Pearl Harbor Historic Trail Opens New 3-Mile Waterfront Section to Public

A new 3-mile waterfront section of the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail opened Saturday, connecting the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to the Waipahu Cultural Garden Park along the shores of Middle Loch for the first time.

The $23 million segment, funded jointly by the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, features a 12-foot-wide paved multi-use path, interpretive stations highlighting the harbor’s military and Native Hawaiian history, and two cantilevered overlooks extending over the water.

“This trail does something remarkable — it connects the story of December 7th with the deeper story of this place going back centuries,” said National Park Service Superintendent Scott Peyton. “You can literally walk from the USS Arizona memorial zone to ancient Hawaiian fishpond sites.”

The opening drew several hundred visitors despite overcast skies. Among them was 94-year-old Navy veteran Robert Hirata of Aiea, who served at Pearl Harbor in the 1950s. “I drove past this waterfront for 60 years and never could walk along it,” he said. “Now my great-grandkids can.”

When complete, the full Pearl Harbor Historic Trail will stretch 8 miles from Hickam Air Force Base to Pearl City, making it one of the longest waterfront trails in Hawaii. The next phase, a 2-mile segment from Waipahu to Pearl City Peninsula, is expected to break ground in early 2027.

The trail is open daily from sunrise to sunset, with free parking available at the Waipahu Cultural Garden Park. Guided historical walks will be offered on weekends starting May 1.