| Pearl Harbor is best known for the 1941 Japanese | | | | battleships sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack. The |
| bombing that prompted the United States to enter | | | | Admiral Clarey Bridge, built in 1998, connects Ford |
| World War II. The US naval base located on Oahu | | | | Island to mainland of Oahu. Before the bridge was |
| Island, Hawaii, has many memorials and museum | | | | constructed Ford Island could only be reached by |
| dedicated to the infamous events of Sunday, | | | | ferry and the island was closed to the public. Only |
| December 7, 1941. The most popular attractions in | | | | tourists who possessed a military identification or had |
| Pearl Harbor are the memorial of the USS Arizona | | | | been invited by a military family could access the |
| and the outdoor museum called the Polynesian | | | | island. |
| Cultural Center. Admission to the memorial is free and | | | | Another Pearl Harbor historic site is the battleship |
| any soldier who served on the Arizona can have his | | | | USS Missouri. Moved from the US in 1999,the USS |
| ashes scattered above the shipwreck site. In the last | | | | Missouri, nicknamed "Mighty Mo", it now sits |
| 20 years, the island has erected more memorials to | | | | perpendicular to the sunken USS Arizona representing |
| honor its rich history and significantly increased its | | | | both the beginning and the end of the United States' |
| profile as an education and entertainment vacation | | | | participation in the war The USS Missouri is famous |
| destination. | | | | because the Japanese signed the surrender papers |
| In December 2006, the Pacific Aviation Museum, | | | | aboard ship signifying the end of WWII. The ship's |
| located on historic Ford Island, opened Hangar 37 to | | | | location signifies its protection of the USS Arizona. |
| the public. Hangar 37 focuses on the Pearl Harbor | | | | While surfers may travel to Waikiki beach for the |
| attack with interactive displays of the Battle of | | | | awesome waves, the beach also offers a history |
| Guadalcanal and Jimmy Doolittle's Tokyo bomber raid. | | | | lesson to tourists. In 1994, native Hawaiian historian |
| Other hangars at the museum will focus on the | | | | George Kanahele penned a paper describing 10 ways |
| Vietnam War, Korean War, and Cold War. The | | | | to improve Waikiki Beach. One of Kanahele's |
| museum also plays host to several air shows. | | | | suggestions was the creation of the Waikiki Historic |
| Scheduled for opening in 2010 or 2011, Hangar 79, will | | | | Trail and in 1997 he founded the Native Hawaiian |
| offer interactive displays and vintage aircrafts will | | | | Tourism and Hospitality Association to further his |
| educate the public on the major theatres of WWII | | | | goals of restoring Hawaiian culture on the island. |
| including the Philippines and China. A full-size replica of | | | | Kanahele suggested that the historic trail highlight |
| a WWII aircraft carrier will also be featured inside the | | | | significant events and locations in Hawaiian history. |
| hangar. The museum has a flight simulator where | | | | Although he passed before all of the historic markers |
| visitors can experience the thrill of combat flying in a | | | | could be placed on the trail, today 19 surfboard |
| Wildcat or Zero aircraft. | | | | markers highlight historical sites along the beach. |
| Additionally, the island has 18 markers dedicated to | | | | |