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National Monument
The USS Arizona Memorial is part of the recently dedicated WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The National Monument also includes sites on Ford Island: the USS Oklahoma Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, and several historic Battleship Row mooring quays and CPO bungalows. The National Monument is located about 2 miles west of the Honolulu Airport in Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu. The USS Arizona Memorial is managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and consists of a shoreside visitor center, where the tours begin, and the Memorial, located in Pearl Harbor. The Memorial is accessible only by the NPS tour from the visitor center. The other National Monument sites are only accessible via tours going to the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum. Tickets are available for these sites within the Visitor Center.
The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941 when their ship was bombed by Japanese Naval Forces. This loss of life represents over half of the Americans killed during the worst naval disaster in American history.
The Visitor Center is open 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. Scheduled tours vary due to visitation, but generally begin every 15 minutes from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. The tour programs are free and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. During busy summer and winter holiday periods, it is highly recommended that you arrive at the Visitor Center as early as possible as, often times, all tickets are given away before 12 noon. There are no age or size restrictions, but children under 5 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Appropriate dress is required, no swim wear or bare feet. Following the events of September 11, 2001, these security regulations have been implemented. No purses, handbags, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, or other items that offer concealment are allowed in the visitor center or on the Memorial tour.
The tour program consists of an excellent 23 minute film on the history of the Pearl Harbor attack. After viewing the film, visitors board a Navy operated launch for the Memorial. The entire program takes 75 minutes. Wait times for the tour may exceed 2 hours.
An excellent audio tour is recommended for those waiting for their tour to begin. The audio tour will guide you through the Visitor Center, backlawn interpretive displays, interpretive information on the shuttle boats and on the Memorial. Visit the Pacific Historic Parks bookstore where a wide range of materials on the Pearl Harbor attack may be purchased.
For more information on visiting the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument and the USS Arizona Memorial, please visit the National Park Service website, write to: National Park Service, USS Arizona Memorial, No. 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, or call (808) 422-3300.