Is Pearl Harbor Wheelchair Accessible? The Ultimate Guide
If you travel to Oahu, Pearl Harbor is definitely one of the must-see sights. This historic harbor will forever be etched in American history as the reason the United States entered World War II after it was attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. But can everyone visit and is Pearl Harbor wheelchair accessible?
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Is Pearl Harbor Wheelchair Accessible?
The good news is that people of all abilities can visit Pearl Harbor. Since Pearl Harbor is designated as a national historic site and is managed by the national park system, there is a strive to make this site accessible to all. While there are some limitations to accessibility, this solemn place offers an emotional experience to all who visit.
Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do at Pearl Harbor
Watch the Informational Film
The USS Arizona Memorial, informative film, and three museums are fully wheelchair accessible. The gift shop and snack shack are also accessible. Handicapped restrooms are also available. The Battleship Missouri is partially accessible.
I highly recommend watching the film near the visitor center before making your way out to the USS Arizona Memorial as it offers a detailed explanation of what happened that fateful day. We have all heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but watching the video while being at the location gave me a whole new perspective and taught me things that I never learned in school.
Visit the USS Arizona Memorial
To go out on the USS Arizona Memorial, you will need to have tickets which will give you a timed slot to go to the memorial. To get out to the USS Arizona, you’ll need to board an accessible boat which transfers you from the visitor center area to the actual memorial. There are ramps to board the boat and designated areas for wheelchair users and bench seats for people with other mobility issues.
When the boat docks at the USS Arizona, there will be ramps leading from the boat to the main area of the memorial. From there, there is a flat and level flooring making it easy to navigate to all areas.
You can see some of the ship protruding from the water, peeking out from its watery grave. There is also a hole in the floor of the memorial that offers a better glimpse of the ship beneath it. One of the most moving areas is the back room where one full wall lists all of the names of the men that died that day. Another smaller plaque is in front of the memorial wall and lists the names of the men that survived but have since passed and chose to be buried on the USS Arizona so that they could be reunited with their brothers.
See Part of the Battleship Missouri
If you would like to also visit the Battleship Missouri, there is a ramp leading onto the main deck of the ship. Once aboard, there is an elevator which will take you to the surrender deck. Going to the surrender deck will allow you to see artifacts from the ship and hear stories from rangers. Unfortunately, in order to see the rest of the ship requires you to climb steep steps and ladders.
The submarine USS Bowfin is not accessible. There is a museum area that requires a separate fee that is wheelchair accessible. This informative area will teach you about the role of submarines in WWII and what life was like onboard. There are also accessible restrooms in this area.
Do I Need to Take a Tour to Visit Pearl Harbor?
No, a tour is not needed to visit Pearl Harbor, however tickets are needed to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. Tours do have their advantages however, as they typically include tickets to the USS Arizona and provide transportation if you do not have a rental car. The disadvantage is that tours often have a fixed amount of time and may not allow you as much time as you’d like to explore the site. Fully accessible tours are available.
This one combines Pearl Harbor with a city tour.
This tour is just for Pearl Harbor.
If you’re not visiting on an organized tour, make sure to reserve tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial in advance as they sell out quickly. If you were unable to secure tickets, there is a line that you can wait in in the event that someone doesn’t show up for their time slot. This line can get very long and there is no guarantee that you will actually be able to actually get to the memorial.
How to Visit Pearl Harbor
The first option to visit Pearl Harbor is to book an organized tour. As I discussed above, these tours have their pros and cons. It can be a great option if you would like to combine a visit to Pearl Harbor with a city tour of Honolulu (which often includes the punchbowl cemetery).
Another option, if you have a rental car, is to reserve your USS Arizona Memorial tickets ahead of time and drive yourself to Pearl Harbor. This would allow you to take as much time as you’d like to explore the entire historic site. Plenty of parking spaces are available, so you should have no problem finding a spot.
Finally, if you don’t have a rental car but would still like to have as much time as you’d like at Pearl Harbor, there is a public transportation bus (bus #24) that will transfer you from Waikiki directly to Pearl Harbor. These buses are wheelchair accessible. This is an affordable and great option for independent exploration. You will still need to reserve tickets for the USS Arizona ahead of time.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Pearl Harbor?
There is no charge to enter the visitor center area, which will give you access to the film, museums and allow you to see the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri (Mighty Mo) from a distance. Free tickets are required to visit the USS Arizona and can be reserved online for $1 per person. These tickets are for specific time slots and if you miss your slot, you miss your chance to visit the memorial.
Visiting the Battleship Missouri and the USS Bowfin requires you to purchase tickets. The prices can vary depending on the tour option you choose. Make sure to check online for the latest prices and information.
If you plan to book a tour which includes transportation, prices can vary depending on what they include. I recommend considering these two affordable options:
Pearl Harbor Arizona, Punchbowl and City Tour
Travel Tip: Read my Hawaii Packing List post for ideas on what to pack for your trip!
Final Thoughts on is Pearl Harbor is Wheelchair Accessible
In general, I found Pearl Harbor to have pretty good accessibility. I was able to see and experience most of what this historic area had to offer and learned a lot during my time here. There were also a variety of accessible options to get to Pearl Harbor. I chose to book a tour that combined Pearl Harbor with a city tour. While I would’ve liked more time at Pearl Harbor, it was an easy and convenient option since I didn’t have a rental car.
If you ever visit Oahu, I definitely recommend a visit to Pearl Harbor. It is an incredible piece of history, a moving experience and a great way to honor the brave men that fought to protect our country.
