You'll Love This One Awe-Inspiring Activity In Hawaii And It Won't Cost You A Cent
By Megan Shute|Published May 10, 2017
×
Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Whether you call Hawaii home or are planning a vacation to the Aloha State, you are painfully aware of one fact: the Hawaiian Islands are expensive. From food and gas to accommodations, the cost of living – or vacationing – in Hawaii is astronomical. Luckily, we have plenty of opportunities to explore the islands’ history without spending a cent – including paying a visit to one of World War II’s most important historic sites: Pearl Harbor, and specifically, the USS Arizona Memorial.
December 7, 1941: A day that lives in infamy as one of the most tragic attacks on United States of America soil, and the event that launched our great country into World War II, in both European and Pacific theaters. Today, Pearl Harbor houses a variety of historical sites, including the USS Arizona Memorial.
The Japanese Imperial Navy attacks against U.S. Naval Base Pearl Harbor, which began at approximately 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time, killed 2,400 Americans and wounded another 1,170. Approximately 1,177 of these brave sailors and marines perished aboard the USS Arizona, leaving only 334 surviving servicemembers who were stationed on the ship.
Very few bodies were recovered from the attack, and the sunken ship is the final resting place for 1,102 of those who died during the attack. Many survivors - as well as those stationed on the USS Arizona before the attack on Pearl Harbor - have chosen to have their cremated remains scattered over the ship.
The USS Arizona was the only ship that fully sank during the attack, and was never recovered - the ship lies at the bottom of the harbor to this day, and visitors can take a free boat tour to the memorial that was built on top of the sunken ship.
Visiting the memorial is a somber experience, and one that will certainly remind you not only of the delicacy of life, but also of the monumental sacrifice made by the United States Armed Forces.
Admission to the memorial is free, however, there are a limited amount of tickets available each day, online 24 hours in advance, and in person: you’ll want to be at the visitor center as early as possible - preferably around 7 a.m. when they open.
Free tours start every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 3, p.m., and begin with a 20-minute documentary film about politics, the Hawaiian people, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Then, guests climb aboard a 145 passenger U.S. Navy-operated boat across the harbor.
At the memorial, you will find the names of those who perished aboard the USS Arizona written in the marble wall, seven windows on each side - and ceiling - of the memorial, commemorating the date of the attack, and an opening in the floor overlooking the sunken decks where visitors can pay their respects by tossing flowers in honor of the fallen soldiers.
If you look into the water below, you will not only see the remains of this once beautiful ship, but might also catch a glimpse of the gasoline still leaking from the boat into the harbor. The USS Arizona held 1.5 million gallons of fuel, and after burning for 2.5 days after the attack, there was an unspecified amount of oil left on board. Oil has been leaking from the ship since the 1940s, and currently leaves the underwater vessel at a rate of 2 to 9 quarts each day.
The entire tour lasts 75 minutes, and is operated by the National Park Service. The memorial opened to the public in 1980, and the remains of the ship were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
If you only see one thing while visiting Pearl Harbor, it has to be the famous USS Arizona Memorial, but we also recommend checking out the Pacific Aviation Museum, the USS Battleship Missouri, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. For more information about the USS Arizona Memorial, and the other Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, check out their website.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
