Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Pearl Harbor National Memorial is the most visited attraction in Hawaii, drawing over 1. 8 million visitors annually to the site where the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 launched the United States into World War II. The memorial complex includes the USS Arizona Memorial (above the sunken battleship where 1,177 crew members perished), exhibit galleries, a documentary theater, and access to several additional sites including the USS Missouri battleship, USS Bowfin submarine, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

For families with older children, a visit to Pearl Harbor is one of the most impactful historical experiences available anywhere in the United States.

The core experience is the USS Arizona Memorial program, which is free (a $1/person online reservation fee applies). The program consists of a visit to the exhibit gallery, a 23-minute documentary film using actual footage from the attack, and a boat ride across the harbor to the white memorial structure that spans the sunken hull of the USS Arizona. The entire program takes about 75 minutes.

The boat ride is the emotional climax: as the Navy vessel crosses the harbor, the dark shape of the sunken battleship becomes visible beneath the clear water. Oil still leaks from the wreck, more than 80 years later, creating rainbow sheens on the surface that visitors call the tears of the Arizona. Standing above the ship, reading the names of the 1,177 sailors and Marines on the marble memorial wall, and realizing that you are directly above their remains, creates a moment of gravity that older children process deeply.

The minimum recommended age is 8. The 23-minute film includes real combat footage -- explosions, sinking ships, casualties -- that may be disturbing for younger children. The boat ride requires sitting quietly for 15 minutes each way.

The memorial itself requires reverent, quiet behavior. Children under 8 generally lack the historical context and attention span to benefit from the experience, and restless young children detract from the solemnity that other visitors expect. For families with mixed ages, one parent can take older kids to the memorial while the other takes younger children to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, which has interactive exhibits suitable for ages 5+.

Tickets for the Arizona Memorial are free but must be reserved at recreation. gov. They are released in batches 60 days before the visit date and popular morning slots sell out quickly -- set a reminder and book as soon as tickets become available.

Walk-up standby tickets are distributed at 7am daily on a first-come, first-served basis, but they are limited and arrival by 6am is recommended with no guarantee. No bags, purses, or backpacks are allowed in the memorial area (a storage facility is available for $5).

The additional sites require separate paid admission. The USS Missouri ($35/adult, $19/child) is the most compelling for families -- walking the decks of the battleship where Japan surrendered is powerful, and the ship's massive scale impresses everyone. The USS Bowfin submarine ($15/adult, $8/child) is fascinating for kids who want to see the cramped interior of a WWII sub (children under 4 are not allowed aboard).

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum ($26/adult, $16/child) has restored WWII aircraft and interactive flight simulators.

Plan 3-5 hours depending on how many sites you visit. The Arizona Memorial alone takes 75 minutes plus waiting time. Adding the Missouri and one other site makes a full 4-5 hour morning. Pearl Harbor is located about 30 minutes west of Waikiki. Most visitors go in the morning and return to Waikiki by early afternoon.