If you want to visit the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites in Pearl Harbor, I’ve got great news for you! The Arizona Memorial officially reopened to visitors this past weekend!
Arizona Memorial Recap
The Arizona Memorial is a sacred place. It marks the resting place of over 1,100 sailors and Marines killed on the USS Arizona when it sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor. And as the centerpiece of the Pearl Harbor Historic sites, it’s also one of the most visited sites in Hawaii.
But in May 2018, the National Park Service closed the Memorial indefinitely. The reason for the closure was damage to the anchoring system of the main dock for the Memorial. How the damage happened is still unknown, though experts think it was the 2017 King Tides.
Initially, repair estimates pointed at a December 2018 reopening. But, the reopening date came and went, with a new estimate of March 2019. Then, of course, that deadline came and went, and a Congressional delegation stepped in, demanding monthly updates. Eventually, National Park Services officials gave a reopening date of October 2019.
Reopening
For a few weeks now, officials have been telling local media that the reopening is coming soon, though no estimate was given. As a result, cleanup work picked up again. Then, on Sunday, September 1, the Memorial finally reopened to the public, a full month ahead of schedule. And, of course, the Memorial will continue to be open under normal hours going forward. As a reminder, you need to make a free reservation to visit the Memorial.
Repair Work
Initially, officials thought they’d simply repair the concrete anchors. But, it was determined that the old system allowed for too much movement. And it’s that movement that caused the damage to begin with. So, to avoid the same issue in the future, officials decided to use a different anchoring system.
The new anchoring system relies use giant screws. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, some of these giant screws are longer than 100 feet. And these screws are secured directly into the seabed below the Memorial. 12 of these new anchors are now in use and are secured to the boarding dock via new synthetic rope.
The Arizona Memorial Officially Reopened, Final Thoughts
It’s great to see the Arizona Memorial finally reopen again. It’s been a year and four month since the Memorial initially closed. And now, the 4,300 daily visitors the Memorial originally saw can begin making their way back.