Millions Of People Visit This Military Cemetery And Memorial In Hawaii Each Year

Though Hawaii is America's youngest state — officially joining the union on August 21, 1959 — its military history is long and tragic. As Memorial Day approaches, we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. While you will find nearly 150 national cemeteries across the United States, one of the most fascinating is found right here in Honolulu, Hawaii, and there is no better way to commemorate Memorial Day than with a visit to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Nestled within Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu, Hawaii, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — informally referred to as the Punchbowl Cemetery — serves as a memorial to honor those brave men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces, especially those who have given their lives in doing so.

Spanning a lush 112 acres with gorgeous views of downtown Honolulu, the cemetery was built amid the center basin of what is now an extinct volcanic crater known as Puowaina, which translates from Hawaiian to mean "Hill of Sacrifice" or "Consecrated Hill."

Congress approved funding and construction began on the national cemetery in early 1948 and was dedicated just a year later in 1949. Since then, more than 50,000 World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans and their dependents have been interred here.

The cemetery now almost exclusively accepts only cremated remains for above-ground placement in columbaria, though casketed and cremated remains of eligible family members of those already interred there may be considered for burial.

Today, the cemetery is administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veteran Affairs and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Millions of visitors pay their respects at the cemetery each year, and it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Hawaii.

In addition to the gravesites of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation’s freedom, you will find a "Memorial Walk" lined with a variety of memorial markers from several organizations and governments honoring America’s veterans.

As of 2012, there were 60 memorial boulders along the pathway, with additional memorials found throughout the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, most of which commemorate soldiers of 20th-century wars, including those killed at during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is open to the public and accessible via car, though it is important to remember to visit in peace, quiet, and solitude as you honor and celebrate the lives so selflessly sacrificed for your freedom.

Address: 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, HI, 96813

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Have you ever paid your respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice at this Hawaii cemetery?

To discover another unique slice of military history right here on Oahu, check out this World War II bunker turned movie set.