T here are many historic events throughout the history of the Hawaiian Islands. From the arrivals of the first ocean voyagers to the illegal overthrow of the islands. The history of the islands is unique, often tragic, and filled with events that have shaped the islands that we know today. One of those events, the tragic attacks of Pearl Harbor, impacted not only the island of Oahu, but the entire world, causing the United States to enter World War II and forever changing the landscape of world powers. At Pearl Harbor, tours of wartime vessels, a variety of museums, and memorials are found throughout the Visitor Center, and are an essential part of any trip to Hawaii.
One of the main museums at Pearl Harbor is the USS Bowfin Submarine. The tight corridors of the sub are a fun journey through a true piece of American history and a look at what life was like inside the tight corridors of one of America’s most celebrated vessels. She was laid down on July 23, 1942, launched on the 1-year anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor – December 7, 1942, and was decommissioned for the final time on December 1,1971. The Bowfin Submarine has been a museum ship at Pearl Harbor since 1979 and is a really neat museum to discover.
It is quite surprising to see just how much is packed into the sub, and a self-guided tour through its halls takes about an hour, taking you to every room, through every narrow passage, and telling the story of the sub. Known as the Pearl Harbor Avenger, the USS Bowfin served 9 patrols during World War II, and though at times was considered to be aggressive, is one of the most important ships of its era. Today, it is strictly a museum ship, and is always a big hit on Pearl Harbor Tours.
With the continued closure of the USS Arizona Memorial, you’ll have a bit more time to explore the museums, memorials, and monuments of Pearl Harbor. A self-guided, narrated tour through the USS Bowfin Submarine will give you a renewed appreciation for the heroes of World War II and the crew of the USS Bowfin Submarine.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Oahu tours and Oahu activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance, especially our top seller Aloha Kai Luau at Sea Life Park. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
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