Pearl Harbor - Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii

Address:Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii

The most famous (and overall most visited) historic attraction on Oahu is Pearl Harbor. This still active and large U.S. naval base is the site of the infamous December 7th, 1941 surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese forces. The attack cost the lives of over 2,000 citizens and members of the armed forces and catapulted the U.S. into World War II. The most popular and profound site to visit within Pearl Harbor is the USS Arizona Memorial, where over 1,100 navy personnel are entombed in the sunken battleship. Other sites to visit there are the USS Missouri Memorial and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park. Visits to the Pearl Harbor Memorial must be done by tours run by the National Parks Service. These tours are free, but crowded. The best way to beat the crowds is to show up as close as possible to the 7:30 am opening time.