Permanent link for Standing in History: Experiencing Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona Memorial on January 6, 2026

On December 30th, 2025, I had the amazing opportunity to experience and learn about one of the darkest days in U.S. history. My family and I visited Hawai'i for a New Year's vacation, and we knew that being so close to a monumental display of history, we had to visit Pearl Harbor. 

Visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial felt unlike any other historical site I’ve experienced. From the moment I arrived, the space demanded silence, not because it was enforced, but because it felt instinctive. When we entered the USS Arizona Memorial, most visitors spoke in hushed voices or not at all, as if the weight of the place itself set the volume. Standing among strangers who were collectively silent created a shared sense of respect and reflection that I did not expect but deeply felt.

Looking down into the water and seeing the outline of the sunken battleship made the history feel immediate and unsettling. The oil droplets still rising to the surface were especially moving. I had read about them before, but seeing them in person made it impossible to ignore the idea that this tragedy is not fully in the past. It continues to surface, literally and emotionally.

One thing I learned that surprised me was how many sailors’ bodies remain on the ship, entombed but honored. I had imagined the memorial as more symbolic, but knowing that so many people are still physically there made the loss feel both real and permanent. Hearing names and personal stories shared by the Rangers made these individuals feel alive again, not just statistics in a history book.

Being physically present in this place changed how I understood December 7, 1941. Unlike photos or textbooks, the memorial engages the senses (the stillness, the water, the remains below), creating a connection that is both emotional and reflective. Learning here was not passive. It required attention, empathy, and presence. History, in this space, is not something you observe from a distance; it surrounds you, asking to be remembered.

Written By Elana Burns

Posted by Elana Burns on Permanent link for Standing in History: Experiencing Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona Memorial on January 6, 2026.