Did I miss my USS Arizona ticket chance?

Question

I'm a little late to the party, and did not reserve my ticket to USS Arizona. When extra tickets are released the day before I intend to go, do I have to log on right at 3 pm to ensure I get some? I may be doing a shark dive about that time. Thank you!

Answer

The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is one of the most popular attractions in Hawaii, and tickets—especially timed entry tickets—can sell out well in advance. However, there are some options if you missed reserving your ticket early.

Here’s how the system works:

A limited number of tickets are released each day in advance, which can be reserved online.
Additional tickets are released each morning for same-day visitors, often on a first-come, first-served basis. These are sometimes called “day-of” tickets.
For online same-day releases, it is generally advisable to log on as close to the release time as possible (e.g., 3 PM HST for next-day releases) to have the best chance of securing tickets, because they can sell out quickly.

Practical considerations:

If you are occupied at the exact release time (e.g., doing a shark dive), you risk missing the prime window for securing a ticket online.
Some visitors succeed by checking frequently if tickets become available throughout the day, as cancellations or unclaimed tickets may be released sporadically.
Another option is to go early to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and try for walk-up tickets; there is a small allocation for same-day walk-ins, though availability is limited and lines can be long.

Tips for success:

Set a reminder and try to log on right at the release time if possible.
Have a backup plan in case tickets sell out, such as visiting the museum, USS Bowfin, or other nearby exhibits while checking for ticket availability.
Consider visiting early in your Hawaii trip, leaving some flexibility so that if you miss tickets one day, you have another chance.

In short, while you don’t absolutely need to be online at the exact second tickets release, being as prompt as possible significantly increases your chance of securing a USS Arizona entry for your desired day.