The Best of Pearl Harbor

Highlights

Description

This full-day program is the definitive way to see Pearl Harbor’s most important sites in a single, well-orchestrated itinerary. Begin with convenient pickup in Waikīkī and a short drive to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, where galleries and archival footage set the stage for the morning of December 7, 1941. When Navy operations allow, a shuttle boat carries you quietly across the harbor to the bright, white USS Arizona Memorial. From the viewing windows, look down upon the battleship below the surface and read the marble wall that honors the 1,177 sailors and Marines who gave their lives. Next, continue to Ford Island and the USS Missouri. Standing on the Surrender Deck where World War II officially ended, your guide connects the Missouri’s long service—from WWII through Korea and the Gulf War—with the broader story of the Pacific. On the pier, pause at the USS Oklahoma Memorial, whose white standards symbolize the sailors lost when the ship capsized. Midday, visit the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum and board the USS Bowfin, a Balao-class submarine whose tight corridors, torpedo rooms, and control spaces reveal life in the “Silent Service.” Finally, explore the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s hangars and exhibits, featuring iconic aircraft and first-person accounts that bring airborne combat and innovation to life. Throughout the day, your professional driver-guide keeps logistics smooth so you can focus on learning, reflecting, and experiencing. With round-trip transportation, timed admissions, and expert narration, this is the most complete way to understand how the war in the Pacific began—and how it ended.

Itinerary

06:30 – Waikīkī pickup and departure
07:15 – Arrive Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
07:25 – Orientation film and galleries
08:30 – Navy shuttle to USS Arizona Memorial (operations permitting)
09:00 – Reflection time at the memorial
09:30 – Return to Visitor Center
09:50 – Transfer to Ford Island
10:05 – Guided tour aboard Battleship Missouri
11:30 – Visit USS Oklahoma Memorial
12:00 – Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum & USS Bowfin
13:15 – No-host lunch break on own
14:00 – Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (hangars & exhibits)
15:15 – Depart Pearl Harbor
16:30 – Return to Waikīkī.

Price & Availability

Adults (12+) from $199; Children (3–11) from $163; Lap infants (0–2) free. Offered daily. 24-hour cancellation for refund. Navy boat operations to the Arizona may be suspended without notice; tour continues with all other inclusions. Wheelchair access noted by operator; some historic ships and submarines include stairs and tight spaces.

Food & Drink

No host lunch; snacks and beverages available for purchase at Visitor Center and museum cafes/gift shops.

Instructions

Arrive 10–15 minutes early at your Waikīkī pickup. Reconfirm 24 hours prior. Pearl Harbor security prohibits bags larger than a small wallet/phone case; on-site storage available (~$8 per bag). Follow guide instructions for timed entries.

Restrictions

No large bags, backpacks, iPad cases, or oversize purses; shirts and shoes required; swimsuits not permitted. Accessibility varies aboard the Missouri and inside the Bowfin; tight spaces and ladders present.

Transportation

Narrated, air-conditioned motorcoach round trip from Waikīkī with professional driver-guide.