Pearl Harbor’s USS Arizona Memorial Closed Indefinitely

The USS Arizona Memorial, one of Hawaii’s top tourist attractions located just off Honolulu’s coast, is closed indefinitely for repairs to its visitor and loading ramp.

“Due to a critical structural and safety issue impacting the USS Arizona Memorial dock and visitor loading ramp, the Memorial will remain closed to visitation for an undetermined period of time while repairs are made,” a representative from the Memorial said on its Facebook page.

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Originally, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the site would need minor repairs, but after consulting with structural engineers, the NPS said that the repairs are “more significant than originally anticipated” and that “the amount of time needed to implement the repairs is unknown.”

Visitors can still experience free programs at the USS Arizona Memorial, including viewing the site’s 25-minute documentary film and getting a harbor tour of Battleship Row. The site’s museums will also remain open, including the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.

“We understand the unfortunate nature of the USS Arizona Memorial closure during this period and ask visitors to understand that their safety is our primary concern. We thank everyone for their understanding and patience,” the Memorial spokesperson said.

The NPS will provide commentary during the tours to enhance the experience.

Tourism on another of Hawaii’s big tourist sites, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, has also been disturbed by a month-long series of fissures and eruptions at Kilauea Volcano near Leilana Estates.

While those eruptions have caused a temporary decrease in tourism at the site because of safety concerns, experts talking to Travel Market Report said that the volcanic activity is expected to increase interest in travel to the island in the coming months.