Best plan to visit to Pearl Harbor

Question

We are visiting Hawaii in June and have set aside a day to visit Pearl Harbor. We would like to visit the two free museums and USS Arizona Memorial in the AM, then head to the Aviation Musuem in the afternoon. If there's interest, we'll add either the battleship or submarine (we've toured both types of vessels numerous times over our years of travel).

Tickets for the USS Arizona will be available tomorrow for our chosen date of visit, so I'm trying to determine how to best plan our time. I feel it may be more impactful, especially for our college aged kids, to spend time in the museums before heading out to the USS Arizona.

My questions are: 1) Would you agree to visit the museums first? 2) If so, how long should we allow? &/or What time would you suggest for the USS Arizona tour (assuming we arrive to PH by 8:30am)?

Answer

Your plan to visit Pearl Harbor sounds well thought out! Given that you are visiting the two free museums (Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial), it makes sense to spend time in the museums first to get a deeper understanding of the historical context before heading to the USS Arizona Memorial itself. This approach is also likely to be more engaging, especially for your college-aged kids. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Visiting the Museums First: I would agree that visiting the museums before the USS Arizona Memorial is a good plan. The museums are rich with historical information, exhibits, and interactive displays that provide context and background to the USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor attack. Starting with the museums sets the stage and can make the memorial visit even more meaningful.
Time Allocation: Plan to spend about 1.5 to 2 hours in the museums, depending on how deeply you want to explore the exhibits. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center has a wealth of information, and you may want to take your time to read the plaques, watch the short films, and interact with the displays. If you're visiting with kids, there are also exhibits that are particularly engaging for a younger audience, which can take a bit more time.
USS Arizona Memorial: The USS Arizona Memorial tour typically lasts about 45 minutes, and tickets are scheduled in time slots. Given that you’ll be arriving around 8:30 AM, I would suggest aiming for the USS Arizona Memorial tour around 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM. This will give you ample time to visit the museums first, and you’ll likely catch one of the first tours of the day, which can be less crowded.

Once you finish with the USS Arizona Memorial, you can head to the Aviation Museum in the afternoon. If you feel like adding one of the additional vessels (Battleship Missouri or the USS Bowfin Submarine), it might be best to pick just one to avoid feeling rushed. Since you mentioned that you’ve toured similar vessels before, you may decide to skip them entirely if time becomes tight.

Suggested Plan:
- Arrive by 8:30 AM
- Visit the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center (1.5 - 2 hours)
- USS Arizona Memorial tour around 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
- Lunch (there are food options at Pearl Harbor or nearby)
- Head to the Aviation Museum in the afternoon (about 1.5 hours)
- If you want to add a vessel tour, consider the Battleship or Submarine after the Aviation Museum (allow 1 - 1.5 hours per tour)

One thing to keep in mind is that Pearl Harbor can get crowded, especially in the morning, so it’s important to stick to your time schedule as much as possible to maximize your experience without feeling rushed. If you’re visiting during peak times (like June), consider arriving a bit earlier, as the USS Arizona Memorial tours tend to fill up quickly.

Overall, your plan sounds like it will give you a good balance of historical exploration without feeling too rushed. Enjoy your visit to Pearl Harbor!