If you are traveling to Oahu, visiting Pearl Harbor is an incredible must-see destination. Pearl Harbor is rich in history and reverence, and a visit here will leave you with a humbling experience.
Karen and I vacationed there as part of our Hawaiian honeymoon cruise from Vancouver. Pearl Harbor is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Hawaii, and after traveling there for the first time, I can see why.
As a Canadian visiting Pearl Harbor for the first time, I had heard some of the histories, but I had no idea how much I would feel the importance of this place in America’s history.
As a Baby Boomer, my Dad was one of the Canadian soldiers who fought in World War II. Even though I am not American, after walking on this hallowed ground, I was soon in awe of this critically historic site that was the turning point for America and the world as World War II unfolded.
Pearl Harbor History
Pearl Harbor is an infamous U.S. naval base just outside of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. During the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese fleet undertook a surprise attack.
It resulted in the destruction or severe damage to almost 20 American naval vessels. This included eight battleships and over 300 airplanes.
In addition to the countless bombs dropped and ammunition fired during the attack, Pearl Harbor kamikaze pilots crashed their planes into the site if their planes became damaged.
This form of honorable self-sacrifice was a method for Japanese pilots to avoid capture.
Tragically, more than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, and another 1,000 people were wounded. Following the attack, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.
Best Way To Travel To Pearl Harbor
If you are anywhere on Oahu island, there are many ways to travel to Pearl Harbor. Transportation includes local tour operators, taxis, and shuttle buses.
Most travel guides recommend that you don’t drive to Pearl Harbor due to limited parking. Although we found that if you arrive early by 9 am, parking is available.
However, Pearl Harbor parking did fill up quickly after we arrived. So if you plan to travel later in the day, you may not be able to park your vehicle.
Pearl Harbor is open daily, from 7 am to 5 pm. It’s free to visit Pearl Harbor, as is the Arizona Memorial. Tickets are only required for USS Missouri, USS Bowfin, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. The Arizona Memorial is one of the best free things to do in Oahu.
The cost to purchase tickets is relatively low and one of the best budget-friendly activities in Oahu. Karen and I purchased Go Oahu passes before arriving in Oahu which included free entry to Pearl Harbor.
If you’re staying in Waikiki without a vehicle, you can purchase tours to Pearl Harbor as part of a package deal. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.
Should you arrive later in the day, you may be waiting to see some attractions like the Arizona Memorial.
It’s important to note that since Pearl Harbor is still an active Naval Base, bags are not allowed while visiting Pearl Harbor for security reasons. This includes purses, camera bags, and backpacks.
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
Naturally, when arriving at Pearl Harbor, the first stop is the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. The Center is open 7-days-a-week from 7 am to 5 pm but is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The visitor center, two museums, and the USS Arizona Memorial program are free for all visitors.
USS Arizona Memorial
It’s advisable to get your tickets early when visiting Pearl Harbor because the wait to see the Memorial can be an hour or much longer. Before you can tour the USS Arizona Memorial, you must view the Pearl Harbor video (a 23-minute film) about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The film is in black and white and includes actual Pearl Harbor footage of the events on December 7, 1941, and the circumstances surrounding Japan’s attack.
It is a powerful film and especially helpful for me as a Canadian, not as familiar with the history of Pearl Harbor. When we traveled to the USS Arizona Memorial, it was still being repaired and inaccessible.
After being closed since May 2018, the Memorial reopened on September 1, 2019. During our visit, the shuttle boat enabled us to travel to the site but not walk on the Memorial.
However, while I would have appreciated seeing the Memorial up close, the tour guide on the boat told the details of the history.
It seemed to inspire an even greater reverence for the site that almost made it “okay” not to set foot on it. Our visit was Karen’s second time visiting Pearl Harbor, and she had been able to visit the Arizona Memorial the first time.
The Tears Of Arizona
The tour guide on our shuttle boat gave an excellent account of the Memorial. One of the questions I had wondered about was why Arizona still leaked fuel and oil when we are now more aware of the environmental impact of this.
The guide indicated that there was a lot of thought given to this, but the fact that the site is still the final resting place for 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed during the attack.
As a result, the site remained undisturbed with respect for the families of the sailors lost there. The oil leaking from Arizona is commonly referred to as the “tears of the Arizona,” or “black tears.”
Even though three-quarters of a century has passed since the Pearl Harbor bombings, the bond between the Arizona crew members has not been lost.
In fact, many survivors of Arizona have chosen to have their remains interned within the ship’s wreckage.
While the Arizona Memorial was built in 1962, it is now operated by the National Park Service. In 2008, the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (VALR) placed the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, and USS Oklahoma Memorial under the care of the National Park Service.
Pearl Harbor USS Missouri
The USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship that was ordered in 1940 and commissioned in 1944. To view the USS Battleship Missouri, we had to take a bus across to Ford Island.
Ford Island is also home to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. During the bus ride, we were not allowed to take photos since it’s still an active Naval base.
Walking down the flag-lined pier towards the ship creates a sense of patriotic reverence for visitors before they board the impressive vessel.
USS Missouri Facts
For its time, the USS Missouri was a feat of engineering. Here are some of the facts about her design and construction:
- 4,300,000 ft. of welding
- 90 miles of piping
- 15,000 valves
- 300 miles of electric cable
- 900 electric motors
- 312,000 lbs of paint
- 175 tons of blueprint paper was used in her design
- 430,000 working days went into her design
- 3,300,000 working days went into her construction
When I first boarded the ship, what I noticed immediately was the size of the vessel. The vessel is 887’ (270m) long, but what you cannot miss is the massive guns.
There is a total of nine of the largest guns (six forward, three aft), and each can fire 16” 2700 lbs shells up to a distance of 24 miles. See the photo of my wife Karen to get a sense of the size of the incredible guns.
USS Missouri Dining And Kitchen
One of the many essential areas aboard the USS Missouri was the kitchen and dining areas. To feed up to 2700 officers and crew every day, you would obviously need a huge industrial kitchen.
This included giant pots that would likely be used to cook massive quantities of stew, soups, and other easy-to-serve hearty meals.
One thing that impressed me in the kitchen area was the hundreds of loaves of bread. I am sure that bread was one of the staples of the crew’s diet, and bakers would likely spend an entire day making nothing but bread.
When in the harbor and not at sea, the crew would have an upgraded menu that would be closer to what they may have at home. Here’s a sample of the Thanksgiving menu provided while in the port:
| BREAKFAST Menu | LUNCH Menu | DINNER Menu |
| Pancakes | Roast pork | Teriyaki steak |
| Grilled eggs to order | Simmered corned beef | Beef barley soup |
| Hot cereal | Potatoes with butter | Vegetable stir fry |
| Sausage links | Cabbage with butter | Baked potatoes |
| Creamed corned beef | Mixed vegetables | Fried rice |
Surgery In The Mess
Within the large dining room (also known as “Mess”) on the USS Missouri, one of the tables would also be used for surgery if soldiers were injured.
Note the large bright lights above the table. Also, the vinyl covering would make it easy to sterilize and wash away the blood.
Sleeping Aboard the USS Missouri
While touring the lower decks, I was impressed with the sleeping accommodations for the up to 2700 team of officers and sailors. Due to the round-the-clock operation of the ship while in action, the crew would sleep in shifts.
Stacked up to three bunks high, this helped to minimize the space needed. Although this would sacrifice the comfort of the crew. Located in small, cramped, and crowded spaces, the crew called them “coffin racks.”
Officers and higher-ranking personnel had more spacious accommodations. These accommodations often included private sleeping quarters, separate dining areas, and even private baths.
Not surprisingly in the Navy, your rank has its privileges! For instance, the captain had individual quarters just off the main bridge.
Being near the bridge, he could continue to lead the ship on extensive shifts during operations or while under attack.
Keeping The Ship Running
In order to keep the ship running its best while at sea, it is crucial to have the ability to repair anything. As a result, the USS Missouri had a fully equipped machine shop.
Here, the tool and die maker could build spare parts, and fix or repair anything that may break. This would be necessary not just when at battle but also during peaceful operations.
The Official Signing Of Japan’s Surrender
On September 2nd, 1945, the USS Missouri was the site of the official signing of Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces.
This time in history is immortalized on the ship with a photo of the event. Also, there is a plaque mounted on the deck where the signing ceremony took place.
The plaque reads: “Over this spot, on September 2nd, 1945, the instrument of formal surrender of Japan to the allied powers was signed thus bringing to a close the Second World War. The ship at that time was at anchor in Tokyo Bay.”
We enjoyed our tour of the battleship so much, that we later visited its sister vessel, the USS Iowa in California.
Pearl Harbor USS Bowfin Submarine
A highlight of my visit was touring the Pearl Harbor submarine – the USS Bowfin. It was on my bucket list to be able to board a real submarine, and the Bowfin did not disappoint.
Even though outdated by today’s standards of design, the Bowfin is a feat of engineering. Every cubic inch of space has a purpose, and not an inch is wasted.
During our visit, we were able to tour the submarine, but the museum was closed for renovation.
If you are a person that has a fear of being in tight spaces, then you may want to reconsider boarding the Bowfin. Fortunately, for Karen and I, we don’t have claustrophobia, and crawling in and around the Bowfin was an incredible experience.
The doorways inside the sub are very low with a high step to get through the doorway. Luckily, neither Karen nor I are tall, so navigating these doorways was not a problem for us.
While the Bowfin submarine appeared to be quite small from the outside, we were surprised at how “roomy” it felt on the inside.
I’m not talking “penthouse sized,” but with well-designed nooks and crannies, it didn’t seem cramped at all. Included in your purchased ticket is a free audio tour available in multiple languages.
The Bowfin had a crew of 80 men in a metal tube measured 312 feet long and 27 feet wide.
USS Bowfin Torpedo Tubes
Within the sub are ten large brass tubes used to launch torpedoes during battle. In total, each tube held a torpedo. Also, there were up to 14 additional torpedoes for a total armament of 24.
These impressive feats of engineering show the power of the Bowfin. I was fascinated to see the other torpedoes stored under the sleeping cots.
USS Bowfin Engine Room
Upon entering the engine room, I was impressed with the array of gauges, extensive brass, and the complexity of the operation.
While on a submarine, the crew is relatively small, they would need a high level of technical training to be able to operate the Bowfin successfully.
Dining Onboard The USS Bowfin
In contrast to the massive dining room onboard the USS Missouri battleship, the Bowfin dining area resembled that of a small travel trailer or recreation vehicle.
With a total crew of just 80 men, the crew would likely eat in multiple shifts. Multiple shifts minimize the space needed for keeping the crew fed.
Sleeping Onboard The USS Bowfin
Bunks for the enlisted men aboard the Bowfin are “compact”. With triple-stacked beds and less than 18 inches between them, this minimized the space taken up for sleeping.
Also, because the crew would sleep in shifts due to the 24-hour operation of the sub, the idea of “Hot Bunks” was termed to describe beds where the sheets would remain warm because often one sailor would leave only to have the next sailor take over the bed. Fascinating!
Near the Bowfin Submarine, visitors can purchase food, snacks, and drinks. The food selection was small and consisted mostly of hotdogs and prepackaged items from vending machines.
Since my wife Karen has Celiac, she couldn’t find anything safe to eat. For these outings, we tend to carry gluten-free snacks and eat at gluten-free eateries in Honolulu.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
If you love old planes or are a history buff, another must-see stop while visiting Pearl Harbor is the Pacific Aviation Museum. It includes an incredible collection of vintage planes in and around the Second World War era.
I am not a pilot, but I remember my dad telling me stories from his experience as a gunner in the Canadian Air Force.
Viewing all these planes helped me to relive what it must have been like for my dad when he did missions in Europe. In addition to the aircraft, there is a Combat Flight Simulator where you can pretend to fly one of the old planes in battle.
Can You See Pearl Harbor In A Day?
Visiting Pearl Harbor in a single day is possible if you arrive early, and plan your schedule efficiently. For me, I can’t wait to return on a future visit to Oahu and see Pearl Harbor again.
There’s plenty to see, and because it’s so rich in importance and history, it’s best to take your time. Pearl Harbor is worthy of another visit, and I intend to go again. This way, I can see more of the things I may have missed the first time.
Also, if you’re visiting Pearl Harbor, I’d recommend a side trip to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Located in Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu, it serves as a resting place for those killed in Pearl Harbor.
It’s a beautiful location with scenic views of Waikiki and a great place to pay your respects to those American soldiers who have fallen during wars.
Happy travels.
