Reservations to visit the USS Arizona Memorial can only be made 24 hours in advance starting July 9. That means a big shift for travelers to one of Hawaii’s most visited and meaningful sites. The change comes as the National Park Service and the Navy begin preservation work to remove two aging salvage platforms from the memorial area.
Access to the memorial will temporarily move to a day-before reservation system, along with limited same-day standby availability. Tickets will be released online at 3 pm (HST) for the next day at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/233338.
Note that NPS said: “This change affects advance reservations for tours starting on Sept. 3 and will continue until further notice. Reservations made for dates before Sept. 3, will be honored.”
Visitors who do not secure tickets the day before can still attempt to get standby tickets on the day of their visit. That process is in person at the visitor center, but availability is not guaranteed. If you plan to visit around Veterans Day or Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, it is best to arrive early.
Why USS Arizona reservations are being paused.
According to the Park Service, removing the WWII-era platforms creates periods when access to the memorial will be unsafe. Rather than risk last-minute cancellations, the Park Service is pausing the ability to reserve up to 8 weeks in advance. No exact end date has been given, and updates will depend on construction progress.
What else remains open at Pearl Harbor.
Other parts of Pearl Harbor remain open and unaffected. This includes the visitor center, museums, exhibits, and bookstore. The Battleship Missouri, Pacific Aviation Museum, and Bowfin submarine museum are also operating normally and can be booked separately.
Due to enhanced security measures, the shuttle to the Pacific Aviation Museum and Battleship Missouri requires a government-issued photo ID or a passport for international visitors to board.
The Battleship Missouri, in particular, may become the highlight for many visitors who are unable to access the Arizona Memorial. We’ve spent time exploring the decks, the surrender deck, and the ship’s interior, and it remains one of the most impressive and accessible military history experiences in Hawaii.
For those wanting a meaningful connection to World War II, the Missouri offers a powerful continuation of the story. You can read more in our full feature on the experience at the Battleship Missouri at our visit to the Battleship Missouri.
Why the Arizona Memorial continues to deeply resonate.
In our original article about Pearl Harbor visits, dozens of readers described how powerful and emotional their time at the memorial was. Gregory W wrote, “Of all the places we’ve visited in Hawaii, the Arizona Memorial and Punchbowl still are deeply embedded in our hearts.” Another reader, Teri G, shared how her father and uncle were both stationed at Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack.
We invite you to share your experiences visiting Pearl Harbor.
Photo Credit: Beat of Hawaii visiting the Battleship Missouri.
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In 2004 we were in Hawaii with our kids and grandkids. My 14 year old grandson wanted to go to Pearl Harbor, which surprised me. But what surprised me even more was how he purchased a book with his own money and read almost half of it on the bus trip back to the hotel. It is a solemn and inspiring place.
I visit Pearl Harbor every time I visit Hawaii…the most moving experience of any US Memorial. The following year after my first trip in ’79, I was on BB 63 Missouri in Bremerton, WA standing on the deck where the signing to end WW II took place. Now I can do both on the same visit. It never gets old and always an emotional experience. I guess being from Missouri makes it even more so.
What can you do in Hawaii without a reservation anymore. Most say the worst you can do is spend a vacation on a schedule. Now restaurants, beaches, Diamond Head Park, USS memorial, as well as Hauana Bay need some 24 hour advance ticket purchase or reservation. Locals need nothing. The beaches are beautiful but IMO all in all not worth the pain in the a** in doing other activities. Just be done with it and tell tourists never to return again because this is what it’s leading to. IMO Hawaii is now about collecting taxes, imposing fees, controlling tourists with reservations and tickets, and ripping people off.
I understand that the reservations have been paused, but we have already gotten our tickets the beginning of June for August 1st. Do we still need to go online on the 30th? Is there a phone number or place we can check? We haven’t heard anything from recreation.gov. You are the first we are hearing about this. Thank you!
Hi Tim.
Note that NPS has said: “This change affects advance reservations for tours starting on Sept. 3 and will continue until further notice. Reservations made for dates before Sept. 3, will be honored.”
Aloha.
Thank you so much!
What about reservations already made on the recreation.gov website?
We have “tickets” reserved for July 15th.
Are those reservations still valid ?
I remember when you could just walk up in the morning and get a ticket. Sometimes you end up spending some quality time over at the Bowfin and the Submarine Memorial, but it usually wasn’t more than a couple hours wait….
Of course, this was also back when you didn’t need reservations to snorkel in Hanama Bay either….
Do you know if they are going to still honor tickets that have already been pre-booked before this change?