Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Pearl Harbor National Memorial, at 1 Arizona Memorial Place in Honolulu, commemorates the December 7, 1941 attack that brought the United States into World War II. It lies about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Waikiki in Hawaii and takes about 30-45 minutes by car. TheBus Route 20 runs from Waikiki and Downtown (about an hour for $3 with HOLO), rideshare costs about $30-45 each way, and tours with hotel pickup run about $85-140 per adult. Entry to the visitor center and its museum galleries is free. The USS Arizona Memorial program, which includes a film and a boat ride to the memorial straddling the sunken battleship, requires a timed reservation through recreation.gov for about $1. Other sites in the Pearl Harbor area include the Battleship Missouri Memorial, where Japan's surrender was signed, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island, each with separate admission. Security rules are strict: large bags and purses are prohibited, and visitors should check the National Park Service website for the current bag policy. A suggested one-day arc is to book the earliest Arizona program slot, spend the morning in the visitor center galleries and the memorial, then choose one or two of the other sites in the afternoon, since seeing all of them takes more than a day. Food options are limited on site, with a snack concession near the visitor center, so many visitors eat in nearby Aiea or return to Waikiki. Mornings are cooler and quieter, and reservations often sell out days ahead, so planning is important. The memorial is a solemn place, and visitors should dress modestly and speak quietly.