Visiting Pearl Harbor is something I believe everyone in Hawaiʻi should experience, whether you are a visitor or a resident.
There are already countless blogs and videos about the USS Arizona Memorial, so I am not trying to reinvent that here. What I want to share is something simpler and more personal. I have always loved history, not just as an interest, but as a traveler. History gives places more weight. It adds meaning, context, and a deeper understanding of where you are standing. I have carried that mindset with me from historic sites in Europe to remote atolls across the Pacific, and visiting the USS Arizona Memorial was one of those moments that stayed with me right here on Oʻahu.
Returning to Pearl Harbor
I had been to Pearl Harbor once before, but on that visit I only made it to the USS Bowfin and the Aviation Museum.
A few days ago, in the middle of the pandemic, I decided it was finally time to make the short trip back and visit the USS Arizona Memorial itself. It is one of those places that is so close and so accessible that it almost feels easy to put off, but once you go, you realize it should never be treated lightly.
Like many visitors, I entered the visitor center, added my name to the waitlist, and waited about half an hour before boarding the Navy-operated boat that takes visitors out to the memorial.
Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial
Arriving at the memorial is smooth and quiet. You step off the boat, walk up the ramp, and enter the white structure that sits above the sunken hull of the USS Arizona. That is when the visit shifts.
You are no longer just checking off a historic site. You are standing above the resting place of more than a thousand lives lost during the attack on December 7, 1941. The memorial itself is simple, but that simplicity is part of what makes it so powerful. It creates space for the visitor to feel the weight of the place without distraction.
You can see the remains below the water. You can feel the stillness around you. And at the far end of the memorial, where the names of those who perished are listed, the experience becomes even heavier. That was the moment that got me.
Why Mindfulness Matters Here
More than anything, what stood out to me was the importance of mindfulness.
The memorial is not just something to walk through quickly, take a few photos of, and move on from. It asks something more of you. It asks you to slow down, to look, to read, to reflect, and to understand that this is not just a tourist stop. It is a memorial built around grief, memory, and history.
For me, standing there and reading the names brought everything together. The design of the memorial, the silence, and the history I had already learned about the attack all met in one moment. That was when I broke down and cried.
It was not dramatic. It was human.
And honestly, it felt necessary.
Final Thoughts
That is really all this post needs to be. The visit itself is simple, but the feeling it leaves can be much deeper than you expect. If you ever make it to Oʻahu and plan to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, I would encourage you to learn a bit about the attack beforehand, then go with as much presence and respect as you can.
Take a step back from your itinerary, from the rush of your trip, and just allow yourself to be there. That is where the experience begins.
For a deep dive into Native Hawaiian culture, traditions, and way of life, be sure to check out Living Like A Hawaiian.
