How To Visit Pearl Harbor – A Guide To The Do’s And Don’ts

UPDATED MAR 2020. It’s hard to imagine that anything bad could ever happen in an island paradise like Hawaii right? Unfortunately, though, it certainly did. It was on the now infamous day of December 7, 1941. During the morning hours of this day, the tropical daydream was covered in a dark cloud as a devastating ambush attack swept over Oahu, with the largest impact occurring at Pearl Harbor. The calculated and successful attack took the lives of many in a short period of time and triggered a new level of intensity in the second world war. With the significance of this event, paying your respects at the memorial is surely a must while visiting Oahu. Here is a practical guide on how to visit Pearl Harbor. I hope this can help you plan your own visit. 

Pearl Harbor Memorial: A Guide To The Do’s And Don’ts

Disclaimer

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FAQ for visiting Pearl Harbor

Where is it located?

Honolulu, about 25 minutes from Waikiki.

How much does it cost?

$72USD for the Passport to Pearl Harbor deal.

How long do you need to visit?

Allow a full day, but if you’re pressed for time, at least 3 hours.

How to get to Pearl Harbor using public transport

Take bus #42 toward Ewa Beach and it will take you to the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center with no transfers. Bus #20 can also get you there. The travel time using the bus will take about 45 minutes.

An Uber will cost approximately $30USD.

Another option would be to take a taxi, though this would be the most expensive.

Pearl Harbor Do’s

DO: Allow a full day to visit Pearl Harbor

You really need a full day to absorb everything from the USS Arizona Memorial to the USS Bowfin Submarine, to the Battleship Missouri to the Pacific Aviation Museum, and of course to allow for enough time in the day to stop for a few pictures.

The visitor center is open from 7am to 5pm which allows plenty of time to experience everything that is on offer.

Go early and allow the full day.

DO: Be aware of the bag policy

This is one thing that took me by surprise the first time I visited.

It’s important to know that you won’t be able to take a bag with you into the site.

Instead, you have to check your bag into a holding area for $5. They will give you a ticket that allows you access to your bag during the day, as well as to pick it up when you are ready to go home.

Just a little FYI for those like me who always have a bag with them. Make sure you wear something with pockets so you don’t have to carry around your phone, wallet, and keys like I did.

DO: Take the headphone tours

I’ve done headphone tours at a few places from Graceland in Memphis to the Twin Towers site in New York and they add such a wonderful dimension to the tourist experience.

Instead of simply seeing a site, you are able to experience it and learn more through the headphone tours. In the headphone tour, you are guided as to where to walk and have the freedom to pause in areas that may be more interesting to you. This allows you to go at your pace.

At Pearl Harbor, you can do headphone tours for many of the exhibits and it is something I highly recommend.

Pearl Harbor Don’ts

DON’T: Treat Arizona like a tourist attraction

Treat it like a cemetery. That is, act as you would in a cemetery as opposed to a tourist attraction.

To get to the USS Arizona Memorial, you take a short boat ride across the water to the very spot where the ship lays sunken.

The impact of the explosion caused so much damage that many of the crew still lay with her, entombed in the ship they served on, making it an active gravesite.

The guide we were given was that photos were acceptable but no loud talking/joking etc as it is a somber place of respect.

DON’T: Forget to get a photo with the kissing statue

Having a husband in the military has made this tricky for me because he is never around.

Instead of doing the iconic kissing pose, I did my own version.

If you are bringing your significant other, definitely take a cute photo mimicking the pose with this statue.

DON’T: Forget to book your tickets ahead of time

I recommend booking your tickets ahead of time to make sure you will be able to experience the site.

Tickets can be limited. Since it is one of the most visited sights on Oahu, it can sell out quickly. Especially in the peak season. I have been able to arrive on the day and buy tickets both times I have been, though it wasn’t in peak season.

If you are visiting Oahu and only have limited chances to visit Pearl Harbor, it’s a good idea to guarantee it by booking tickets ahead of time.

Where to stay on Oahu

I recommend staying in Waikiki because there is such an energetic vibe to it and there is always something going on there.

I have stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village before and really enjoyed my stay.

If you want to stay at a different hotel or guesthouse, or even a different area of the island, I recommend searching on Booking.com.

I use this to book accommodation when I travel and can always find a good deal there.

Other guides to help you plan a visit to Oahu

• Best Shave Ice Oahu Edition – The Best Spots In Each Area Of The Island

• Oahu Tourist Bucket List – The Ultimate List Of Things You Just Can’t Miss

• The Best Oahu Day Tour – A Jeep Adventure With The Real Hawaii

I hope that helps to prepare you for your visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. It’s absolutely a must-see while you are visiting Oahu.

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