A Day on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor
A Day on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor
Most visitors see the USS Arizona Memorial, browse the museum, and head back to Waikīkī. But the story of Pearl Harbor continues across the water on Ford Island, where the Battleship Missouri, historic aircraft hangars, and two quieter memorials bring the war from its first morning to its final day. Here’s how to spend a day there.
Getting to Ford Island
Ford Island is an active Navy base, so unless you have military base access, you’ll ride the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Shuttles leave about every 15 to 20 minutes starting in the morning, stop first at the Battleship Missouri, then at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and loop back to the visitor center. The last shuttles leave in the late afternoon, so check the schedule when you arrive.
Know Before You Go
- Have a government-issued photo ID ready. You may be asked for it when boarding.
- The no-bag policy applies on the shuttle too. Store bags at the facility near the visitor center entrance (fee).
- Wear comfortable shoes. The Missouri has steep ladders and lots of stairs.
Stop 1: Battleship Missouri
On September 2, 1945, Japan’s formal surrender was signed on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II. Today “Mighty Mo” is moored just a few hundred yards from the USS Arizona, so the beginning and the end of the war for the United States sit side by side. Join a guided tour if you can; the stories make the ship come alive. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours.
Stop 2: Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
The museum fills two World War II hangars with aircraft from the attack through the Pacific war and beyond. Look closely at the windows of Hangar 79: they still show bullet holes from December 7, 1941. If you can, add a visit to the restored Ford Island control tower for sweeping views of the harbor. Plan on 1 to 1.5 hours.
Ford Island Control Tower
Climb the restored tower for a 360-degree view over the harbor. Children must meet a minimum height requirement.
Historic hangars
Walk among restored aircraft inside the original WWII-era hangars.
Stop 3: The USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials
These two memorials are among the most moving and least visited places at Pearl Harbor. The USS Oklahoma Memorial honors the 429 sailors and Marines who died when the battleship capsized, with a white marble column for each. The USS Utah Memorial marks a ship that still rests in the harbor with crew members aboard.
To see them without a military ID, reserve a seat on the National Park Service’s Ford Island Bus Tour on Recreation.gov.
A Sample Day
Insider Tip
If you plan to visit the Missouri, the Aviation Museum, and the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, look at the combination pass, which can be used over one or two days. It doesn’t include the USS Arizona, which is always a separate, free reservation.
