Things to Do at Pearl Harbor While the USS Arizona Is Closed
For those with a keen interest in military history, or just US history, the wreck of the USS Arizona is a must-see on the island of Oahu. The ship, which was bombed by Japanese air forces in 1941, stands as a memorial to the lives lost on board and the United States’ involvement in World War II.
The Arizona, originally commissioned in 1913, was added to the Pacific Fleet in the 1920s and used for training exercises between the two world wars. In 1940, it was sent to Pearl Harbor along with the rest of the Pacific Fleet, with the idea that a conspicuous military presence would deter Japanese designs on the then-US Territory of Hawaii.
The bombing of the USS Arizona resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 crewmen, and the ship sustained irreparable damage with more than 900 souls unable to be recovered from the vessel. The submerged USS Arizona is now part of the National Park Service’s World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. About 1.8 million people visit in a typical year, but the NPS was forced to suspend visits last spring when it learned that natural shifts in sediment had damaged the ship dock’s anchoring system. Repairs are underway, and the Arizona is scheduled to (hopefully) reopen in the fall, though some speculate the already-delayed project may take until the end of the year.
More to See
While the Arizona itself is closed for now, there still are loads of other opportunities within the National Monument. The Pearl Harbor Visitors Bureau website offers tips for families planning to visit Pearl Harbor, including suggested educational films, and ways to enjoy the sights. It's very important to note that timed tickets to visit Pearl Harbor are released online 60 days before your visit and sell out quickly, even with the USS Arizona under repair. Tickets are free, but do cost a $1 processing fee when booked online. Same-day tickets are also available as an early morning walk-up, but there is no guarantee of admission during peak periods. This ticket will include a boat tour around the harbor, but you will not be able to get out at the USS Arizona until repairs are completed. (If you don't remember to grab tickets online exactly 60 days out, you can purchase tours with transportation from Waikiki hotels on Groupon from around $30 each, but read carefully as to what the tours actually include.) Additional online tickets are also released 24 hours before if you want to attempt that route.
The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center and Museum should be your first stop on-site, and they are both free to visit. In addition to selling tickets for other attractions and providing tourist information, the visitor center offers an excellent 15-minute introductory film about the attack. This is also where you’ll be required to store any large bags or backpacks, as this is still a functioning military base. The cost is $5 per bag, so leave unnecessary gear in your hotel.
Allow a couple of hours to make your way through the museum, which tells the story of the military presence here, including the Pearl Harbor attack, via exhibits and artifacts.
Beyond the visitor center, you can take a 30-minute headset-narrated tour of Battleship Row; tickets are available from the visitor center or online from www.recreation.gov. Tickets are $7.50 if purchased on-site, or $8.50 if you reserve online (including a $1 nonrefundable reservation fee).
There’s also a deluxe tour ($12.50 per person, plus $1 to reserve) that includes smartphone access to the National Park Service’s World War II archives and videos on the attack at Pearl Harbor. The deluxe tour also includes admission to the new Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center, where visitors enjoy a unique 360-degree view of the area and the events of Dec. 7, 1941. All the required equipment to enjoy the VR Center is included in the price of admission.
An even more comprehensive experience of the Pacific Fleet is offered with the Passport to Pearl Harbor ($72 adults, $35 children 4–12), which provides access to the Battleship Missouri, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, as well as the headset-narrated tour covering Battleship Row. The Missouri and Aviation Museum are on nearby Ford Island, which is reached via a 15-minute shuttle ride from the visitor center. The last return shuttle leaves from the Aviation Museum at 5pm.
The NPS suggests that visitors allow eight hours to tour all of the sights included in the Passport. Alternately, you can elect to purchase separate admission to one or more sights that suit your schedule and children’s ages. For example, the Bowfin is a great choice for families with school-aged kids — its expansive indoor and outdoor exhibits include torpedoes and missiles, as well as an actual submarine — but children under 4 are not permitted in or on the submarine.
Oahu Beyond Pearl Harbor
Whether or not Pearl Harbor is your main reason for visiting Oahu, there’s lots for families to explore on the island beyond the national monument. TPG's article on Waikiki fun for all kinds of families suggests activities from snorkeling with sea turtles to luaus to shucking oysters for pearls.
Getting to Oahu and Staying There
This post on the best ways to get to Hawaii using points and miles breaks down most of the major carriers that serve Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), including recommended credit cards and the points required to book economy and first-class tickets. In addition, Southwest recently added service from California to Hawaii, including flights to Honolulu.
Families with young children will also benefit from tips on the best way to fly with kids to Hawaii.
Points hotels on Oahu include many of the major players. Marriott property the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa offers rooms with two double beds from 60,000 points per night plus a $37-per-night resort fee that includes bottled water, Go Pro rental and Wi-Fi. This hotel is right on Waikiki Beach, and the facilities include a spa, fitness equipment and oceanfront pool.
The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa also has rooms with two double beds, from 70,000 points/night plus the $37 resort fee. This resort includes more than five oceanfront acres, as well as fitness facilities and two saltwater pools.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa offers rooms with two queen beds from 20,000 points/night, including Wi-Fi, an ocean-view pool and several dining options. That hotel has an above average club lounge, so could be a great pick for those with Globalist elite status or a Club Lounge access certificate.
Hilton offers several hotels in Waikiki, including the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Alana Waikiki Beach, with rooms with two queen beds from 50,000 points/night.
Bottom Line
Despite the temporary closure of the dock for the USS Arizona, Oahu offers more family-friendly activities than most of us could pack into our PTO. Don’t skip a visit to the Valor in the Pacific National Monument, because there’s still so much to learn and see on Battleship Row even when while the USS Arizona is undergoing repairs. Combine that fascinating, living history lesson with beach days and other outdoor adventures for a unique family trip.
If you're headed to Hawaii, these stories might interest you:
- Waikiki Fun for All Kinds of Families
- Doing the 6-Time-Zone Shuffle: A Review of Hawaiian Airlines’ A330 in First Class From Boston to Honolulu
- What to Do in Oahu, Hawaii: Beach, Mountains and More
- Review: Hawaiian Airlines (Boeing 717) Economy from Maui to Oahu
- 9 Common Mistakes Tourists Make in Hawaii
- 10 Things Kids Will Love at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii
- These Are the Best Times to Visit Hawaii
- Everything You Need to Know About Inter-Island Travel in Hawaii
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.