Pearl Harbor History & Latest News
Fitting a Pearl Harbor Tour in to Your Schedule
It’s not easy finding time for everything you want to do during your Oahu vacation. With so much to do on the island in the limited time available—from adventures through dense forestry to the beauty of miles of golden beaches—you may have to pass on one or two...
USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter Returns
In 2018, the Pearl Harbor anniversary commemoration took place with something missing. It was the first year that no survivors of the USS Arizona (BB-39) attended the Oahu ceremony. All well into their 90s, the survivors weren’t physically able to cross the Pacific to...
Why Tours Don’t Stop at Punchbowl Cemetery
Pearl Harbor tours are a convenient way to explore the history of December 7, 1941. That’s part of what makes them so popular. Most tours of Pearl Harbor also include a driving tour through historic downtown Honolulu, where you can see Iolani Palace and the Hawaii...
How Accurate Is the New Midway Movie?
When you immerse yourself in history, it becomes clear how important it is for the theatrical movies that claim to depict real events to be as accurate as possible. While Hollywood often takes shortcuts to fit within a two-hour run-time, it shouldn’t omit or change...
Missing Submarine USS Grayback Located
Over the course of the Pacific War, the Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States Navy engaged in many deadly encounters. Scattered throughout the Pacific Theater are the sunken remains of ships that didn’t survive the engagements. In recent years, several projects...
The Battleship That Never Was
As tensions rose across the Pacific in the run-up to the outbreak of war, the Imperial Japanese Navy tried to intimidate the United States with the massive Yamato-class battleship. Little was known about the new class of battleship, though it was rumored to have...
Lauren Bruner Last to Join Shipmates on USS Arizona
In the years following the sinking of USS Arizona (BB-39) and the building of the USS Arizona Memorial, 43 former crewmen who survived the events of December 7, 1941 have chosen the sunken vessel as their final resting place. As the nation commemorates the 78th...
Technology of R/V Petrel Aids in Major Discoveries
If you’ve been following the many discoveries of the R/V Petrel expeditions, you likely have given some thought to the type of equipment used by the pioneering researchers. Founded—and funded—by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Petrel has been able to invest...
Best—and Worst—Days to Visit Pearl Harbor
If you're among the thousands of people planning a trip to Hawaii over the holiday season, you're also probably starting to think about tours and activities while you're here, including a visit to Pearl Harbor. Looking at the days you have available and matching them...
Another Honor for Pearl Harbor Hero Kenneth Taylor
On October 26, 2019, a man who became a hero on December 7, 1941 was again recognized for his bravery and selflessness in the face of the ferocious Japanese assault. Second Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor succeeded in doing what the attackers had hoped would be an...
Participant in Iwo Jima Photo Identified
American history is constantly being revised as new information and technologies emerge. As time goes on, and those who were present for some of the most historic moments pass away, we’re left with questions where factual information should be. One of these moments is...
Should I Visit Pearl Harbor on December 7?
Each year on December 7, the nation remembers the brave servicemen who lost their lives during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and other military targets on Oahu. The more than 2,400 Americans killed on that long-ago Sunday morning are commemorated through...
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...
