Pearl Harbor-Set aside how much time
 

We plan on going to Pearl Harbor and I was wondering how much time should we leave open for PH? We only plan on doing Pearl Harbor not Arizona and the other locations. What is the earliest we can get there?
Thanks.

If you go to Pearl Harbor, I can't imagine not seeing the Arizona Memorial. Otherwise, its a museum, gift shop and film. We took 3/4 of a day, arrived early (around 8:15am), saw the film, went out to the Arizona, toured the Missouri and USS Bowfin. One leads to the other and just watching a film and browsing the gift shop doesn't do justice to what happened there.

The Arizona IS Pearl Harbor. I think cw0904 meant that they won't do "the Missouri and other locations". Right ?

Theoretically, you could just visit the main building with the film and little museum but i also think the Arizona and Pearl Harbor are synonymous. We thought the Missouri was incredible with all that happened on it as well; you can get inside the gun turrets, see where the treaty with Japan was signed on deck, see where a kamikaze hit the ship, the 'war room' command central and the boat could be called back into active duty at any time - all sensitive electronics has been pulled out (and you can see where that is/will be) as well! Just the size is amazing.

The key is what time of year you are planning on going aand what time of the day?
Most will tell you that you need to be there early to be able to see the memorial. I consider the museam/theater/Arizona to all be the memorial. There are only a limited # of tickets handed out each day & when they are gone you'll have to come back another day. The yours start at 7am and I would reccomend that you arrive no later than 8am during peak times.
I agree with cmeyer54 that the Missouri Battleship is a must. It gives a great perspective on how sailors lived on a battleship. If you do vist the Mo take the Chiefs tour it is well worth it.
We arrived at the Arizona at 8am and finished the tour of the Mo by 1:30pm. We did not do the Bowfin Sub.

I would get there as soon as it opens around 7am and you should be in the first few groups to get in. They show a movie and then take you out to the memorial. I think we were done by 10:30-11am. This was the highlight of Oahu for us, well worth getting up early.

Be prepare to leave your bags (backpacks, camera case, fanny packs, diaper bags) at the hotel. They are not allowed in PH. If you really have to bring one, you can check it in at the bag storage place for $2.

Having toured other battleships, and having one "the USS Hornet" open as a museum 10-min from my home, I decided to just see the film and Arizona memorial. I was there by 8:15 a.m. and out by 10:30 a.m. and on to the North Shore.

Oops sorry for the error. I meant to say only seeing Arizona not the Missouri and the other sites. We will be in Oahu mid-March.
We were thinking about visiting Pearl Harbor before we head off to the North Shore for the day. Or visiting it the morning that our cruise departs. We would like to be on the ship by 1:00 pm so this may be an alternative. We are early birds so getting up early isn't the problem I just don't want to be rushed and on a timed schedule.
Thanks all for your suggestions.