Hawai‘i burst into America’s history nearly two decades before statehood when, on Dec. 7, 1941, it became the target of a Japanese attack on the HA W AI‘I T OURISM A UTHORIT Y (HT A) / T OR JOHNS ON | L OCA TION: HALE‘IW A HEAD NORTH 21 ES S EN T IA L
PEARL HARBOR . The attack, which claimed the lives of 2,388 military and civilian personnel, resulted in the damage and/or loss of 21 vessels and 170 planes. Additionally, it triggered U.S. involvement in World War II.
USS ARIZONA was one of seven battleships tied up along “Battleship Row” on the southeast shores of Ford Island when the fidrst wave of attacks began. The ship exploded at approximately 8:10 a.m. In less than nine minutes, she sank with 1,177 of her crew.
Each year, more than 1.7 million people pay tribute to the Arizona, making it the leading visitor destination in Hawai‘i. It also is O‘ahu’s only national monument.
The 17-acre PEARL HARBOR VISITOR CENTER is located on Navy land, about 45 minutes west of Waikīkī, and is operated by the National Park Service. There are two world-class museums, theaters, movies and more. USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL AND VISITOR CENTER is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visitor access to the USS Arizona Memorial has reopened, including the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, museums, audio desk for narrated tours and the bookstore. The USS Arizona Memorial program consists of a boat ride to the memorial and U.S. Navy vessels. The program totals approximately 45 minutes, including 15 minutes on board the memorial. Reservations are required and space is limited, go to recreation. gov to make a reservation. Tickets are released for reservations at 3 p.m. (HST) in two separate allotments: the day prior to a visit and up to eight weeks in advance. Unreserved tickets are available one hour prior to designated program time.
Visitors may also view the documentary in the open-air theater, followed by the narrated of the harbor. For updates, please go to nps.gov/perl/planyourvisit.
The National Park Service and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites partners ( USS BOWFIN SUBMARINE MUSEUM, BATTLESHIP MISSOURI and PEARL HARBOR AVIATION MUSEUM ) now offer three official Pearl Harbor half-day tours. For reservations, call 877-444- 6777 or visit recreation.gov. Go to pearlharborhistoricsites.org for further information on all tours.