Lying offshore, you can visit the USS Arizona Memorial by taking a 75-minute boat tour out from the Honolulu coast. Here, you can stand on the viewing platforms and see the remains of this towering ship lurking beneath the surface of the water.
The USS Arizona was struck by Japanese pilots on 7 December 1941 as part of their attacks on Pearl Harbour, which brought the Americans firmly into the Second World War. Almost all of the 1,177 servicemen who were killed on that day are buried here.
Start off at the Visitor Centre on the mainland, where you can look at the exhibitions which will tell you more about the devastating attack on Pearl Harbour. You will also get to see personal belongings of the sailors who served here, as well as watch a 23-minute documentary on what happened here back in 1941 and beforehand. From there, you can get on board a shuttle boat that will take you to the curved white structure that memorialises the ship.
On the memorial itself, you can explore three different areas. In the entrance hall, you'll see an original anchor of the ship, whilst in the assembly hall, you can look through the floor and see decks of the ship itself. Some visitors like to throw flowers through the opening to pay their respects. The final part is the shrine, on which you'll see the names of those who lost their lives here engraved.
The USS Arizona Memorial opens every day with the exception of major national holidays. Bear in mind that this is of course a grave site, so respectful behaviour is expected. Bags are not allowed onto the memorial, but you can hire a locker for any belongings.
You can get tickets for the memorial free of charge from the Visitor Centre which is located back on the mainland, but you should be aware that spaces are often taken by mid-morning. It is therefore a good idea for you either to arrive very early or to reserve tickets online in advance for a small fee.
