Pearl Harbor's Arizona Memorial is one of Hawaii's most visited attractions servicing almost 1.6 million visitors annually. But being that the Arizona Memorial Visitor's Center was built for only an estimated 200,000 visitors annually, the site has been hard-pressed to keep up with demand, thus
visitors often experience wait times of two-to-five hours and lines to rest-rooms often 30-plus deep.
In come an entrepreneurial enterprise in the form of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to pick up the slack in service. Pearl Harbor Visitor Center's employee (crew member) manual spells out quite clearly that their primary mission is guests comfort and respect for the Memorials of Pearl Harbor.
The Center is envisioned to one day be a permanent structure with not only rest and shopping areas but an officer-quality restaurant on the waterfront, all with a 1942 motif. The permanent home of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center will be like a walk back into time ... a living memorial to not only
the lives of the 1177 Sailors and Marines who died aboard the Arizona but also to their times. Home of the Brave, a WWII museum and historical tour operator, is partnering with PHVC to make the 1942 experience authentic.
It is possible that one day Pearl Harbor Visitor Center will be the hub where tickets can be purchased for visits to the four Pearl Harbor Memorials ... the USS Arizona, the USS Missouri, the USS Bowfin and the soon to open Pacific Aviation Museums.
But for now Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is operated out of a 5000-square-foot tent also utilizing the 1942 motif. Indeed, visitors happily flock to the tent for much welcomed shade (or shield from rain) and to catch a bite to eat and something to quench the thirst between visits to the Arizona, Missouri and/or the Bowfin.
Brand new, ergonomically designed, upscale lawn furniture give visitors an opportunity to relax.
Instead of seeing the visitor appeal to such an addition to the Pearl Harbor area, some critics seem to resent Pearl Harbor Visitor Center's "for profit" status. Ironic that as recently as 1999, the Navy and representatives of the USS Bowfin and USS Missouri had similar visions for the former "parking lot." But, the plans
were chucked for lack of funding.
Some opposed to the project claim the site as "sacred, hallowed ground," yet for years it had been a crime-ridden, drug-infested parking lot. Others say that the venture is unpatriotic and disrespectful.
However, those same critics don't understand the heart that beats inside the men who envisioned Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and what it would mean to all who come to visit this world-famous site.
Patrick Brent is the patriot's patriot. A "former" Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine), Brent respects those who service the United States of America so highly that his "vacations" consist of press trips to hot points of the Middle East to write about hidden gems of stories from service
personnel the mainstream press often overlooks. If the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center didn't have patriotism at its heart, Brent would be the first to disavow it. But, Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is Brent's baby.
Brent insists that all crew members not only read up on the history of Pearl Harbor and the events of Dec. 7, 1941, but those crew members are required to pass a test and be able to intelligently speak about the Arizona, Missouri and Bowfin Memorials with Pearl Harbor Visitor Center guests. He is serious in his intents and will verbally quiz crew members at a moment's notice.
Given half a chance, Brent can turn just about any naysayer around. In fact, many former "critics" are now staunch supporters. "We have a 99-percent conversion rate ... once they come to visit the Center and actually see for themselves what we are doing here," says Brent.
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center has so far fulfilled its mission to give guests comfort. And with future plans, they strive to keep doing so.
The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center is opened from 7:30 a.m. –5 p.m. with tours beginning at 8 a.m. (7:45 a.m. in summer). The last program each day begins at 3 p.m. Tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis.
The USS Missouri Memorial is opened from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, the ticket window closes at 4:00 pm. The cost of tours run between $8.00-$22.00.
The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park's is opened from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. with the last tour of the submarine at 4:30 p.m. Tours are $8 for adults and $3.00 for children.
The Memorials are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & New Year's Day.
Darci Evans, a resident of Honolulu, can be reached via email at mailto:Darci@haata.org
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