spanish
So what are you waiting for? Book your Pearl Harbor tours now and get ready to explore World War II historical site of America.