December 7, 2026 marks 85 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. If you are planning a December trip to Oʻahu, this is the week to be here. The commemoration ceremony takes place early that morning at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and that evening the National Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade comes down Kalākaua Avenue, one block from Waikiki Resort Hotel. Here is everything you need to plan the visit, including the one thing most travelers get wrong: on December 7 itself, the USS Arizona Memorial is not accessible by reservation.
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See December SpecialsQuick facts for the 85th anniversary
- Date: Monday, December 7, 2026
- Where: Pearl Harbor National Memorial, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu
- Cost: Free to enter. USS Arizona Memorial boat program is free with a $1 reservation fee per person on Recreation.gov
- USS Arizona Memorial on Dec 7: Not accessible by reservation. The memorial is visible from the visitor center shoreline, and all other Pearl Harbor sites are open. Reserve December 6 or 8 to board (tickets open October 11 and 13, 2026)
- Evening event: National Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, 6:00 p.m., Fort DeRussy down Kalākaua Avenue to Kapiʻolani Park
- From Waikiki Resort Hotel: 30 to 45 minutes by car, about 75 minutes by TheBus
How to get USS Arizona Memorial tickets for anniversary week
First, the important part: the USS Arizona Memorial is not accessible by reservation on December 7. No tickets are released for that date, and the morning is given over to the commemoration ceremony. You can still see the memorial across the water from the visitor center shoreline, and the museums, Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfin, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are all open as usual.
Our advice: if visiting the USS Arizona Memorial is a priority, schedule it for December 6 or December 8, the day before or after the anniversary. Then spend December 7 at the ceremony, exploring the other Pearl Harbor sites, or both.
On every other day, the USS Arizona Memorial program (a short film, then a Navy shuttle boat to the memorial) requires a timed reservation. Reservations open on Recreation.gov exactly 56 days in advance at 3:00 p.m. HST, and anniversary-week slots can disappear in minutes.
Three tips that make the difference:
- Create your Recreation.gov account early and be logged in a few minutes before 3:00 p.m. HST on October 11 (for December 6) or October 13 (for December 8). Everyone in your party needs a ticket, including infants over age one.
- Missed the window? A small batch of next-day tickets is released at 3:00 p.m. HST the day before (none for December 7). Otherwise, the visitor center runs an in-person standby line, but spots are very limited and not guaranteed.
- Book a tour instead. Guided Pearl Harbor tours include memorial tickets and transportation from Waikīkī, which is the simplest option if you would rather not chase a release.
On December 7, the public commemoration ceremony on the visitor center lawn begins between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., with a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the attack began. Gates open around 6:00 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public, with first-come seating behind the sections reserved for survivors, veterans, and invited guests, so arrive early. Confirm that day's schedule on the National Park Service Pearl Harbor page before you go. The best plan for most visitors: tour the memorial on December 6 or 8, attend the ceremony on the morning of the 7th, and be back in Waikīkī for the parade that evening.
Got your Arizona tickets for the 6th or 8th? Now the room. Check our December rates and specials →
What to expect at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The memorial grounds are open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and include two free museums, the Remembrance Circle, and the visitor center overlooking the harbor. Give yourself two to three hours for the full experience, and arrive at least one hour before your USS Arizona reservation time to clear security.
The bag policy is strict: purses, backpacks, and camera bags are not allowed. Bring a phone, wallet, and a clear water bottle, and leave everything else at the hotel. A privately run, paid bag storage facility near the visitor center entrance can hold anything you cannot leave behind.
If you have more time, the Battleship Missouri, the USS Bowfin submarine, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are all on the same historic site. Standing on the deck of the Missouri, where the war ended, after visiting the Arizona, where it began for the United States, is one of the most moving half-days you can spend in Hawaiʻi.
The National Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Waikīkī
You do not have to leave Waikīkī for the most public part of the anniversary. Every year on December 7, the National Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade steps off at 6:00 p.m. from Fort DeRussy and travels down Kalākaua Avenue to Kapiʻolani Park, with veterans, survivors' families, military units, and marching bands from across the country. Kalākaua closes to traffic from about 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the route passes one block from Waikiki Resort Hotel, so you can watch from the sidewalk, then walk back for dinner. First held in 2011, the parade is the official public event marking the anniversary, produced by the nonprofit Historic Programs.
The season actually starts earlier. The Waikīkī Holiday Parade on Friday, November 27, 2026 also honors Pearl Harbor survivors and veterans while kicking off the holidays along a torch-lit Kalākaua Avenue.
Steps from the parade route
Watch the parade, then walk home in minutes.
Waikiki Resort Hotel sits one block from Kalākaua Avenue and a ten-minute walk from Kapiʻolani Park, where the parade ends. No parking, no road closures, no rideshare surge.
Reserve Your RoomHow to get to Pearl Harbor from Waikīkī
- Rental car or rideshare: 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. On-site parking is $7 and fills early, so plan to arrive by 7:30 a.m. for a morning slot.
- TheBus: Routes 20 and 42 run from Kūhiō Avenue in Waikīkī to the Arizona Memorial stop. Allow about 75 minutes and pay with a HOLO card.
- Guided tour: Hotel pickup, tickets, and narration included. Best for first-time visitors and anniversary week.
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View Military & Kamaʻāina OffersWhere to stay for the Pearl Harbor anniversary
Anniversary week overlaps with the start of the holiday season and, on December 13, the Honolulu Marathon, which brings 35,000 runners to Waikīkī. Rooms in Waikiki fill early. Waikiki Resort Hotel sits one block (about a 1-minute walk) from the parade route and Waikīkī Beach, and a ten-minute walk from Kapiʻolani Park, with ʻIlima Café breakfast and special direct rates you won't find on third-party sites. Book early, then plan your December around remembrance, the marathon, and the lights of Kalākaua Ave and downtown Honolulu. Browse all current specials →
Planning the rest of the trip? See our 2026 Honolulu Marathon guide and our tips for getting from the airport to Waikīkī.
Waikiki Resort Hotel · December 2026
One block from the parade. 85 years of remembrance. Book direct.
Book Now & Save Up to 30%Best rate guaranteed on waikikiresort.com. Breakfast for two included on select offers.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Pearl Harbor 85th anniversary?
December 7, 2026. The attack took place on December 7, 1941.
Do I need tickets to visit Pearl Harbor?
No ticket is needed to enter the Pearl Harbor National Memorial grounds and museums. You need a free timed reservation ($1 fee) for the USS Arizona Memorial boat program on every day except December 7, when no reservations are offered.
Can I visit the USS Arizona Memorial on December 7, 2026?
No. The memorial is not accessible by reservation on December 7, and no tickets are released for that date. It is visible from the visitor center shoreline, and all other Pearl Harbor sites remain open. To be sure of boarding, reserve December 6 or 8 on Recreation.gov; those tickets open 56 days ahead at 3:00 p.m. HST, on October 11 and October 13, 2026.
How far is Pearl Harbor from Waikīkī?
About 12 miles. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes by car or roughly 75 minutes on TheBus routes 20 or 42.
How close is Waikiki Resort Hotel to the beach and the parade?
The hotel is a half block, about a one-minute walk, from Waikīkī Beach, one block from the Kalākaua Avenue parade route, and about a ten-minute walk from Kapiʻolani Park, where the parade ends.
Is there a Pearl Harbor event in Waikīkī?
Yes. The National Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade steps off at 6:00 p.m. on December 7 and runs down Kalākaua Avenue to Kapiʻolani Park, and the Waikīkī Holiday Parade on November 27 also honors survivors and veterans.