Things to do nearPearl Harbor National Memorial
Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii, preserves the site of the 1941 attack with moving monuments, historic artifacts, and the sunken USS Arizona beneath its waters.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial sits on the shores of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the U.S. Navy. The site commemorates the surprise attack carried out by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the morning of December 7, 1941, an event that drew the United States into World War II. At the center of the memorial is the USS Arizona Memorial, a white structure spanning the mid-section of the sunken battleship, which rests on the harbor floor with more than a thousand crew members still entombed within its hull.
Visitors reach the memorial by a short boat ride across the harbor, where the marble shrine room displays the names of all those who died aboard the Arizona. The oil that continues to rise from the wreck in slow, dark ribbons has become one of the most quietly powerful symbols at the site. On shore, the visitor center houses two theaters showing a documentary film that places the attack in its historical context, and the museum galleries display personal artifacts, photographs, and recovered equipment that bring individual stories to the surface.
The broader Pearl Harbor Historic Sites complex includes the Battleship Missouri Memorial, where Japan formally surrendered in 1945, and the Pacific Aviation Museum, making the area one of the most comprehensive World War II sites in the Pacific. The atmosphere throughout is contemplative rather than ceremonial, and the combination of natural harbor beauty and profound historical gravity gives Pearl Harbor National Memorial a character that is unlike almost any other place in the United States.
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Chance of rainTips for visiting Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Arrive early, ideally before 8 a.m., as the free tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial boat shuttle are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and frequently run out by midmorning.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes with non-slip soles, as the boat shuttle and memorial platform require steady footing on wet surfaces.
Spend time in the on-site museum galleries before boarding the shuttle, as the exhibits on the lead-up to the attack add meaningful context to what you will see on the water.
Visit the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum nearby to walk through an actual World War II-era submarine and gain a tangible sense of life aboard a vessel of that period.
Dress modestly and keep your voice low throughout the memorial grounds, as Pearl Harbor National Memorial is an active burial site and visitors are expected to observe a respectful, quiet demeanor.
Top tours & experiences near Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Oahu North Shore Food Tour with Waimea Falls
Sample local bites and visit Waimea waterfall on an 8-hour North Shore adventure
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Certified pelagic bioluminescent night dive with valet service and gear
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona & Missouri Guided Tour
Trace Oahu's World War II story from Waikiki
Oahu Pearl Harbor & Circle Island Guided Tour
Pearl Harbor history and Oahu’s North Shore and East Coast in one day
Guided Pearl Harbor Memorial Tour From Waikiki
Trace the story of December 7, 1941 with Waikiki pickup
Pearl Harbor National Memorial Guided Tour
Skip Pearl Harbor ticket lines with reserved admission and guide insight
Fly a Private 60-Minute Oahu Helicopter Tour
Take a private 60-minute Oahu helicopter flight with guaranteed window seats
Explore Oahu North Shore Guided Tour With Dole Plantation
See Oahu’s North Shore: Dole Plantation, Haleiwa, surf spots and beach turtles
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Virtual Reality Tour
Trace Pearl Harbor's December 7 story through 29 narrated stops and virtual reality
Explore Pearl Harbor on Oahu Private 12-Hour Tour
Spend 12 hours exploring Pearl Harbor at your own pace
Take a Private 9-Hour Pearl Harbor & Oahu Tour
Build a private 9-hour Oahu day with Pearl Harbor and island routes
Discover Victorian-Style Magic Show in Honolulu
See close-up Victorian-style magic with limited seating at Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
Private Pearl Harbor Guided Tour
Explore Pearl Harbor privately with a personal guide and transportation for your group
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour
Trace Pearl Harbor’s history across 29 narrated stops in your language
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour
Trace December 7, 1941 through narrated stops and virtual reality
Pearl Harbor WWII Virtual Reality Experience
See the December 7 attack from a fighter cockpit in virtual reality
Guided Manoa Falls or Kalawahine Hike on Oahu
Choose Manoa Falls or Kalawahine and hike at your own pace
Pearl Harbor World War II Virtual Reality Experience
Explore five Pearl Harbor virtual reality stories with immersive views of World War II
Fly a Doors-Off Helicopter Tour Over Oahu
Take a 50-minute doors-off helicopter flight over Oahu’s top landmarks
Take a Doors-Off Helicopter Tour Over Oahu
Land at a private Waimea Bay overlook on a doors-off helicopter flight
Oahu Scuba Diving: 3-Tank Wreck & Reef Tour
Explore Oahu’s wrecks and reefs on a guided three-tank dive with premium gear included
Oahu Guided Volcanic Rainforest Hike
Hike an ancient volcano through Oahu’s rainforest with a guide
Wai'anae Ultimate 3 Tank Dive
Explore Oahu’s west-side wrecks and reefs on three guided dives with a PADI pro
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Virtual Reality Tour
Trace Pearl Harbor’s history through survivor stories, multimedia stops, and virtual reality
Private Luau Transportation From Waikiki on Oahu
Ride in a private luxury van to any Oahu luau, with round-trip transport for your group
Explore Oahu Highlights Guided Island Tour
See 30+ Oahu sights in 6–7 hours on a small-group island tour
Explore Pearl Harbor & Oahu South Shore Private Tour
Build a private 6-hour Pearl Harbor and South Shore tour at your own pace
Private 12-Hour Pearl Harbor & Oahu Circle Island Tour
Build a private 12-hour Oahu day with Pearl Harbor and North Shore or Circle Island stops
Explore Pearl Harbor on a Private 9-Hour Tour
Spend 9 hours exploring Pearl Harbor memorials and exhibits at your own pace
Private 6-Hour Pearl Harbor Guided Tour on Oahu
Visit Pearl Harbor on a private 6-hour tour at your own pace
Customize a 6-Hour Oahu Community Service Tour
Build a private 6-hour Oahu tour with 1.5 hours of community service
Private Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour
Discover Pearl Harbor history and Honolulu landmarks in one private day
Pearl Harbor & Honolulu Guided Tour
Trace Pearl Harbor history with museums, monuments and narrated transport
Drive A Polaris Slingshot Photo Spot Tour On Oahu
Ride a Polaris Slingshot full-loop photo route with built-in navigation
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour
Follow 18 multimedia stops through Pearl Harbor with survivor stories and historic imagery
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour
Hear Pearl Harbor stories unfold across 23 self-guided stops
Self-Guided Pearl Harbor Narrated Tour
Follow 29 narrated stops through Pearl Harbor history at your own pace
Guided Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial Tour
Travel Pearl Harbor’s historic sites by private limousine with reserved USS Arizona access