In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, I wanted to share some information from the Hawaii Convention and Visitor's Bureau that may be of note, especially for visitors interested in history.

Pearl Harbor

A World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Pearl Harbor is one of the finest natural harbors in the world. It's the only major harbor between the U.S. West Coast and Asia and the South Pacific. It has been an important U.S. naval base since Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898. The Japanese air attack on December 7, 1941, destroyed a large part of the Pacific fleet and brought the U.S. into World War II.

The Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is the final resting-place for many of the battleship's 1,177 crewmembers who lost their lives in the attack. The memorial commemorates the site where World War II began for the United States. Visitors will experience history through the national memorial's program tour, museum and wayside exhibits.

Visitors will board the memorial by taking a short boat ride operated by the Navy from within the naval base. They can also participate in a commercial excursion that cruises Pearl Harbor, passing but not stopping at the Arizona Memorial.  Visitors are advised to always check the current security requirements for this visit so they do not take prohibited items with them. Sometimes the Memorial is closed because of inclement weather, so they should check before going there.