FULL DAY, FAMILIES
Pearl Harbor Family Itinerary
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Pearl Harbor is more kid-friendly than you might expect, but it works best when you plan for your kids, not just the history. The sites are genuinely different from each other. Some are quiet and moving. Some are hands-on and exciting. This itinerary is built to start with the most important experience when everyone's fresh, then move into the spots where kids can really explore and get excited.
BEFORE YOU GO
A few things to know before you go. Kids under 4 are not allowed on the USS Bowfin submarine, but they can visit the museum building and and enjoy the outdoor play area. For the USS Arizona Memorial boat program, kids age 1 and up need their own ticket. And before your visit, download the Junior Ranger Scavenger Hunt (ages 7 to 12) or Keiki Ranger Activity Book (ages 3 to 6) from the National Park Service website. These are Visitor Center activities, so plan to complete them before you leave the Visitor Center. Finishing either one earns your child an official Junior Ranger badge from the NPS ranger at the Visitor Center information desk.
7:00 AM
Arrive Early (This One Really Matters)
With kids, early arrival matters more than on any other day at Pearl Harbor. Arriving by 7:30am means calmer grounds and shorter lines for the USS Arizona Memorial program. A quick note: there are no restrooms between the Visitor Center and the memorial, so plan accordingly before joining the line for the program.
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8:15 AM
The USS Arizona Memorial
This is the most important stop of the day, and it works best when kids arrive knowing what they're about to see. Before your visit, please let children know that the USS Arizona Memorial is a place of remembrance. Many who lost their lives remain aboard, and guests are asked to visit with quiet respect.
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The 23-minute documentary plays before the boat departs, at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour starting at 8:15am. Watching it first sets the stage for what's ahead. Then you board the boat, cross the harbor, and stand above the sunken hull of the USS Arizona. For older kids especially, this is a moment they'll remember for the rest of their lives. The boat program runs about 45 minutes. Strollers can't board the boat, so plan around that.
9:30 AM
Multimedia Tour on the Waterfront, Plus the VR Experience
This is usually where the energy completely shifts. The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is right next to the Visitor Center. Just walk over. The USS Bowfin is a real World War II submarine that you actually get to board and explore. Kids who were quiet and thoughtful at the USS Arizona Memorial are suddenly climbing through hatches and asking a hundred questions. It's that kind of place.
She made nine war patrols and sank 44 enemy ships, earning the nickname the Pearl Harbor Avenger. Moving through her from bow to stern, the torpedo room, crew quarters, the cramped control room, gives kids a physical, tactile sense of history that no exhibit can give them. Audio tour is included in 7 languages. Budget 75 minutes. Remember: kids under 4 can't board the sub, but they're welcome in the museum and the outdoor exhibits.
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11:00 AM
Snack Break at Jake's Street Food
Jake's Street Food is right at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum with waterfront seating. A good reset before you catch the shuttle to Ford Island. Outside food isn't allowed at the sites, but bottled water is fine.
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11:30 AM
Shuttle to Ford Island
The complimentary shuttle to Ford Island runs every 15 to 20 minutes from the Visitor Center. Kids often find the ride itself genuinely exciting. You pass through an active naval base and cross over to Ford Island, and the whole thing feels different from a regular sightseeing trip. Because Ford Island is an active military base, all adults need to carry a government-issued ID. International visitors should keep their passport handy for the crossing.
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12:15 AM
Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Mighty MO
If the USS Arizona Memorial is where the war began for America, the Battleship Missouri Memorial is where it ended. We call them the bookends of World War II. On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender on this deck. General Douglas MacArthur accepted it on behalf of the Allied Powers. World War II was over.
Standing on that exact spot, the surrender deck, is one of those moments that tends to stop people cold. The Mighty MO is also massive in a way photos can't capture. At 887 feet long, she's the last battleship ever built by the US Navy, and knowledgeable guides in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean walk you through her history across three wars. Budget at least 90 minutes on the ship, and then shop with purpose at the Battleshop. Every purchase helps preserve the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and you'll find exclusive keepsakes, from historic teak and American flags flown on the ship to unique souvenirs you won't find anywhere else.
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2:00 PM
Lunch at Slider's Grill
Slider's Grill has pier-side seating and a view straight out over the harbor. Hawaiian plate lunches, burgers, cold drinks. Open 10:30am to 2pm. If you want shave ice after, Wai Momi is right there too, open until 3pm.
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2:30 PM
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a short shuttle ride from the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and it's the site that completes the picture. You're standing inside the original hangars that were attacked on December 7, bullet holes still in the windows, surrounded by more than 50 aircraft from the war. The exhibits cover the aerial dimension of the attack, the part that most people have never fully understood until they stand here.
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If you want to go further, the Tower View Experience takes you 168 feet up into the restored Ford Island Control Tower for a 360-degree view of the entire battlefield and harbor. It's the same vantage point the attack was observed from in 1941. Genuinely worth it.
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The Fighter Ace flight simulators are also here if you want to put yourself in the cockpit. Budget 90 minutes for the museum, and more if you add either upgrade. Last shuttle back to the Visitor Center leaves at 5pm, so it's worth keeping an eye on the time.
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4:15 PM
Head Back
Allow about 30 minutes for the return shuttle to the Visitor Center. The site closes at 5pm. If you've still got a little energy, the Visitor Center bookstore is a great final stop. Over 120 titles on the Pacific War, plus maps, recordings, and some of the best souvenirs on the island.
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
A few practical notes
Book your USS Arizona Memorial reservation at recreation.gov first: 56 days in advance, 3:00pm Hawaiʻi time. Everything else builds around that time slot. If you're unable to secure a timed reservation, the standby option is a good alternative. When you arrive at the Visitor Center, sign up on the tablet. You'll be texted when you're able to board the next boat.
The Passport to Pearl Harbor ($99.99 adults, $49.99 kids) covers the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, plus the self-guided multimedia tour at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and one VR experience at the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center. It does not include the USS Arizona Memorial reservation.
Parking is $7 per day, credit card only. Arriving by 7am helps you beat the crowds.
Clear bags only at Pearl Harbor. Use the paid storage facility near the entrance ($7 to $10) if you have any bags to store.
All guests should carry a government-issued ID. International visitors must carry their passport on the Ford Island shuttle.
Wheelchair-accessible shuttles run between the Visitor Center and Ford Island. Complimentary wheelchairs are available at the Visitor Center, Battleship Missouri Memorial, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Bringing your own for a full-day visit is often easier, since they don't transfer between sites.
The USS Bowfin submarine is not wheelchair accessible. The Battleship Missouri Memorial's main deck and surrender deck are accessible via elevators and ramps. The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is fully accessible.
Dining on Ford Island: The Galley snack stand (hot dogs and pretzels) is near the Ford Island Shuttle entrance and opens 10:00am to 3:00pm no admission required. Slider's Grill at the Battleship Missouri Memorial offers pier-side harbor views, 10:30am to 2pm. Wai Momi Shave Ice at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, 9:00am to 3pm. Hangar Cafe at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, 11am to 4pm (grill closes at 3pm).