Overall:
Aerial photo of the National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl

Punchbowl National Cemetery

Highlights:
  • National Cemetery of the Pacific and Courts of the Missing at Punchbowl
  • Medal of honor headstones
  • Panoramic view of the island of Oahu
Description:
The Honolulu memorial was erected in 1964 by the "American Battle Monuments Commission" at the National Memorial Cemetery in honor of the sacrifices and accomplishments of American Armed Forces in the Pacific during both World Wars and the Korean War. The National Memorial Cemetery, informally known as Punchbowl, is located at the middle of the "Puowaina crater" which is an extinct volcano that had been active some 75,000 to 100,000 years ago.

Punchbowl or Puowaina as it is translated in the Hawaiian language means "consecrated hill" or "hill of sacrifice" used to be the location where secret Royal burials were performed and where sacrifices of certain kapas (taboos) were made to pagan gods. The crater also served during the 1800s as a stronghold for Oahu in their resistance against the reign of Kamehameha, who united the Hawaiian islands in 1810. The Hawaiian  National Guard used the crater as a rifle range during the 1930s and toward the end of World War II, offshore batteries were placed in tunnels dug at the rim of the crater to protect the Honolulu Harbor and the South edge of Pearl Harbor.

Punchbowl was officially recognized a national cemetery in 1943 when the governor of Hawaii offered the location for that purpose. The first internment took place on the 4th of January 1949 and the cemetery became open to the public on the 19th of July 1949. In 1980, the names of more than 28,788 military personnel missing in action or lost in the Pacific during the war were added on marble slabs in ten courts of the missing that flanks the Memorial grand stone staircase.

The National Cemetery of the Pacific was the first cemetery to include medal of honor headstones which have an insignia in gold leaf. As in the graves of other National cemeteries around the country, no cross marks the grave of the dead.  The Punchbowl is among one of the most popular touristic destination with more than five million visitors each year. It also provides a panoramic breathtaking view of the island of Oahu.
 
Type:
Cultural
Historic
Memorial
Park
Scenic Lookout
Landmark
Cemetery
Features:
Bathroom
Food for purchase
Parking
Wheelchair access
Hours:
Name
Day
Time
National Memorial Cemetery of the PacificDaily8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location
2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States 96813
Reviews
3 reviews, 0 comments
Overall:
(4.3 of 5)
Extremely beautiful memorial to all of those who have fallen in the line of duty for
Overall:
Extremely beautiful memorial to all of those who have fallen in the line of duty for the USA. Lots of history to be found everywhere here not just on the massive plaques or statues. Well kept and situated on top of the hill overlooking Waikiki make this place a must see for anyone who wants to pay their respects to those who paid with their lives for our freedom.
Reply
3
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Great views of Downtown Honolulu and the Waikiki at the edge viewing platform
Overall:
Great views of Downtown Honolulu and the Waikiki at the edge viewing platform. Find the Oklahoma City Bombing tree plaque.
Reply
0
2
Free and very beautiful place to visit
Overall:
Free and very beautiful place to visit
Reply
0
2