National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Better known as the Punchbowl Cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a United States Armed Forces cemetery located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Part of the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery draws millions of visitors every year, who pay their respects to the men and women who served their country.
The cemetery occupies a bowl-shaped crater believed to have been the site of an ancient Hawaiian temple. Today, it’s the resting place for more than 50,000 service members, including Ellison Onizuka, the Hawaiian astronaut who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, and veteran U.S. senator Daniel K. Inouye. There’s also sweeping ocean views from the top of the hill. Pearl Harbor tours often stop at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
There’s no admission fee to visit the cemetery.
Screens at the visitors center entrance allow you to look up a gravesite’s location.
The cemetery has paved pathways that are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.
The cemetery is located in central Honolulu, midway between the Honolulu International Airport and Waikiki. From Waikiki Beach, it’s a 15-minute drive. You can take the number 2 bus service from Waikiki Beach to South Beretania Street and Piikoi Street, then walk 30 minutes to the cemetery.
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is open daily, year-round, from early morning until early evening. It’s closed on federal holidays except Memorial Day. Throughout the year, special events are held at the cemetery, most notably Memorial Day ceremonies that pay respect to veterans.
Just a 5-minute drive (or 30-minute walk) from the Punchbowl Cemetery, the Iolani Palace was home to the last two monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii. You can explore the palace's interiors and grounds, which are home to crown jewels and a royal tomb. on a guided or self-guided tour.
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