The National Park Service (NPS) is resuming the normal day-prior reservation system for USS Arizona Memorial boat tours. On Friday, Pacific Historic Parks announced that the NPS would reinstate the system and regular tours, which had been put on hold while the Navy worked to remove World War II-era salvage platforms threatening the ship.

Since July, tours were limited and advance reservations suspended to allow safe removal of the aging salvage platforms. These platforms were originally installed by the Navy in 1942 to support efforts to salvage the battleship’s ammunition and armament for reuse during the ongoing war effort.

More than 80 years after the original salvage, the platforms remained attached to the ship. However, during a routine inspection on October 26, 2023, park rangers reported that one of the platforms had partially collapsed. After careful deliberation, officials decided to remove the aging platforms to prevent further damage to the memorial, the sunken USS Arizona, and the surrounding reefs and ecosystems.

“This is a welcome move to provide further visitor access to one of our nation’s most revered war graves,” said Aileen Utterdyke, president and CEO of Pacific Historic Parks. “Thanks to donor and partner support, the Arizona Memorial has remained open during the now 31-day government shutdown.”

Pacific Historic Parks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Hawaii’s World War II history, recently announced it would take over online updates, announcements, and events at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial from the NPS until the government shutdown ends.

The USS Arizona Memorial was built in 1962 and is accessible only by boat. It rests above the sunken remains of the battleship without touching it. Since 1980, the National Park Service has managed the memorial, while Navy sailors operate the boats that transport visitors to the site.

Of the 2,390 Americans killed in the Japanese Imperial Navy’s surprise attack on Oahu, 1,177 were members of Arizona’s crew. Today, the Arizona is not merely a historical tourist attraction; it is regarded as an active cemetery and the final resting place for more than 900 sailors and Marines whose remains were trapped within the ship when it sank.

Several survivors later chose to have their remains interred at the Arizona alongside their fallen comrades. The last survivor of the USS Arizona, Lou Conter, passed away last year at the age of 102.

Book your tour today to honor and experience this significant piece of American history.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/11/01/hawaii-news/advance-reservations-for-arizona-memorial-resumes/