Visit the Arizona Memorial

Hawai'i burst into the pages of America's history nearly two decades before statehood when on Dec. 7,1941, it became the target of a Japanese attack on the U.S. Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor. The attack, which claimed the lives of 2,388 military and civilian personnel and resulted in the damage or loss of 21 vessels and 170 planes, triggered U.S. involvement in World War II.

The USS Arizona was one of seven battleships tied up along "Battleship Row" on the southeast shore of Ford Island when the first wave of the Japanese attack began. The ship exploded at approximately 8:10 a.m. In less than nine minutes, she sank with 1,177 of her crew.

Today more than 1.5 million people a year pay tribute to the Arizona crew when they visit the USS Arizona Memorial located on the Pearl Harbor Navy Base, about 45 minutes west of Waikiki.

On the 66th anniversary of the attack, a new memorial was dedicated. This to honor the 429 men who lost their lives aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma. The $1.2 million black granite and white marble memorial was dedicated Dec. 7, 2007.

A 23-minute film precedes the short jaunt to the memorial. The documentary offers a moving account of the events that led to the Japanese attack. After the film ends, visitors board a Navy-operated launch for the trip to the memorial, which was built to straddle the sunken hull of the battleship, the final resting place of many of the crew members who perished in the attack.

Tours are free and no reservations are required, but waits are common. Allow about 2.5 hours for the slightly over 60-minute tour. Security regulations prohibit a number of items from entering the visitor center and the memorial.

The U.S. Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week except New Year's Day Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tours begin on an average of every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NOTES:  To get there - driving from Waikiki simply follow Ala Moana Blvd. which will turn into Nimitz Hwy.  With no traffic, it will take you about 30 mins.  By bus - from Waikiki take the 42 bus going West or the 20 bus (a little longer as it goes through the airport).  Both buses stop right at the Arizona Memorial. Don't forget to add extra time for a visit to the Battleship Missouri and the Bowfin submarine!

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Photo taken by myself, information courtesy of 101 Things To Do Oahu.  You can find this Publication and many others at  My Store