USS Arizona Memorial

One of the most significant WWII attractions in the USA, the USS Arizona Memorial presents the history of the Pearl Harbor attack and commemorates the fallen service members. Run by the National Park Service, the memorial comprises two sections: the mainland visitor center and offshore shrine.

Within the visitor center is a museum that presents WWII memorabilia and a model of the battleship and shrine, as well as a documentary film for historical background. The offshore shrine was built over the midsection of the sunken USS Arizona with deliberate geometry to represent initial defeat, ultimate victory and eternal serenity. One of three chambers inside the shrine acts as the final resting place for the service people killed during the attack; their names are engraved into the marble wall. In the central room are cutaway well sections through which visitors can see the skeleton of the ship. All facilities have disabled access. Boat trips to the shrine depart from the visitor center every 15 minutes between 07:45 and 15:00 on a first-come, first-served basis (weather permitting). At the visitors center, you'll be given a ticket stating the minute of the hour that the tour will begin. The memorial is one of Hawaii's busiest attractions and can receive an average of 5000-plus people during the summer months. Generally, the shortest waits are in the morning, and as the day goes on, waits of a couple of hours are not uncommon.