Along with being famous for its beaches and mountains, Hawaii is also well-known for Pearl Harbor. It’s not so much of an attraction to visit when you’re in Honolulu, but instead, it’s a memorial, a place to learn about, remember, and honor the lives lost on the quiet morning of December 7, 1941.
Pearl Harbor is on the west side of Honolulu. It’s a deep water lagoon on the island of Oahu, a natural harbor that makes the perfect place for ships to dock. Due to its position, it became a strategic US military base.
What happened at Pearl Harbor?
Japan was already at war, invading and expanding into parts of China and the Dutch East Indies. The US had been paying attention, and they decided to cut off supplying resources to Japan and go into parts of Southeast Asia to help secure them.
However, the Japanese had other plans and thought the US entering Southeast Asia might interfere with their goals, and that’s when they decided to attack Pearl Harbor to prevent the US from doing anything.
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, Japanese aircraft made a surprise bomb attack on the US battleships in Pearl Harbor, destroying numerous ships with many casualties. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused the US to declare war on Japan, and they entered into World War II.
What to expect when you visit?
The Pearl Harbor memorial, or more specifically the USS Arizona Memorial (the most major ship that was bombed during the surprise attack) is one of the most visited places on the island.
Every day, countless tourists by the busload and those driving their cars arrive at the memorial. If you drive yourself, there is plenty of parking, and the parking is free.
Remember that you can’t carry any bags into the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Cameras are fine to take, but you have to remove them from your bag before entering. Lockers are available if needed; otherwise, carry what you can in your hands and pockets.
Due to the volume of visitors and the limited number of groups that can visit the USS Arizona Memorial at a time, there’s often a long line.
The first step is to request your ticket at the ticket counter. You’ll be given a ticket with the time it is valid for, which is often a couple of hours later. Tickets to the USS Arizona are free.
I arrived at 10 am, and my ticket was for the 12:45 pm tour. With a few hours to spare, you could walk around to various exhibits or even pay the $12 to go inside the USS Bowfin, where you can enter a World War II submarine, or if you’re like me, you could go to eat and then come back.
When you arrive at your ticket time, you'll meet up with your group outside the theater. At your scheduled time, you'll enter the theater and watch a film, which lasts about 30 minutes.
I thought the film was terrific. It concisely explained the conflict and why Japan made a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. I knew a little bit of Pearl Harbor's history before, but it was good to listen to the film's details to better understand before going to the memorial.
Related: Take a Scenic Drive Around Oahu
After the film, you get on a boat for a 5-minute ride to the white Arizona Memorial. It’s a platform floating over the sunken Arizona ship. Though you can only see a few rusty parts of the boat below the water, it’s a quiet and solemn reminder of those who lost their lives in the attack.
Visiting Pearl Harbor is not the most fun thing to do in Hawaii, but it’s a place to learn about history, honor those involved, and remember the past.
curtis says
Hello All:
As a former U.S. Navy sailor, I appreciate the post. I have been to the Arizona memorial before when we would make a port stop in Pearl Harbor. Maybe because I served or maybe the little bit of American pride in me, the memorial is a tear-jerker. We need to remember, and learn, from the past. Thank you.
Mary Claire says
I visited Pearl Harbor a few years back and it was one of the most humbling experiences I ever had. Being there, in one of America's most historic places, I can't help but be grateful to the people, nay heroes, who selflessly gave all they had, including their lives in the service of their country.