DK - DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide: Honolulu & Oahu

The stark white structure, floating above the ship that became a tomb, is a place to solemnly peruse the names of the dead inscribed on the wall.

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This park, entryway to the submarine museum, plays host to a display of weaponry, including a deadly looking Poseidon C-3 Missile and a Japanese human torpedo.

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If the Arizona is representative of the attack on the U.S., the Bowfin helps visitors understand how the country responded. Nicknamed Pearl Harbor Avenger, SS-287 has tales to tell of wartime patrols and conditions for submariners. USS Bowfin Submarine Museum 11 Arizona Memorial Dr. www.bowfin.org 8am5pm daily adm $10 no children under 4

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Twenty stories high and three football fields long, this vessel has earned its nickname, Mighty Mo. Approximately half of the ship is open to visitors. USS Missouri www.ussmissouri.com 9am5pm daily adm for self-guided tours ($22 adults/$11 children), additional fees for special tours, such as the Battle Stations Tour ($25 adults/$12 children)

That was how President Roosevelt described December 7, 1941, when the Japanese made a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The bombers crippled U.S. military installations on Oahu, sinking or severely damaging 18 battleships at rest in Pearl Harbor, destroying or disabling nearly 200 aircraft, and killing 2,390 officers and men. The U.S. officially entered World War II after this event.

Tip: Security measures are in place, and bags may have to be secured in lockers. Carry only what you need and, of course, nothing that might qualify as a weapon.

Tip: The attractions of Pearl Harbor may be too much for small children too much waiting and walking.

The State Museum for Natural and Cultural History is a family friendly center for scientific and cultural experience and study. It also hosts traveling exhibitions and is home to the Jhamandus Watumull Planetarium. Almost every weekend, and on many weeknights, there are lectures, workshops, and openings. The museum also has a fascinating interactive science center.