ahallet

I have read several postings about how important it is to go to Pearl Harbor early in the day. We are stopping over in Oahu in 2 weeks and would like to visit Pearl Harbor. We will likely try to take public transportation (the bus) over there, so parking won't be an issue. Is it super critical to be there early, or will we be ok going later in the day? Will we wind up spending an hour or more in line? What kind of waits should we expect?
Thanks in advance,
AH

DawnCt

I would definately arrive early in the day. The earlier you arrive, the less time you will have to wait to visit the memorial. While there, also visit the Bowfin and the Missouri. Those are paid tours but well worth the price of admission.

cmeyer54

go early - the free tickets could run out and you'd miss out.

Frances

We had also heard this before our visit in August. We were there by 10a.m. and our visit started after 12.00. When we returned from the Arizona there was no queue! I think it's an urban myth!

lcuy

On the other hand, I've had visitors go at 11:30 and all tickets for the day were gone.

It is like any attraction ( or even like going to the post office...you may get lucky and show up at a slow time, or you may not. In general, the earlier you arrive, the shorter the wait at the memorial.

If you can't arrive early, it's still worth a try.

og719

Practical reasons aside, while on active duty I visited the Arizona Memorial several times for ceremonies and reenlistments and the like. There is absolutely nothing in the world like the Arizona Memorial around 8 or 9 in the morning. Awe-inspiring.

lcuy

Also, the sun will be behind you as you take the boat toward the memorial in the morning.

Conlet

We were at theArizona 0n 9/28/04 and arrived at 8 am. We got in the 3rd group, (just missed the second group) and went into the theater at 8:30. The line looked long to me, but the shuttle driver ($10 pp, arranged at hotel) said it was short - it did move right along. There is a place in the parking lot to check your handbag, etc. if you bring one. None of the places there (Arizona, Missouri, Bowfin) let you take any kind of bag in. Allow enough time to get there- early morning rush hour is very busy.

Kaymit

I went to Peral Harbor last week. WE got there at 7:00 am and there wer about 125 people infront of us already in line. We managed to make it into the first group with consists of 150 people. The line was already very ling behind us. Our tour gude said they can sometiems run out of tickets by 9:30 am and are gone most of the time bfoer noon. It is best to be in the first group because the museum and gift shop ar enot mobbed with people yet and the large tour groups ar enot there yet either.

Lex1

Pay no attention to ILOVEHAWAII. S/He posted the same message, sometimes minutes apart, on more than 20 threads today. Click on his/her name.

gigib

Don't go TOO late in the day! Just returned from Oahu yesterday. We arrived at the Arizona memorial at 2:30, but the very last boat for the day was for 3:00! Plus, the last tour for the USS Missouri left at 3:45 so there wasn't time to see that, and the Bowfin submarine was in drydock. We didn't have to pay at the Arizona, tho, and there was no wait.

Jayne11159

When we landed in Oahu, since it was so close we decided to take our chances and drive over to see if we could get tickets. We got there at 11:30 am and they had four tickets left. Unfortunately there were five of us. We decided to go ahead and see the Bowfin and tour the Missouri (the guided tour is a must IMHO).

We arrived at 7 am the next morning and got tickets for group four, but that was in July.

If you do the Missouri tour, be sure and ask if there are any discount coupons in the free guide books (there is a rack of them at the memorial). When we were there we found a half-price coupon for the Missouri tour and saved a bundle.