Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center
Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Visiting Pearl Harbor is a deeply moving and profoundly patriotic experience that honors the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience of America’s heroes. Each site—the USS Missouri, the Pacific Aviation Museum, the USS Bowfin Submarine, and the USS Arizona Memorial—offers a unique window into the history of World War II, stirring pride and gratitude for those who served. Starting with the USS Missouri, standing on the deck of “Mighty Mo” feels like stepping onto sacred ground. This is where Japan surrendered in 1945, ending the war. The ship’s massive guns and meticulously preserved quarters tell a story of strength and determination. Walking where General MacArthur stood, you can’t help but feel a surge of American pride for the resolve that turned the tide of history. The Pacific Aviation Museum (now part of Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum) is a thrilling tribute to the courage of wartime aviators. The exhibits, housed in historic hangars, showcase iconic aircraft like the P-40 Warhawk. Bullet holes in the hangar windows from the 1941 attack are a stark reminder of the day that galvanized a nation. Interactive displays and personal stories of pilots ignite a sense of awe for those who took to the skies to defend freedom. The USS Bowfin Submarine, nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger,” offers an intimate look at life beneath the waves. Touring the cramped quarters, you gain immense respect for the submariners who endured grueling conditions to strike at the enemy. The museum alongside it, with its collection of torpedoes and personal artifacts, underscores the ingenuity and grit of the Silent Service. The USS Arizona Memorial is the emotional heart of Pearl Harbor. Floating above the sunken battleship, where oil still seeps to the surface, you feel the weight of the 1,177 lives lost on December 7, 1941. The memorial’s quiet serenity contrasts with the violent history it commemorates, evoking a profound sense of duty to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Reading the names etched in marble, you’re reminded of the cost of liberty and the unbreakable spirit of America. Together, these sites weave a powerful narrative of courage, unity, and patriotism. Pearl Harbor isn’t just a historic site—it’s a testament to the American resolve that rose from tragedy to triumph. Visiting is a humbling reminder to cherish and defend the freedoms secured by those who came before us. It’s a must-see for every American who wants to connect with the soul of our nation’s history.
TheE3Romeo
00
A dream come true! What a way to go back in time. In order to visit the military base you can catch one of the buses in Waikiki. Number 20 and 42 stop at Pearl harbor. The ride costs you 3 dollars and it takes around 40 minutes to get there. There is also a parking lot. If you would like to explore everything you need to arrive early. There is a lot to see. You can buy a combo ticket for around 80 dollars which will give you access to all the places or you can buy individual tickets for each attraction. You can walk around without paying anything but you will only access the Arizona memorial and a free exhibition of how it all started. I only missed the visit to the battleship Missouri due to lack of time but I totally recommend to see everything because it is a lifetime experience. You can previously book the tickets to see the Arizona memorial but if you are not able to do it, once you arrived you can sign up on one of the terminals by the ticket office and you will be put on a waiting list. I waited less than an hour until I got the text message letting me know that I could go on board the boats to the memorial. The experience takes 45 minutes total. On the memorial you will see what is still left of the battleship. To visit the aviation museum you have to take a complimentary bus which is located by the maritime museum. The ride is short and there is a stop by the Missouri. The museum is awesome. You will see several planes used during World War II, including a Japanese one. There is also an outdoor exhibition of all types of military airplanes and helicopters. I do recommend visiting the maritime museum because it will give you access to visit the submarine USS Bowfin which fought in World War II and showed up on several movies like for example Midway. It is crazy to be able to go inside of it and feel how the crew lived there. It totally blew my mind away. Back packs and big purses are not allowed inside. You will have to pay 7dollars for a locker before entering the base. There is a small kiosk for food and drinks and snack bars on both museums. Souvenir shops are all around the place and all info is in English and Japanese.
ana tavares
00
This was a very informative and moving experience. When visiting, you do not need to purchase an expensive guided tour. To visit the USS Arizona Memorial, you will need reservation tickets. These can be found on Reservation.gov. There is a $1.00 processing fee to purchase. Most tickets available for purchase are released well ahead of the current date. If there are no tickets available for your preferred date, more tickets are released at 3 pm each day for the following day. We were unable to get tickets this way, but they have an option for a waitlist. Sign up for this and check your email often. There were several more tickets released from cancelations, and we were able to get tickets for our available date. Parking is $7, and it's paid by QR code. Get there early before your departure time. They recommended an hour before, and we were able to visit the gift shop before the boat left. There is a standby line for the boat that takes you to the USS Memorial if you didn't get tickets, but there was no availability on the day we went, so I wouldn't count on that. I highly recommend the narrated self-tour. You get a phone and earbuds, and you can type in the code from the signs at each location to hear the story. Some of it is narrated by actual survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack, and it is incredible to hear. The USS Memorial is a very solemn place. There is no social media allowed there, and voices must be low. You may take photos after the presentation of the Wall of Names. The time allowed at the memorial was about 15 minutes. It was just enough time to hear the presentation and take a few photos before lining up for the return boat. The museum back on the land was a must-see, and it is free to the public. There are also other museums that you can access from the visitor center, such as the USS Bowfin, the USS Missouri, and the Aviation Museum. There is a fee for these other museums, and tickets are available online.
Amy Granger
00
This was the greatest experience to visit in Honolulu. I’ve been to Hiroshima, so to see the full circle of these historic events was a blessing. We bought the full passport and also booked entrance in advance for the USS Arizona. Arrived at 7am and it was worth it. Had the Bowfin Submarine to ourselves as we were first. The Audio guides were a great tool and would recommend getting these. No need for a human guide if you have these. Maybe just take your own wired headphones as their headphones weren’t the best fit for small kids ears especially. The museum at the Pacific Fleet was really really good and a must see. Then took a shuttle to The USS Missouri and it was a must visit. What an impressive battleship. Also took the free 30min guided tour and was well worth it! Walking though all the levels if the ship, listening to stories, seeing where the sailors slept, ate was really eye opening. This ship was impressive and the corndogs after wasn’t bad either. Then did the Aviation Museum and again used the Audio guided devices. Really really helpful. What an impressive display of planes and history. Hanger 79 with bullet holes were where the whole story really came together for me. Just wow!! Free Shuttles between the sights were well air conditioned and friendly drivers. Very convenient! Then did the Arizona museum again with Audio guides and spent lots of time here listening and reliving the events. The artefacts here on display was really impressive. Lastly we visited the USS Arizona and what a sight to behold. The atmosphere was really somber and even though we are not American, we felt really proud of the sacrifice these marines made for their country and for the world. Some notes: - Don’t take any bags they are not allowed - maybe take own headphones - take water - spend enough time at each attraction. Yes even 2 hours at each - take lots of pics - snacks in the grounds are expensive
AD VE
00
The only reason I rate this a four star is because it felt unorganized when we were waiting for the Arizona part of the tour. It was very hard to decipher where we were supposed to wait and where we were supposed to stand. We weren’t the only ones confused and there was a bit of frustration. Everything else was great. We toured the Arizona as I said, and the Missouri. The Arizona is kind of timed, and you’re at the actual site for around 15 minutes after a short (but nice) ferry ride. We got to throw flower petals in the water. I threw mine on the oil from the leak (black tears). The Missouri tour we chose was self-guided, but they had guided options. Give yourself a couple hours for the ship. When we entered the Missouri part, there was a table with a large poster board. People were signing Happy Birthday to Chester Nimitz, an important Admiral during WWII. Just something nice to do…I’m not sure where it went after that. There are a lot of nooks and crannies to explore on the ship, and there are signs throughout showing you where to go. My favorite part was seeing where the kamikaze hit the ship. There is a dent on the side and he died on impact. The Navy Captain ordered him a military burial at sea. I thought that was amazing. Bring a water bottle, but you cannot bring a bag or purse of any kind into Pearl Harbor unless it’s clear (it’s called a stadium bag). I even had a cross body bag just to hold my water bottle and that was not allowed. They offer “storage” inside the small office to the right of the park entrance. For $7, they place your bag inside a trash bag (yea, I know) and tie a knot. You get a ticket and just claim it when you’re done. The bags are all stacked on one another on the floor behind the desk. That was a little frustrating, too. There are food trucks outside the Missouri with a small covered eating area. We didn’t eat from there but there were many options.
Shannon Phillips
00
I visited the Missouri, air fields and memorial sites. The staff could improve a lot on the disorganization of the main hub. (The 4 stars are for the exceptionally excellent attractions, which if not implied I wish that there could be separate ratings for the management.) I arrived more than an hour before my Missouri tour (booked online). Parking is tight and have to wait to start. But unexpected was the 20+ minute wait for bag checking. Then at the entrance there are multiple lines and hard to find help on which line for your event. I found the Missouri tour counter with a long line, and some staff explained that although I booked online I have to wait in the ticket purchase line. By this point it was approaching the "30 minutes before" deadline to check in. So in desperation I cut to the front and explained the situation to the Missouri agent. She said "you're about to miss your bus" (what bus??, I thought.) and I quickly rushed with -1 minutes until the bus leaves and barely caught it. I was lucky and glad to have made the event, but would not be surprised if a lot of people missed their scheduled times due to the mismanagement. One other small thing for a separate place - the Arizona memorial boat visit. I see that the staff makes every effort to instruct people to have the best respect possible and not act as if it's a typical attraction by requesting people to not talk loud or text while visiting. Definitely appropriate. Also I sense that there may have been some bad guests in the past. But my feedback is it's not necessary to upfront talk harshly in such a strong condescending tone to mostly first time guests. I feel most people were a little uncomfortable. I think that a better way would be to simply explain the expectations in a clear but respectful manner and the guests are more than capable of following the expectations.
A Gator
00
Nearby Attractions Of Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI 96818
Map
Phone
(808) 422-3399
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Website
pearlharborhistoricsites.org
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Reviews
Overview
4.7
(6.9K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
family friendly
accessibility
attractions: Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, Waterfront Submarine Memorial, Re-use Hawai'i, Paradise Adventure Tours, Rainbow Bay A-Frame Pavilion, USS Arizona Memorial Ferry, Halawa Aloha Stadium Station, restaurants: Restaurant 604, Jake's Food Truck, McDonald's, Starbucks, Domino’s, Subway
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