Pearl Harbor National Memorial

We visited as a family of x4. After doing some research on how to get tickets & whether to go with a tour package option, we decided to purchase online the passport ticket - which gives you a timed access to the Arizona & then you can visit the Missouri (Mo) & the sub.
Kids enjoyed the tour - we opted for the audio option & it was well worth it.
We spent nearly the whole day there as you want to allow plenty of time to wander round the museum & the visit to Mo as it’s a short trip via bus.
A definite must do!

Visited this site in November and were fortunate enough to be there after some completed renovations so we could visit. The ranger was very informative and the whole site was very well done. Tickets are free and you can reserve a time to visit on time for $1 or just arrive and see when you can get in. They only allow so many at a time to go to the site. Tours usually cost $50 but that is for transportation only to and from but if you take public transportation you can get there for a couple dollars and see a little of the city at the same time. Found this all on the internet since the concierge wasn't very helpful. So if you have the time take public transportation but if you have minimum time hire a taxi or uber.

Very inspiring. A "must see" if you visit Oahu. The recreation.gov website is horrible, and not intuitive. Viewing the USS Arizona is free, but the audio tour is pretty good (for a nominal fee), so consider purchasing it. We were not informed to do start the Arizona audio tour prior to taking the boat shuttle, and that was a mistake by the personnel there. Keep in mind that the Arizona Memorial tickets do sell out, so buy them 60 days in advance or register at the recreation.gov website and purchase them 24 hours in advance, but get on their website promptly at 7:00 am when the next day's ticket block becomes available. The "passport" package does require a full day to see all the museums/exhibits. The docents aboard the USS Missouri were also very informative. We spent a lot of time on the Missouri, so we didn't have enough time to see the Bowfin our the aircraft museum, so we'll return. If you see everything and want to see it thoroughly, it does take most of the day. We highly recommend this memorial.

While individual tickets are available on the day of tour for the Arizona Memorial, I recommend purchasing the Passports Package in advance of your visit. There are only about 140 available within each time slot and they aren’t available until 60 days (double check me on the exact window) prior. I got on line at the precise time tickets went on sale and got the ones I wanted for the time I wanted.
Just for the heck of it I went back about 10 hours later and there were only 4 available.
Checkout the website for more info.

There are many places to visit on Oahu but I knew no visit to this Island would be complete for me without taking the journey to Pearl
Harbor. I wanted my son to step upon the USS Arizona, a memorial to those who died at Pearl Harbor and have some understanding that freedom is not free. There are many men and women who sacrifice for us each day.
Our journey to the USS Arizona was very organized due to the half day tour we took with Aloha Pearl Harbor Tours. Our pickup time was at 7:00am to ensure that we would beat the crowds and that is what happened. We had an opportunity to listen as The Star Spangled Banner was played prior to the opening tour of the day. Upon our arrival we had an opportunity to visit two museums dedicated to providing information about December 7, 1941 and a visit to the gift shop prior to our 9:30 tour. Unfortunately, they did not show the film that is normally seen prior to visiting the USS Arizona. I assume this is due to Covid19 protocol. Preparing to take the voyage across to the memorial was orderly and swift. Please note that no large outside bags are allowed in the park. They must be placed in rented lockers. I decided to carry a small clear bag which was sufficient. The boat ride over was quick and quiet because those visiting knew that this is a place that pays homage to people who are worthy of our utmost respect. Upon arrival most people slowly made their way to see the wall of names of those who perished as a result of the attack. It is a moment that I really cannot describe in words but one that should be experienced to understand the magnitude.
I engaged in many activities while visiting Oahu however, my visit to the USS Arizona is one that will remain dear to my heart for a lifetime. I am feeling Grateful for the journey and thankful to all who serve and have served in the United States Military.

We took our visitors who had never been to O'ahu to see the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. HINT: Go in the early afternoon after the tourist rush slows down. Get your "timed tickets" HOWEVER, there is an "over flow" line where you can get on an earlier shuttle boats if there is room.

Don't forget to add time to visit the free museums. There is cafe dining and souvenir stores. The "For Pay" tours are to the Bowfin WWII submarine, Missouri Battleship, and the Ford Island air museum. If you are really interested in these kinds of tours, feel freethey're not! With all the free things at the area, we suggest you stick with that.

Please take time to check out the memorials to the submarine circle of plaques in the outdoor area. I find that exhibit one of the most moving parts of the area. The stories and sacrifices of the U.S. U-boat sailors is something we all should remember.

Remember, you cannot take purses or bags into the memorial area. Hide these items out of sight in your vehicle.

Have a great visit!

This is a must do when visiting Oahu! We just visited July 14, 2021. Thanks to another reviewer, we decided to try the standby line to visit the Memorial since we were not successful in reserving tickets online in advance. They release about 40 tickets to each time slot the afternoon before at 3:00p.m. However, those tickets sold out in mere seconds after logging in before 3:00p.m and refreshing my browser right at 3:00! Reserve your tickets online as soon as you book your trip! We took the advice of another and arrived earlier in the morning around 9:45 and were able to get in the standby line where we waited for maybe 1hr 15minutes to get in. I'd say the earlier you go the better your chances are of getting in quicker. They run two boats out to the memorial every 15 minutes until 12:00 (I think) and then it's just one boat every 30 minutes until they get back from lunch, so the earlier you go the less time you spend being worked into the time slot that people don't show up for and the better chance you have for getting a parking spot. We went on a Wednesday right before 10:00 and had no problem finding a parking spot. If you do happen to reserve tickets, do NOT show up a minute late or they will make you get in the standby line with everyone else. When you first enter you want to head to the left where the standby line starts by the bell and follows along the walkway. If you do have tickets you just walk up to the beginning of the line where the park rangers are and they will line you up separate from the stand by people.
You can purchase tickets to tour the USS Missouri, the aviation museum, and the Bowfin submarine when you get there. The memorial is the only thing you have to reserve a time slot for or enter the standby line. It will take hours to do all of the sites, so plan to be there a while if you do all three. We enjoyed the visitor center museums and simply going out on the memorial. With the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet going on right across the street we were crunched for time trying to make both, so we did not visit the other historic sites. FYI: the swap meet is opened on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays! It's definitely a must do for souvenir items!

A great experience for all, and you can really spend a day here, especially if you tour the Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri and the submarine, the USS Bowfin. Parking is free and so is entrance into the Pearl Harbor Memorial, so the only things that cost are the visits to the Arizona, Missouri and Bowfin. You'll come away with more knowledge about the beginning the middle and the end of the US involvement in WWII Pacific than you had beforepromise! You are only allowed a very small purse or fanny pack (ie. 4" x 6") inside, but you can rent a Locker for larger purses or backpacks. On the day of our visit, January 12, the active aircraft carrier USS Lincoln was in port, so seeing that was a special bonus.

A somber place of reflection. The highlight was the trip to the memorial site. Tickets are available on-line, make a reservation. Only a limited number of people are allowed to go each day. If you don’t have a ticket, go to the ticket counter, first thing in the morning, walk up tickets may be available but are given out quickly.

To avoid disappoint, reserve ticket online esepcially during Covid 19 limiting the number of visitors.

Full access to all sites is USD 89 but the Visitor Center and Park is free admission but yet there is an area where we can watch a video on moments of the very day attack.

Bags or backbags are disallowed into the park and have to be stored at USD 6 at the Storage Counter.

Bus 20 will take us directly there but when returning to Waikiki, we will have to go to the main road as the returning bus doesn't go in for pickup.