Pearl Harbor History & Latest News
Pearl Harbor Survivors Tell Their Stories
Before embarking on a Pearl Harbor tour, it's a great idea to get some background about the December 7, 1941 attack. First-hand accounts are the best way to get a feel for the events of that fateful day and the war that followed, but the number of Pearl Harbor...
Pearl Harbor Hosts Gala Midway Movie Screening
It was the turning point of the War in the Pacific for the United States Navy, following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In late 2019, the Battle of Midway is being commemorated in a lavish Hollywood production directed by Roland Emmerich....
Tips for Your Inter-Island Pearl Harbor Tour
If you’re staying on a Hawaiian island other than Oahu and want to visit Pearl Harbor; trying to coordinate flights and tours might at first glance seem like too much of a hassle to even attempt. In fact, we make it really simple. Regardless of whether you're staying...
Wai Momi: Pearl Harbor and the Native Hawaiians
Most people associate the name Pearl Harbor with one event - the surprise attack by the Japanese that drew America into World War II. December 7, 1941, certainly became “a date which will live in infamy,” as President Roosevelt predicted. But what most people don’t...
Three Events That Altered the Course of the War
At the start of the War in the Pacific, the United States had suffered devastating defeats that made it seem as if the Empire of Japan could conquer the Pacific. Still reeling from the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the Americans and their allies had a long...
Last Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Disbands
The last chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association held its final meeting in September, 2019, marking the official end of the historic association. Carnation Chapter 3 in La Mesa, CA hosted its last meeting after the passing of Navy Capt. Jack Evans left the...
Why Pay for a Pearl Harbor Tour?
One of the first pieces of information about visiting Pearl Harbor you're likely to come across is that tickets for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, including the USS Arizona Memorial program, are free. Which brings up the very reasonable question, "Why pay for a...
Ships of Pearl Harbor: USS St. Louis
USS St. Louis (CL-49), a Brooklyn-class light cruiser, was launched on April 15, 1938 and commissioned into the US Navy on May 19, 1939. She was the fifth ship of the Navy to bear the name of the Midwestern city. After her initial shakedown, completed in October of...
USS Arizona Survivor Lauren Bruner Dies at 98
More than 75 years ago, thousands of men—some of them still in their teens—put their lives on the line when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched its attack on Pearl Harbor. Among them was Lauren Bruner, who was serving aboard USS Arizona (BB-39) when the mighty...
Your Time Aboard the USS Arizona Memorial
For many travelers to Oahu, visiting Pearl Harbor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even if you’re not a big history buff, it's still a place of great significance. Now that the repairs and maintenance have been completed, we've come up with some tips on how to get...
Considerations When Choosing a Pearl Harbor Tour
Pearl Harbor tours come in all shapes and sizes. Some take under five hours, others can run upwards of 11. There are those that visit every attraction and those that take you beyond Pearl Harbor to other sites around Oahu. When it comes to choosing a Pearl Harbor...
Visitors Return to the USS Arizona Memorial
After a period of repairs that lasted 15 months, visitors to Pearl Harbor will finally be able to return to the USS Arizona Memorial, beginning on September 1, 2019. The serene white structure anchored above the wreckage of the sunken battleship USS Arizona (BB-39) is...
Heroes of the Harbor: John Finn
The Medal of Honor isn’t an award given without careful thought and consideration, so those who are chosen to receive it are known for having gone above and beyond the call of duty. In 1942, a US Navy Chief Petty Officer named John Finn became the first serviceman to...
Ships of Pearl Harbor: USS Chew
On January 2, 1918, the keel of a future Wickes-class destroyer was laid down at the Union Iron Works shipyards in San Francisco. She was one of 111 of that class of destroyers built between 1917 and 1919, at the tail end of World War I and the year after it ended. On...
Can I Extend My Passport to Pearl Harbor?
You've decided to visit Pearl Harbor on your own, so you purchased the Passport to Pearl Harbor. Perhaps you got a later start to the day than you anticipated, or maybe you just like to really take your time to explore everything in depth. For whatever reason, there...
Fallen USS Oklahoma Twins Identified
On August 10, 2019, a pair of twin brothers who served and died aboard USS Oklahoma (BB-37) were laid to rest with military honors. The services were held, one after the other, to honor two fallen heroes of the Pearl Harbor attack whose remains had rested in mass...
5 Pearl Harbor “Tours” To Avoid
For most people, coming to Oahu to visit Pearl Harbor is something that requires a lot of planning. It's also not cheap. The flights tend to be long and costly; preparations and packing can be time consuming; and scrolling through dozens of different tour options can...
USS Arizona Survivor Lonnie Cook Dies at 98
On July 31, 2019, the United States lost one of the few remaining survivors of the December 7, 1941 attack on USS Arizona (BB-39). Lonnie Cook, a native of Morris, OK, was 98 years old. Lonnie Cook at Pearl Harbor At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, Lonnie Cook...
Dissecting Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” Speech
On Monday, December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of the United States Congress to discuss the events that unfolded at Pearl Harbor the previous day. His address, known as the “Day of Infamy" speech, was brilliant and...
More Reasons To Book a Pearl Harbor Tour
We all have reasons for doing the things we do. When it comes to visiting Pearl Harbor, chances are you’re doing so for the sake of experiencing an important piece of American history. Maybe you have a link to the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, a relative...
Pearl Harbor Tours from Ko Olina
When you start comparing the various official Pearl Harbor tours, you’re going to find that most of them originate in Waikiki. This makes sense, since the majority of hotels are concentrated there. But what if you're among the growing number of visitors who look west...
The USS Arizona Memorial Program
One of the first things you hear about in any discussion of a visit to Pearl Harbor is the USS Arizona Memorial program. But what exactly is it? You probably already know that the USS Arizona Memorial is a structure anchored directly above the sunken wreckage of a US...
Pearl Harbor Tour Pick-up Options
If you rent a car, then Pearl Harbor is easily accessible no matter where you’re staying on Oahu. On-site parking makes it convenient to just pull up, find a spot, and make your way into the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. The downside? You miss out on all of the...
The US Navy Pearl Harbor Shuttle Boats
Standing on the shoreline at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, you see that you’re separated from the USS Arizona Memorial by a stretch of water. Though you know that the memorial is included in your Pearl Harbor tour, you might be wondering how you’re going to get to...
The USS Arizona Memorial Documentary
Before embarking on the US Navy shuttle boat across the waters of Pearl Harbor to the USS Arizona Memorial, visitors to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial are ushered into a small theater across from the main exhibit galleries. In the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater a...
