Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii - Things to See and Do

What to see and do at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii

Visited December 2023

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Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii is a memorial to the suprise attack by Japanese in 1941

Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, that was the scene of a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. The attack killed more than 2,400 Americans and damaged or destroyed eight battleships, three cruisers, three destroyers, and 188 aircraft. It also prompted the United States to enter World War II against Japan and its allies.

We visited Pearl Harbor on 12/15/2023. While there, we visited the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials. We also visited the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Pearl Harbor is now a national memorial that honors the lives lost on that day and educates visitors about the history and significance of the event. Most of the sites are located on Ford Island which is an active-duty military base that can only be accessed with an active Military ID.

However, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial offers tours which are fully guided and escorted by National Park Service Rangers in careful coordination with the US Navy. From the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, visitors can gain access to the different attractions located here. Advance reservations are encouraged and can be obtained here.

The USS Arizona Memorial Program is approximately 45-minute program that runs daily, every 15 minutes from 8 am - 3:30 pm.

If you want to see the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials on Ford Island, you must reserve seats for the 90-minute Ford Island Bus Tour.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial & Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are also located on Ford Island. Free shuttles depart from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center every 15-20 minutes from 8:00am daily. Shuttles run on a loop with the first stop at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, second stop at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and then back to the Visitor Center. Each of these attractions charge an admission fee.

Viator offers numerous tours on the island of Oahu. Click here for details.