Getting ready forthe Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum and USS Bowfin.
A real World War II submarine, USS Bowfin, and a three-gallery museum next to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, no shuttle needed. The self-guided submarine tour goes through small compartments, up and down stairways and through seven watertight doors, and children under 4 can't go aboard. Plan about 1.5 to 2 hours; reservations aren't required.
Know before you go. The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum doesn't list sensory hours, a quiet room or sensory kits. Here's what it does say about the submarine, its doors and stairs, the age rule and the bags.
Hours
Open daily 7 am to 5 pm; last admission 4:30 pm, and last entry to the submarine 4:15 pm. Closed New Year's Day (Fri Jan 1 2027), Thanksgiving (Thu Nov 26 2026) and Christmas (Fri Dec 25 2026). Gift shop 9 am to 5 pm; Jake's Food Truck 10 am to 2:30 pm.
11 Arizona Memorial Drive, Honolulu, HI 96818-3104 (inside the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, next to the Visitor Center)
“Please note that visitors must pass through seven watertight doors to complete the tour below decks.” bowfin.org (Accessibility)
“Stairways are provided for access to different sections within the submarine, including the forward and aft torpedo rooms.” bowfin.org (Accessibility)
“Climb aboard to see how confining and demanding the life of the undersea warrior was.” bowfin.org (home page)
“For the safety and security of all visitors, bags are not permitted inside any of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites.”
“See what you can hear on our sonar (it might surprise you!)”
“The Waterfront Memorial is dedicated to the 52 submarines and more than 3,600 officers and crewmen lost during World War II.”
The submarine is the part to plan around. To finish the tour below decks, visitors pass through seven watertight doors, so walk through it with photos or the free audio guide first, and agree on a signal for stopping before you board. The lānai, with seats and a view of the submarine, makes an easy place to wait or regroup.
The grounds include the Waterfront Memorial, which honors the 52 submarines and more than 3,600 officers and crewmen lost in World War II. It is a place of remembrance, so it helps to tell your kid ahead of time what it is.
The submarine tour means walking through compartments, using stairways to reach sections such as the forward and aft torpedo rooms, and passing through seven watertight doors to finish the tour below decks. You board and leave on a sloped brow. Children under 4 aren't allowed aboard for safety reasons; they can visit the outdoor exhibits at no charge, and the WWII gallery has a virtual tour.
Bags aren't allowed inside any of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, including backpacks, purses, camera bags, fanny packs, luggage and diaper bags. Bag storage at the museum is $6.00 for a regular bag and $10.00 for large or oversize bags (cash or card, prices subject to change).
Tickets are $25.99 for adults and $14.99 for ages 4 to 12 at the walk-up price; military and kamaʻāina rates are $18.99 and $9.99, offered on site with valid ID, and each adult getting the kamaʻāina rate needs their own Hawaiʻi-issued ID. Military personnel in uniform get in free. Reservations aren't required, and prices are subject to change.
Getting there: park in the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center lot ($7) and come in through the memorial entrance; the museum's entrance is to the right, through the large black hull ring. No shuttle is needed. Plan about 1.5 to 2 hours for the submarine, museum and grounds.
Audio guide: tours are self-guided, with free audio guides in English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, and the narrated tour and maps are in the museum's free app.
The museum: three galleries with more than 4,000 artifacts. Kids can try their hand at firing a torpedo, listen on a sonar, cruise on the keiki submarine and sit at a submarine dive stand.
Food and rest: Jake's Food Truck at the USS Bowfin is open 10 am to 2:30 pm (cash and cards), with cold drink vending machines and plenty of seating on the covered lānai over the submarine.
Access: the museum campus is ADA accessible, with ramps and designated parking spaces; the submarine has limits, and the sloped brow may be hard for people with mobility impairments. For needs not listed, contact the museum in advance at (808) 423-1341.
Captain's Tour: a private tour with a former Navy submarine commanding officer, $1,000 as a tax-deductible donation; call (808) 423-1341 for information and availability.
Call
(808) 423-1341Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, questions and accessibility requests(808) 800-4126Baggage storage at the museum
