Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

The number one attraction on Oahu, attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually, is Pearl Harbor. If you haven't gone already, you might be slightly confused as to the best way to visit Pearl Harbor, how to get tickets and what you can see there. 

I'm no expert, but following some serious searching plus trial-by-error, I have assembled a short-cut guide to the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

No bags are allowed. You can take a camera (phone) and a water bottle. There is a place to check your bags for $3 which is a better alternative to leaving them in the car. But if you can go almost empty handed, it will save you time standing in line at the bag check.

Plan your time. Visiting all four sites in one day would take approximately 8 hours, which is a long day. Each site, individually, takes at least two to three hours but will give you time for a thorough and leisurely visit.

Parking is free. If you haven't been there before, be sure to program "Pearl Harbor Historic Sites" into your GPS. "Pearl Harbor" will take you to the military entrance on the other side of the harbor.

All four sites are accessed from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Shuttle buses take you from there to Ford Island to visit the USS Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum.

FOUR MAJOR SITES

WWII VALOR IN THE PACIFIC NATIONAL MONUMENT

This is by far the number one priority of the four sites. It is the only one most of us even really know about. This includes the USS Arizona Memorial and the film which reminds visitors of the events of December 7, 1944. The recently renovated Visitor's Center and Museums are beautifully well-done. If you are a WWII history buff, you could spend a lot of time visiting the exhibits.

Ticketing Information: As a national monument, there is no entry fee. However, tickets are given away on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 7 am and are often gone by mid-morning. Reservations can be made through www.recreation.gov. You can make a 60-day reservation (planning to visit within the next 60 days), or you can try the 24-hour window (every day, recreation.gov releases a certain number of  next-day tickets beginning at 7 am HST). Although the tickets are free, you will pay a $1.50 per ticket convenience fee when you reserve your tickets online and there is a reservation limit of 12-tickets per person per day.

BATTLESHIP MISSOURI MEMORIAL

The USS Missouri participated in the final months of WWII and was the site of the formal signing of the "Instrument of Surrender" on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay officially ending WWII. 

Ticketing Information: Tickets are available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center or online at ussmissouri.org. The Mighty Mo Pass ($27 for adults and $13 for children) includes one of three tours and the website describes the three tour choices as follows: 

• MIGHTY MO GUIDED TOUR (35 minutes) - Take a guided tour with one of our knowledgeable Battleship Tour Guides. As you are escorted throughout the ship, you will walk the footsteps of General Douglas MacArthur and see where World War II ended.
• ACOUSTIGUIDE (45 - 120 minutes) -  Use one of the informational audio phones to tour the ship.
• WALKING TOUR (varies) - Enjoy the ship at your own pace following one or all of three separate tour routes,  

A $52 ticket will get you on the 90-minute Heart of the Missouri Tour, which is probably the most comprehensive tour of the Missouri. This one, however, has physical capability restraints and children under 10 are not allowed. 

USS BOWFIN SUBMARINE MUSEUM AND PARK

The Bowfin was launched one year to the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor and participated in nine successful patrols, sinking 44 enemy ships, before coming to Pearl Harbor to stay. The Bowfin is a walk away from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and detailed information can be found at ussbowfin.org.

Ticketing Information: Tickets are available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center or on site. The submarine and museum are both self-guided tours that include free audio tours. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for children and $8 for seniors and military.

PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM

The museum is located in two WWII hangars and houses a large collection of vintage aircraft. There is an interactive flight simulator ($10), which allows you to take part in a thrilling, virtual dogfight in the skies over Guadalcanal. The Pacific Aviation Museum is ranked "One of the Top 10 Aviation Attractions in the Nation" by Trip Advisor and is considered a "must-see" for WWII and aviation buffs.  

Ticketing Information: Tickets are available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center or online at www.pacificaviationmuseum.org. General Admission (self-guided tours) are $25 for adult and $12 for children. The Aviator's Tour (docent-guided) is $35 for adult and $12 for children. All tickets for the museum are 20% off right now if you buy them online. You will also find a free coupon for the flight simulator.

Tourists often buy a Passport to Pearl Harbor which includes admission to all four sites and costs $65 for adults and $35 for children. It includes: USS Arizona (free), Mighty Mo Pass (USS Missouri - $27), USS Bowfin ($8 for seniors), and general admission to the Pacific Aviation Museum ($25 - $20 at 20% off). Buying the tickets separately not only saves you money, but definitely minimizes the wear-and-tear on body and soul.

I hope this will help you as you plan your visits to Pearl Harbor. If any of you have additional information that I have overlooked, personal experiences with the sites or questions that haven't been answered, please add it to the Comments at the end of this post.

For more details, visit pearlharborhistoricsites.org or each individual website as mentioned above.