Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu is a historic site with a visitor center, two museums and the USS Arizona Memorial program. From Waikīkī, plan for about a 45-minute drive and reserve a place in the program online if you want to visit the memorial.
- Location: 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818.
- From Waikīkī: about a 45-minute drive, with traffic potentially affecting the trip.
- Visitor center: open seven days a week, 7 am to 5 pm.
- Admission: free; the USS Arizona Memorial program requires a reservation.
Understanding the memorial site
Pearl Harbor National Memorial brings together a visitor center, two museums and the USS Arizona Memorial program. You can enter the visitor center and museums without a reservation or ticket, and admission is free.
The site is at 1 Arizona Memorial Place in Honolulu. The visitor center is before the Ford Island Bridge, which is restricted to military personnel. If you plan to visit sites on Ford Island, a shuttle runs from the visitor center.
The visitor center is open seven days a week from 7 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1; on other holidays, it is open from 7 am to 5 pm.
The National Park Service warns that inclement weather can cause an early or unexpected closure. Check the official site before you go.
How do you get from Waikīkī to Pearl Harbor?
The drive from Waikīkī to Pearl Harbor National Memorial takes about 45 minutes, according to the National Park Service, though Honolulu traffic can affect the trip. If you’re driving, follow H-1 West to exit 15A, marked “Arizona Mem./Stadium.” Continue on HI-99, also called Kamehameha Highway, then turn left at the fourth traffic light onto Arizona Memorial Place.
Visitor-center parking costs $7 per day. You can’t pay in advance; payment is made on the day of your visit using a QR code in the lot.
If you’re arranging a commercial ride, the National Park Service maintains a list of authorized transportation providers serving Pearl Harbor and updates it at least quarterly.
How do you reserve the USS Arizona Memorial program?
You need a reservation for the USS Arizona Memorial program. Admission to the program is free, but the reservation platform charges a $1 non-refundable fee per ticket. Same-day, first-come, first-served ticket distribution in person has been discontinued, so reserve online through Recreation.gov, the program’s only official reservation website.
Reservations are released daily at 3 pm Hawaii Standard Time in two windows: 24 hours and 8 weeks ahead. You can reserve up to 10 tickets per day, including tickets for infants and small children.
The program runs daily every 15 minutes from 8 am to noon and from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. It takes about 45 minutes and includes a safety orientation, a boat ride, time at the memorial and the return trip to the visitor center. Limited standby seating may be available, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Visitor rules and time planning
Plan to arrive at the park one hour before your reserved program, then check in at the Memorial Theater validation desk 10 minutes before your reservation time. The park film lasts 23 minutes and screens in Theater 1 at :15 and :45 each hour, from the first showing at 7:15 am to the last at 4:15 pm.
Use the restrooms before your program: there are no restrooms on the boats or at the USS Arizona Memorial. If you’re planning your day from Halekulani - NO RESORT FEE rooms in Waikīkī, allow time for the drive, arrival and program check-in when choosing a reservation.
FAQs
Is Pearl Harbor National Memorial free?
Admission to the visitor center, its two museums and the USS Arizona Memorial program is free. Recreation.gov charges a $1 non-refundable fee for each program ticket.
Do you need a ticket to enter the visitor center?
No reservation or ticket is needed to enter the visitor center. The USS Arizona Memorial program does require a reservation.
How long does the USS Arizona Memorial program take?
Allow about 45 minutes for the program itself, including the safety orientation, boat ride, time at the memorial and return to the visitor center.
Can you visit Ford Island from the visitor center?
The visitor center is before the Ford Island Bridge, which is restricted to military personnel. A shuttle from the visitor center serves visitors going to Ford Island sites.