The USS Arizona Memorial is temporarily closed to the public due to structural issues with the visitor loading dock/NPS

Memorial Day came and went, but there was no public ceremony on the USS Arizona Memorial, as safety concerns with the loading ramp have closed the memorial to the public.

The problem is localized where the visitor loading ramp connects to the memorial itself, according to park staff.

"There is a brow or an edge where the visitor ramp meets the memorial, and at that point, there's been some fissures located on the exterior," Jay Blount, spokesman for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument told Hawaii News Now. "After further investigation on the interior, it was determined that the structure is not supporting the loading ramp the way that we need."

According to the monument's Facebook page, while the repairs are being done "the free USS Arizona Memorial programs will proceed on schedule. Visitors will continue to see the 25-minute documentary film followed by a harbor tour of Battleship Row in close proximity to the USS Arizona Memorial."

Unfortunately, the amount of time needed to complete the repairs is not known, the Park Service said. 

All other amenities within the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center remain open and accessible. Visitors are encouraged to visit our two free museums, shore side exhibits, bookstore, and virtual reality center. Likewise, our partners at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor are open and ready to welcome visitors.