USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is located at Pearl Harbor, at 1 Arizona Memorial Place in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and is operated by the National Park Service as part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The white memorial structure spans the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona, which was destroyed in the attack on December 7, 1941, with oil still occasionally rising to the surface. Visitors reach the memorial by a Navy-operated boat from the visitor center after a short program, and entry is by timed ticket, which can be reserved on recreation.gov. Photographic subjects include the memorial structure, the shrine room with the names of the fallen, the visible wreck beneath the water, and views across the harbor toward Ford Island and the USS Missouri. The harbor is open and the light is mostly even, with morning offering softer light and calmer water, while afternoon trade winds can add chop and glare. A polarizing filter helps reduce reflections when photographing the water and wreck. The site is solemn, so photographers are expected to behave respectfully, keep conversation low, and avoid posed or casual photographs inside the shrine. The memorial is among the most visited sites in Hawaii, so tickets sell out and crowds are heaviest from late morning, so a morning slot is preferable. Security rules limit what visitors can carry: bags are not permitted, though clear bags are allowed, so a camera without a bag is the practical choice. Tripods, selfie sticks, and drones are not permitted. There is no entry fee for the memorial, though a small reservation fee applies. Restrooms and water are available at the visitor center.