Tips for Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

• Parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is free. Lots are located in front of the main entrance.
   
• 1,300 free walk-in tickets are issued each day to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 7AM. You can reserve your free tickets online up to two months in advance at recreation.gov.
   
• With a Go City Oahu pass you can get a headset for the audio tour at no charge. Present your pass at the audio kiosk near the ticket counter after you pick up your tickets, but before entering the theater.
   
• We recommend you give yourself at least 2 hours to complete the full narrated tour.

• For security reasons, no bags of any kind are allowed on any of the memorials, including purses, backpacks, camera bags, etc. Lockers are available for a small fee to store bags and other items.
   
• Strollers are not allowed in the theater, on the shuttle boat, or on the USS Arizona Memorial.
   
• The theater, Navy shuttle boat, and memorial are all wheelchair accessible.
   
• Only clear bottled water is allowed in the theater, on the shuttle boat, and at the memorial. No other food or drinks are allowed.
   
• Military members in uniform are required to dress at Class B or above, and battle attire is not permitted at the USS Arizona Memorial, though it is allowed at the Visitor Center and other sites around Ford Island.
   
• The audio tour is available in nine languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Russian, Italian, German or Spanish.

The escorted portion of the USS Arizona Memorial lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. It begins with a brief introduction outside Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater, followed by a film presentation. The award-winning documentary provides an in-depth history of the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, WWII, and the history of the USS Arizona.

You then exit the theater through a back door that leads directly to a Navy shuttle boat. You will immediately board for the short excursion to the memorial itself. After docking at the memorial, you’ll have some time to explore before heading back to the Visitor Center. There, you can follow a guided audio tour that includes information about exhibit galleries and waterfront interpretive displays.

The theater experience

The 23-minute historical film features actual footage from the attacks on Pearl Harbor backed by a dramatic, emotional, and informational narration. You'll hear testimonies and statements from survivors; it's an extremely touching story. Even the most stoic audience members will find themselves moved by this well-made remembrance of the tragic events of December 7, 1941 - the day the United States officially entered World War II.

Navy Shuttle Boat

After the film, you'll board a Navy Shuttle boat to take you to the memorial site, crewed by Navy servicemen and women. Make sure to remain seated when on board and don your headphones so you can continue to listen to the informative tour guide. The narrator will point out landmarks, and provide a backstory as you take the quick ride over.

USS Arizona Memorial

The memorial building does not actually rest on top of the ship itself. Instead, it hovers just above the broken remains of the USS Arizona so as not to do any more damage to the massive ship below. Surrounding the memorial, parts of the broken vessel protrude from the water or lurk below the surface. In stark contrast to the dark ribs of the ship, colorful reef fish dart around parts of the massive skeleton.

Its fractured form creates an artificial reef for the native ocean wildlife. The perpetually leaking oil on the water’s surface doesn't seem to bother the fish, and environmental groups monitor the continual spillage for negative impact. However, its presence is a reminder of the vast damage that was done and the chaos that followed.

The memorial’s main area serves as an open Assembly Room, where visitors can reflect and ponder the USS Arizona’s remains below. The Shrine Room at the rear features a wall listing the names of each of the 1,177 Navy sailors and Marines who went down with the ship. The wall also honors survivors of the USS Arizona who elected to be interred below with their former shipmates after their deaths.

Back on land, the audio tour takes you past the waterfront memorials along the Walk of Remembrance, and two small museums, "The Road to War" and "Attack,". The exhibitions feature pieces that tell the story of what led up to the fateful event, stories, and testimonies.

This second half of the narrated tour takes a little over an hour. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Pacific War veteran actor Tony Curtis, guides you through the exhibit galleries and memorial plaques. The audio tour also includes touching guest narration by Pearl Harbor survivors and historian Daniel Martinez. Despite the horrific events, the memorial stands as an emblem of peace and remembrance, rather than a tribute to hatred or violence.

Now you've got all the information you need to make the most of your trip to the USS Arizona. 

Whether you’re here to honor the past, learn more about this pivotal moment in history, or simply take in the significance of the site, it’s a place that leaves a lasting impression. Take your time, reflect, and appreciate the stories that continue to be told here.

Enjoyed reading this guide? Check out our guide to the 25+ Things to Do in Honolulu on Your Hawaiian Vacation or our recommendations for 5 of the Best Places to Watch the Sunset on Oahu.