81st Anniversary Commemoration of the End of World War II
September 2, 2026
From Pearl Harbor to Peace -
The Journey That Changed the World
On September 2, 2026, the Battleship Missouri Memorial invites the public to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the site where the Instrument of Surrender was signed in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
On December 7, 1941, the world changed forever in the waters of Pearl Harbor. Less than four years later, representatives of the Allied and Japanese governments gathered aboard USS Missouri to formally end the deadliest conflict in human history.
As we commemorate the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, this year's ceremony reflects on the extraordinary journey from Pearl Harbor to peace, a journey marked by sacrifice, courage, resilience, and ultimately, reconciliation. Hawaiʻi stands uniquely at the center of this story as the place where America's World War II experience both began and found its conclusion.
Standing between the 81st anniversary of the war's end and the approaching 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we honor those who served, remember those who sacrificed, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to preserve their stories for future generations.
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Event Details
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Time: 9:02 a.m. HST
Location: Fantail, Battleship Missouri Memorial
Admission: Free and open to the public
Arrival: Guests are asked to be seated by 8:45 a.m.
Attire: Summer Whites, service equivalent, or aloha attire
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Featured Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd
Professor, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Guest Speakers
The Honorable Keith Regan
Acting Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
Keith Regan became the Acting Lieutenant Governor in early 2026. He also continues to serve as the Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services, as well as the State Comptroller. Regan has worked in the private sector, but has spent the majority of his professional life in government, both at the county and state level. He finds deep fulfillment in serving the community and contributing to Hawaii's continued growth and prosperity. Regan has held several senior leadership positions with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the County of Maui. His academic background includes a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executives in State & Local Government program. Part of his long roster of community service includes various positions within Toastmasters International, Japanese Women’s Society Foundation as well as membership in United Japanese Society of Hawaii, Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjinkai, and the Kiwanis Club of Honolulu.
Mr. Tom Leatherman
Superintendent, Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Tom has been working for the National Park Service for over 35 years and has worked in dozens of parks, mostly in the west. He served as a superintendent for the last 20 years, at parks including Great Basin National Park, Manzanar National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter, WWII Home Front National Historical Park, John Muir National Historic Site, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and Mount Rainer National Park. In October of 2021 Tom moved to Hawaii and serves as the Superintendent at Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
Mr. William A. Kearns III
Chairman, USS Missouri Memorial Association Board of Directors
Bill Kearns is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. He has over twenty years of public and private sector experience in Hawaii. During a 28-year Navy career as a Surface Warfare Officer, he commanded Destroyer Squadron 31 and the Aegis destroyer USS RUSSELL (DDG 59), both homeported in Pearl Harbor. He is currently Lockheed Martin’s Corporate Lead in Honolulu. Bill earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree from Harvard University.
Transportation & Parking
The Battleship Missouri Memorial is located on an active U.S. Navy base and is accessible via the Memorial's complimentary shuttle service departing from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center.
The first shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to the Missouri departs at 7:30 a.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to allow ample time for parking, security screening, and shuttle transportation to Ford Island.
Please note that bags are not allowed on the shuttle. Guests may be asked to present a valid government-issued ID. Guests with base access may drive directly to the Battleship Missouri Memorial and park in the designated parking areas.
For questions regarding the ceremony, please email events@ussmissouri.org.
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80th Commemoration Event Highlights
Relive some of our favorite moments from the 2025 80th anniversary events and activities
Questions?
Media Inquiries
Jaclyn Hawse
Director of Communications & Business Development
Tel: (808) 455-1600 x246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org
