Stand on the Surrender Deck, the official site of the end of World War II, and see the fatal spot where a Japanese kamikaze pilot flew into the hull of the ship. The Mighty Mo proudly served in World War II, the Korean War and the Gulf War. Step back in time aboard an American icon and hero, the Battleship Missouri.

Your tour of the Battleship Missouri includes the Surrender Deck, as well as look at where a Japanese kamikaze pilot flew his plane into the Missouri's hull. Her bow faces the USS Arizona Memorial and watches over the remains of those servicemen who lost their lives during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Commissioned in 1944, the Battleship Missouri marked the surrender of the Japanese Empire and the end of World War II. The Missouri continued to see combat action during the Korean War and Gulf War before she was decommissioned in 1992 and docked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington State. She was towed to Honolulu and opened as a floating museum in 1999.

The Battleship Missouri underwent an $18 million renovation at the beginning of 2010. Even if you aren’t a history buff or part of a military family, the Battleship Missouri Memorial is a fascinating vessel and is consistently rated among the most-visited sites in Hawaii!

Your “Mighty Mo Pass” is good for admission to the self-guided walking tour with three different pre-marked routes.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is on Ford Island, across the Admiral Clary Bridge from the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Bowfin Submarine and Museum. It's easy to make a day out of touring all three sites, so do plan ahead. Even a brisk-paced tour of the Missouri will have you spending at least 90 minutes from shuttle pick-up to drop-off.

Allow yourself approximately five hours to see all three sites, plus time to rest and eat. To keep your sights in historical order, you might choose to start your day with the Arizona, where the U.S. involvement in World War II began, and end with the Missouri, where the war finally came to an end.

The shuttle bus to the island runs every 10-12 minutes.

A few tips:

• Be prepared for lots of stairs and ladders, some of them steep, and for spending the majority of your tours outside.
• Do dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Dresses and skirts are not advised.
• It's a good idea to bring water, although vending machines and concessions are available both on the pier and on the ship.
• As with any outdoor activity in Hawaii, don't forget sunscreen!
• Leave all bags—including purses, backpacks, and shopping bags—at your hotel or check them for $3 each at the USS Bowfin Submarine Park and Museum before boarding the shuttle bus.
• Wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are allowed, but the many stairs may make navigation a challenge. There is a lift that can bring mobility-impaired visitors to the main deck and an elevator that accesses the Surrender Deck.
• Photographers will take your party's picture as you board the boat and offer prints for sale as you leave. No purchase required, but you might find yourself wanting to remember your trip to the USS Missouri!