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Watch Our Pearl Harbor Experience

Erica and I always visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center and USS Arizona and then went off on Oahu sightseeing. We were so wrong. This tour is the way to fully live and appreciate WWII history and the air raid on Pearl Harbor. If Pearl Harbor is on your bucket list for Hawaii, this tour is the best way to experience it.

This is a big tour, so click here to learn more and, if you like the sound of the tour, book it!

Pearl Harbor Tour Details

Our friend, Dan, at Hawaii Tours will tell you more about the tour here:

Your day begins with a morning pickup from your accommodation on Oahu. We provide pick-up and return transportation to the cruise ship pier, Waikiki, and Ko Olina on every tour. Your guide safely brings you to the World War II Valor In the Pacific National Monument, where you will see all of the historical sites in and around Pearl Harbor.

The first stop is the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. This area contains many museums you can explore with your personal guide. They will hand out audio tour devices which will provide this tour in many languages. The English versions contain a wide range of stories prepared by the park service.

The USS Arizona Memorial is the first major historic site we will visit. There is a short film with historical footage to view before going out to see the USS Arizona and the Memorial that lays over it. The boat takes a bit of a tour around the harbor so you can see different angles and get up close to the Battleship Missouri.

Docking back at the Visitor Center, your guide meets you for a trip across the grounds to see the inside of a submarine, the USS Bowfin. See how the ʻsilent serviceʻ operated during this historical time period and the sacrifices they made. A visit to the museum shows how far we have come in the use of submarines, from the first to the largest.

Our next stop requires a trip over to Ford Island, home to many historical sites. This is still an active naval base, so we must take only approved transportation. We pass by memorials to other ships, like the USS Oklahoma, which still lays on the floor of the harbor, like the USS Arizona.

The USS Battleship Missouri stands tall above all in the harbor. This beautifully resorted ship marks the end of the war. See the spot upon itʻs deck that the documents by Japan were signed that officially ended the war. Explore the deck with a local guide on a 35-minute tour of some of the most interesting stories and reasons for Mighty Moʻs many battle scars.

A day is never complete without a tour of the sky, the Pacific Aviation Museum provides hangers of restored airplanes, historic pieces and so much more. Explore the exhibits, get into one, do a flight simulator, and so much more.

We end the day with a wonderful tour of historic Honolulu, where we drive by or through important sites like Punchbowl Cemetery, Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue, and other places that will awe you. We return you back to your accommodation around 5:30 pm after a 10-hour day of exploration, heroism, and history.

What’s Included In The Tour

• Full Access To Pearl Harbor: Your tour includes tickets to ALL of the Pearl Harbor museums, including the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin submarine, USS Missouri battleship, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
• Includes the historic Honolulu tour: Honolulu city tour after Pearl Harbor: ‘Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha I Statue, Punchbowl National Cemetery, and downtown Honolulu
• Professional, Local Guide: Historic WWII narration by a professional tour guide

Important Details:

• Cancellation Policy: Refund requests prior to 72 hours will only be allowed a 50% refund of the tour cost and no refunds will be issued within the 72-hour period of the start of your tour.
• What To Wear: The Arizona Memorial is a sacred place to many visitors. Swimwear is not allowed. Bags are not allowed in Pearl Harbor and can be checked for $5 per item at the gate. Shoes and shirts are required.
• Where To Eat: Lunch is not included in this tour but there are a variety of options for food and drink throughout the day. Please be sure to bring water. There are free water refill locations. Locations to sit down and eat are at the Bowfin Museum at the visitor center, the Missouri Battleship, and the Laniakea Cafe at the Aviation Museum.

About Hawaii Tours

Erica and I are very much DIY Hawaii travel people, but sometimes a guided tour is the best and easiest way to experience the islands. A guided tour supports local tour guides, reduces the number of cars on the roads and they can take care of permits and reservations that are hard to acquire. We have developed a relationship with Daniel Logtenberg, one of the owners of Hawaii Tours, and trust him with our Hawaii vacation planning.

Here is what Dan has to say about his company and tours:

We’ve been offering high-quality cultural and sightseeing tours throughout the Hawaiian islands for 20+ years – and we love what we do! So expect to be greeted with a friendly “Aloha” when you contact us by phone or when we pick you up at your hotel. Also, we’ll always do our very best to make your Hawaiʻi dream vacation a reality because we know you have worked hard, and your holiday time is important. You see, it’s not just our pleasure; it’s our honor to be of service to our guests.

We take great pride in showing you the natural, historical, and cultural splendors of our beautiful tropical paradise. Hawaiʻi has a special place in our hearts, which is why respecting and caring for these precious islands is of utmost importance to us. We care for the land or “Malama the aina” by showing you the best of Hawaiʻi so that you can fall in love with this incredible destination too… just as we did so many years ago.

We are affiliate partners with Hawaii Tours which means we receive a small commission for each completed booking made through this site. This is done without any additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate policies here. Know that we only recommend tour operators that we know and trust. Your positive experience and your trust in us mean more than any affiliate commission. By booking tours through our website you help us to provide free information and videos to help you and other readers plan their perfect Hawaii vacation. Thank you so much for your support — you are amazing!