A memorial and place of remembrance with a free visitor center, museums and the USS Arizona Memorial program: a ranger briefing, a seated Navy boat ride and 10 to 15 minutes on the memorial, about 45 minutes in all, with no coming back early unless there is an emergency. A strict no-bag policy applies.
Know before you go. Pearl Harbor National Memorial doesn't list sensory hours, a quiet room or sensory kits. Here's what it does say about the boat, the memorial, the waits and the rules.
Hours
Visitor center open daily 7 am to 5 pm, including holidays, except Thanksgiving (Thu Nov 26 2026), Christmas (Fri Dec 25 2026) and New Year's Day (Fri Jan 1 2027). In bad weather the park may close early or unexpectedly. USS Arizona Memorial programs run every 15 minutes, 8 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 3:30 pm. The park film plays at :15 and :45 past each hour, first showing 7:15 am, last 4:15 pm.
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818
“Visitors are reminded that the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a site of significant loss and serves as the final resting place for hundreds.”
“Please help us create a quiet, contemplative space by silencing electronics, keeping your voice at a whisper volume, and conversations appropriate for where you are visiting.” nps.gov/perl (USS Arizona Accessibility Briefing)
“Restrooms are not available on the boats or the USS Arizona Memorial, so please use the facilities before your scheduled program.” nps.gov/perl (USS Arizona Memorial Programs)
“Wait times for Standby can vary. During a busy day, it may take several hours to be called back.”
“Visitors should expect heavy visitation throughout the year, especially during the busiest seasons: summertime, winter holidays, and spring break.” nps.gov/perl (Operating Hours & Seasons)
“We enforce a strict no-bag policy for items that offer concealment.”
“Please be aware that boat rides to the USS Arizona Memorial may be suspended, modified, or canceled due to high winds or rain.” nps.gov/perl (Operating Hours & Seasons)
“Be sure to bring sun protection, water, and comfortable clothing, as many exhibits are outdoors.” nps.gov/perl (Basic Information)
The memorial program is the part to plan around. Once you're in the boarding theater, the visit runs as one group: briefing, boat, 10 to 15 minutes on the memorial, boat back. The park asks for whisper voices on the memorial and seated riders on the boat. If that is too much on the day, the museums, grounds and film need no reservation, so the visit still works without the boat.
The ranger's boarding briefing, posted on the park's USS Arizona Accessibility Briefing page, tells the story of the December 7, 1941 attack, including how many sailors died and that many remain in the ship beneath the memorial. Reading it together ahead of time lets you decide how to talk about it with your kid.
The visitor center, museums and grounds are free and need no reservation. The USS Arizona Memorial program is free, and reservations on Recreation.gov are strongly recommended ($1 non-refundable fee per ticket); standby tickets are limited and can take several hours on a busy day.
The program takes about 45 minutes: a five-minute ranger briefing, a Navy boat ride where everyone stays seated, 10 to 15 minutes on the memorial and the ride back with the same group. There's no coming back early unless there is an emergency, and no restrooms on the boats or the memorial.
Strict no-bag policy: purses, backpacks, diaper bags and other bags bigger than a small wallet aren't allowed. Paid bag storage is near the entrance. For diapers, the park suggests a clear sealable bag; tell security about a medical bag when you arrive.
Reservations: only on Recreation.gov, released daily at 3 pm HST, 8 weeks ahead and 24 hours ahead. Up to 10 tickets per day, and everyone, including infants and small children, needs to be on the reservation. Arrive at least an hour before your program and check in at the Ticket Validation Desk 10 minutes before; late arrivals may lose their seats to standby. Reservations are final and can't be changed or refunded, and rangers can't change them: contact Recreation.gov at (877) 444-6777. Groupon and Go Oʻahu cards are not valid for National Park Service programs.
Standby: sign up on the tablets in front of the Audio Tour booth. You get a text with your SB number, then a second text when it is called, and you line up in the Standby Callback line at the theater. It can take several hours on a busy day, and at peak times (spring break, summer, holidays) standby may not be offered. Visitors should expect heavy visitation all year, especially in summer, the winter holidays and spring break.
Bags: plan for nothing bigger than 1.25 x 2.25 x 5.5 inches (the park also gives 1.5 x 2.25 x 5.5 inches). Allowed: small clutches and wallets, clear plastic bags, strollers and wheelchairs with fixed pouches, and medical bags whose equipment can't go in a clear bag (screened, with the final decision by Park Security Rangers, so allow extra time). Bag storage is run by the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum near the entrance, for a fee. Also not allowed: balls, Frisbees, skateboards, skate shoes, bicycles, scooters, balloons, aerosol cans, toy guns, and glass except baby food jars and tempered glass water bottles, and more; the full list is on the park's Park Rules and Safety page.
Food: food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed on site as long as they are not concealed in a package, but only water inside the museums, theaters, Navy boats and the memorial, and only clear water in the boarding theater. There's a small snack shop and water fountains throughout.
Strollers and wagons: welcome on site, but only up to the pre-boarding area at the Park Theater, not on the boats or the memorial. The park suggests a baby carrier for those parts.
Parking: $7 per day, paid on the day only with the QR codes on the parking lot signs or the mobile app. Park before unloading. Use the address 1 Arizona Memorial Place so maps don't send you to the military base, and don't drive onto the Ford Island bridge. By bus, the westbound Arizona Memorial stop (#4322) is closed for routes 20 and 42; use Kamehameha Highway at Kalaloa Street (stop #477).
Film and extras: the 23-minute park film in Theater 1 is captioned in English and needs no ticket; an induction loop is available for hearing aids. A paid audio tour and a virtual reality center are on site. The Ford Island Bus Tour to the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials needs a Recreation.gov reservation and can be cancelled on short notice for base security. The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, Battleship Missouri and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are separate sites with their own tickets; a free shuttle runs from the visitor center to Ford Island.
Help: there are no doctors or nurses on site, but EMS is available and a hospital is nearby. Benches are placed throughout, and some distances between facilities may be challenging. Wheelchairs are provided only in emergencies; you can bring your own, and the boats have wheelchair locks. For ASL interpreting, email the park with the subject line "ASL Interpretive Services Request" at least 14 days ahead. Pets aren't allowed inside; service animals are welcome. General questions: (808) 422-3399.
What to wear: the park calls itself a place of remembrance and reflection and recommends appropriate dress and conduct. Many exhibits are outdoors, so bring sun protection, water and comfortable shoes; the park suggests a hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen.
Call
(808) 422-3399Pearl Harbor National Memorial, general questions(877) 444-6777Recreation.gov: USS Arizona Memorial reservations, changes and the $1 fee
