Annual Dec 7th Ceremonies
Pearl Harbor’s ANNUAL DEC 7 CEREMONIES
Elaborate Dec 7th ceremonies are done yearly by the National Park Service and the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. Open and free to the public; this is an absolute “must-do” event if visitors are on Oahu during this period. If you are taking a rent-a-car to the event, you need to proceed to the Aloha Stadium, which will have free parking and complimentary motorcoach shuttles to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
Seating for the National Park Services’ Dec 7th ceremony is on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to come early; gates open at 6 am. Even if the seats are full, do not worry; their sound system is so sophisticated and precise that you can hear the guest speakers no matter where you are in the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
The Navy and Airforce always go all out for this Dec 7th ceremony. The Navy closes Ford Island bridge so it can be lifted, allowing numerous destroys and submarines to parade before the Dec 7th audience. The Navy also provides a couple of hundred sailors to set up, escort, and clean up after the event. The Airforce always has exciting military plane flyovers and does an exciting job for the audience.
The Dec 7th event is about 2.5 hours long, starting at 7:45 am. Tours to the USS Arizona Memorial begin at 11:30 am. Dec 7th, ceremonies are also held at the USS Bowfin Submarine, Battleship USS Missouri, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
The National Park Service also does an outstanding job hosting the USS Oklahoma Dec 7th ceremony, held annually at 1:30 pm. Transportation to the USS Oklahoma event is free from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and is approximately an hour long.
For more detailed and updated information for Dec 7th ceremonies, visit PacificHistoricParks.org.
