Other than the Punchbowl Cemetery, there is, perhaps no more hallowed single place in Honolulu than the battleship Arizona memorial.
The fate of the Arizona is certainly well known, having been sunk in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, during the initial attack by Imperial Japanese forces, resulting in the immediate declaration of war with Japan by the United States.
Early in 1940, while relations between the United States and Japan had been strained by Japan’s attacks in China and other expansionist threats, the Arizona and five other battle ships were sent to Pearl Harbor to establish a strong presence and deterrence to possible Japanese aggression—but only the Arizona was actually in port that morning.
In reality, and unintentionally, it positioned Arizona and would have positioned the other ships to be perfect targets. On the morning of December 7, 1941, during the early morning attack on Pearl Harbor, one Japanese bomb struck directly into the Arizona’s ammunition magazine, causing a massive explosion that sank the ship almost immediately, killing 1,177 officers and seamen. The ship was damaged beyond recovery.
In the years following World War II, major parts of the ship were removed, but the hull was left in place, resting on the bottom with only one gun turret ring extending above the water line (at high tide).
The memorial is part of a much larger park with a museum, bookstore, and many more exhibits. The park also provides a detailed map and headset with a recording describing many displays and features of the park.
Access to the memorial site is via a special Naval launch that makes regularly scheduled trips between the park and the Arizona. There was a waiting time for the launch to Arizona, so go early and purchase your tickets for the launch. Then use the time waiting to explore the museum, displays, and shops. There is a brief formal presentation at the memorial, plus time to scan the list of service members who died aboard the ship or who have been interred in the hull.
The Arizona is a memorial to the men who were killed during the attack, and to many of her crew members who have since died that have requested and been granted burial at sea within the sunken hull of the battleship.
While walking on the open deck of the memorial, you will likely see patches of oil appear on the water that continue to leak from the hull below. These small visible oil slicks continue to form, even 80-plus years after the vessel sank.
Things to Know: Access to the memorial is by a Navy launch that carries approximately 100 passengers out to the memorial. Inside the memorial is a marble wall with the names of the crew members killed during the bombing.
Make reservations for your visit to the Arizona Memorial as soon as you arrive at the park. When you check in for your visit, you will be provided with a map and headset that will explain what you are seeing both on the shore near the memorial and at the memorial.
There is a well-stocked gift ship for souvenirs, several buildings with displays that tell the stories of the attacks, and a separate exhibit of a submarine (an additional fee).
If time (and energy) permit, you may also want to visit the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (adjacent to the Arizona Memorial grounds) and/or the Aviation Museum.
For street navigators to the park, enter “1 Arizona Memorial Place.”
Admission to the US Arizona Memorial is $89.99 for adults and $44.99 for kids (4-12). Note, there is no fee for the USS Arizona Memorial tour. Other admissions include: (1) Visitor Center Narrated Multimedia Tour, (2) Battleship Missouri Memorial – Mighty Mo Pass, (3) Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum – Admission, (4) Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum – Admission, and the (5) Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center. Note: I find the posting regarding admission fees somewhat confusing, especially with respect to the Arizona Memorial tour. Note, there is no separate fee for the USS Arizona Memorial tour. (Information current as of the date of this posting.)
Renaissance Musings 