National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
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HistoryMilitaryPhoto Spot
Overview
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (informally known as Punchbowl Cemetery) is a national cemetery located at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu, Hawaii. It serves as a memorial to honor those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, and those who have been killed in doing so. It is administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 AM – 6:00PM
Tue8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeA deeply respectful and solemn sanctuary year-round, though visiting around Memorial Day in May or Veterans Day in November is highly moving. Tour the grounds from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM; set inside the unique topography of Punchbowl Crater, the morning sun crisply illuminates the massive marble Courts of the Missing murals.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned within the extinct crater bowl at 2177 Puowaina Dr, Honolulu. Drivers enter via the grand stone security portal, following a wide, circular asphalt boulevard lined with abundant, free parallel visitor parking spaces. For bus travelers, Oahu's TheBus Route 15 provides direct access up the hillside to the gates.
Travel Tips
- Located inside the Punchbowl Crater, the internal pathways are highly restricted; oversized RVs, trailers, or commercial vans are banned from entering.
- As an active federal military cemetery, recreational picnics, loud noise, revealing swimwear, and drone photography at any altitude are strictly illegal.
- Enter via the main gate on Puowaina Drive; note that the visitor center and gates close strictly according to posted hours with security locking the roads.
Reviews
Positive
- Nestled inside the extinct Punchbowl crater, this national cemetery carries immense visual impact; thousands of flatscreen gravestones aligned on lush lawns and the grand marble memorial wall yield unparalleled solemnity and historical core value.
- The campus management sets a stellar example! Roads are spotless, directional signs are explicit (including multi-lingual brochures), and the mosaic battle maps in the gallery are highly educational, perfectly maintained.
- It is completely free to enter and park, with clear driving transit indicators that make it quick to reach from the city center. The panoramic deck at the top also yields gorgeous distant vistas of Honolulu and Diamond Head.
- It holds the island's most extreme sense of sacredness and silence; visitor density is low, order is pristine, and the site is free of noisy commercial sales or swarms, evoking deep inner peace and respect.
Heads up
- Out of absolute respect for fallen heroes, the on-site rules are intensely rigid. Loud talking, running, revealing clothes, or extravagant selfies are strictly banned; the overly somber vibe might make families with young kids feel restricted and depressed.
- The cemetery spans a massive acreage, but private driving vehicles are banned from pulling over outside designated zones, and the paths lack sufficient shaded pavilions or rest benches, making walking under the sun hot and tiring.
- The site sets up zero dining outlets, cafés, or water vending machines. Basic public restrooms are restricted to the admin building near the gates, leaving the middle and rear sectors devoid of facilities.
- For tourists purely pursuing tropical beach vacation fun with zero interest in WWII and Pacific War history, the attraction attributes clash, leaving them feeling bored, depressed, and underwhelmed.