Visiting the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument

     Pearl Harbor is on of the top tourist destinations in Hawaii. The National Park Service designation is the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. As you are making your plans to see Pearl Harbor, there are a few things to know.

     There are very few places in Hawaii with a dress code, but this is one of them. While you don’t need to dress up and aloha wear is appropriate, swim wear is not. This is a very special place and the sanctity of the site is maintained in part by not allowing swim wear or clothing of a profane or questionable nature. Military personnel are expected to be appropriately dressed. Bags, purses, fanny packs, diaper bags, etc is not allowed in the park area. There are lockers that you can use to store these items for a fee at the front of the visitors center. 

    Timing your visit is very important when going the see the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Access to the monument over the USS Arizona is very restricted. You can’t just drive up, hop on a boat and get to the monument. The sanctity and respect that is due a site of this nature is absolutely maintained. It is a very moving experience, and to set the tone, there are certain procedures to be followed to see the memorial.

     You will want to get to the site as early in the day as possible. Do not plan to go to the beach, have a nice late lunch and then jump in the car and head to Pearl Harbor. The visitors center opens at 7a.m., and I would advise to get there as close to that time as possible. When you arrive at the center, you will need to get a ticket to see the movie and then go to the memorial over the USS Arizona.

     If you get there later in the morning, there may be a waiting time of several hours to get to the actual memorial. There is a book store where souvenirs can be purchased that is really very dedicated to the remembrance of the USS Arizona and her crew. The USS Bowfin Submarine is next door, and if you have a long wait, this is a wonderful place to explore. If you have less than a 30 minute wait, save the USS Bowfin until after you tour the USS Arizona. 30 minutes is just not enough time to explore the exhibit adequately.

     While you are waiting to get in to see the movie, be sure to stroll out to the shore where there is an interpretative exhibit. These are panels that are set up to superimpose the image of the battle that raged that December day in contrast to the calm and normal setting of the harbor today. In the warm sunshine with a breeze blowing hearing the sounds of laughing children and the hushed tones of adults taking in the memorial, it is hard to really comprehend the horror and devastation of that day. The exhibit helps to paint the picture of that day in your mind. If you are really lucky, sometimes Pearl Harbor survivors are there to talk about the day. What a blessing it is to be there on a day that one of these folks is there to share their account!

     This is also a good time to use the facilities. There are no bathroom facilities on the memorial itself and you will board the boat to go to the memorial right after the film, so get rid of that morning cup of coffee now.

     When your ticket time has arrived, you will enter into one of the theaters to see a short movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor. The park rangers are very good about setting the perfect tone for the movie and the experience as a whole. There is no doubt that you are about to go to a hallowed place when the movie is completed.

     You will be ushered on to a boat to take you to the memorial after the movie is completed. The boats are operated by naval personnel. There is a short boat ride out to the memorial over the USS Arizona. Once you are on the memorial, you may stay as long as you would like. The shuttles come and go frequently so there is no need to hurry through the memorial.

     The memorial itself is so moving. It is impossible to express in word how moving a place it really is. The plaques on the back wall with all the names of the service men lost on this ship on that one day is a stark reminder of enormity of the day. Looking out at the water and still seeing drops of oil floating to the surface is sad and powerful. Some folks bring leis to drop in the water or other floral tributes. It is just a very moving experience.

     The USS Missouri is near by on Ford Island and you may want to go see her while you are here, an alpha and omega experience of WWII. The USS Missouri is in drydock at this time and is scheduled to be towed back to her usual spot at the end of January 2010.  Tickets can be purchased at the USS Bowfin.

     The trip to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument such a moving and powerful experience, I hope that you get to go on your next visit to Hawaii.