USS Arizona Narrated Tour in Honolulu, HI

As an American, no trip to Hawaii is complete without a visit to this memorial, which is perhaps one of the most unique war memorials in the world. You can only visit it by boat, but it is also one of the only memorials where you see the actual war carnage which makes it so much more real, moving and inspirational. The site commemorates the 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor and specifically the sinking of the USS Arizona that day killing 1,177 sailors and marines. The ship, which essentially exploded and sank in minutes, remains on the bottom of Pearl Harbor with the vast number of the fatalities never removed from the ship, so buried in the Memorial. The first thing to know is you will need a reservation to visit the USS Arizona Memorial that can only be obtained at Recreation.gov for $1/ticket. Tickets open up 60 days ahead of your visit and are fairly easy to get. However, if you wait until inside 30 days certain times could be filled. Second thing to know is, while you only need to be in line minutes before your tour, it is likely you need to be at Pearl Harbor 45-60 minutes ahead as you could walk over 1 mile to the National Historic site from the nearest parking space and once you get there have to wait in line to check any bag or purse. Also know if you plan to visit the USS Missouri before the USS Arizona as we did, it could take an hour to get a bus and get to the boat line. We were lucky to make our reservation by less than 5 minutes as we waited for a bus and then took a long time to get back to the main Pearl Habor VC where you catch the boat. As for the memorial itself, it is very moving and poignant during a 25-minute stay. After a 10-minute boat ride, you will enter and exit on the east end where the boat can dock. You then will enter the middle portion of the memorial with open sides and ceiling where you will be above the ship with a display that shows you are exactly where you are. Some parts of the ship are above the waterline and others are just under it but can be seen in the clear water. We visited on a partly cloudy and windy day, so water visibility was not great. Still seeing the ship both above and partially below the water line is sobering. You then walk to the far end where you see the names of all those 1,177 lost as well as survivors who have returned to be buried with their shipmates. At the memorial there are rangers who can answer questions about the USS Arizona and the memorial. There is much discussion about the memorial and what its design means. Not until I reviewed my pictures, did I see the meaning for me. The memorial structure at its essence is a bridge which passes over not a body of water but the ship itself. The shape is absolutely a suspension bridge complete with cables between the openings. However, bridges are designed to connect points. This bridge connects you to those in service who lost their lives, and, for a moment, you get to be with them suspended in the past. You then cross back over the ship to the boat that returns you the VC and the present. However, for a moment you are with them suspended in time connected by a bridge. It is a powerful vehicle that leaves a lasting impression.

Was conned into booking by the hotel concierge. Did research, cancelled my booking and went early. In person booking process is simple. Tour operators run a scam and their bots grab all tickets in milliseconds from recreation.gov- government should put an end to this practice- they charge almost $200 for a reservation to transport you to a park that is free. This is an important place and should be prevented from being exploited by crooks. Got in the queue (enter name and mobile # at Kiosk and they text you) at 7:30am, were on the boat by 9:30am- plenty to see while you wait for the boat. Humbling experience and it is a grave of soldiers who died while serving, so it is not a place to take selfies to post on social media. Lots of exhibits to see, history to learn and pay your respect. Must see, but remember to go early and get in the queue and do not buy any tours- then the tour operators will be out of business.