Arizona Memorial & Historic Honolulu City Tour from Waikiki Area
Description
Take this tour to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor. After you spent a morning at Pearl Harbor, we will take on a drive to downtown Honolulu’s historic sites which give you a chance to know the history of Pearl Harbor and Hawaii throughout your day. A visit to the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center will remind you about the sailors who lost their lives during the attacks on Pearl Harbor. A visit to one of Pearl Harbor’s most emotional, memorable sites – the USS Arizona Memorial is a must. At the Visitor Center, you get to see authentic wartime artifacts, compelling museum displays, and contemplative open spaces designed with the country’s fallen soldiers in mind. We offer you a driving tour of historic Honolulu before returning to Waikiki. You can visit the Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, I’olani Palace, Kawaiahao Church, the Honolulu State Capitol Building, the statue of King Kamehameha the Great.
Tour Options
Itinerary
At the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center you can explore various exhibits that provide historical context about the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. View a 23-minute documentary film that provides an overview of the attack, its impact, and the significance of the USS Arizona Memorial. After the introductory exhibits and film you will board a U.S. Navy-operated boat for a short ride to the USS Arizona Memorial. The 10-minute ride across the harbor is calm and offers views of the surrounding military installations
The USS Arizona Memorial is a white, open-air structure that spans the remains of the sunken battleship. It's a solemn and quiet place, designed to allow visitors to reflect on the sacrifices made by the sailors and Marines who were lost during the attack. Viewing the Wreckage: Inside the memorial you can look down into the water to see parts of the sunken battleship. The ship's outline is visible just below the surface, and oil droplets, often referred to as "The Tears of the Arizona," can still be seen rising to the surface. Remembrance Wall: At the far end of the memorial is a wall inscribed with the names of the 1,177 crew members who lost their lives aboard the USS Arizona. This wall serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.
On the historic downtown Honolulu portion of the tour, you will experience a blend of Hawaii's rich history, cultural heritage, and modern city life all narrated by our expert guide
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific sits on top of extinct volcano also known as Punchbowl. The cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of U.S. military members. The beautifully maintained grounds feature rows of white headstones set against lush greenery. The location of Punchbowl Crater offers stunning views of the surrounding city, including downtown Honolulu, Diamond Head, and the coastline
The only royal palace in the United States. You will learn about Hawaii's monarchy, and hear stories about King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last reigning monarchs.
From the palace you will view the iconic King Kamehameha Statue, a symbol of Hawaii's unity and strength. The statue is in front of the Aliʻiōlani Hale, the historic building that now houses the Hawaii State Supreme Court.
Our guide will "talk story" of the fascinating history as the original government building of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Often referred to as the "Westminster Abbey of the Pacific," Kawaiahaʻo Church is one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Hawaii. Our guide will teach you about the church’s significance and its role in Hawaii’s religious history.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from most major hotels in Waikiki Pick up time and drop off time may change due to availability of USS Arizona Passes from the National Park Service. Pick up times may extent to 1.5 hours before the listed tour time
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Respectful Silence: Visitors are encouraged to maintain a respectful silence while on the USS Arizona Memorial to honor the fallen. The atmosphere is one of reflection and reverence, allowing tourists to connect emotionally with the events of the past
- Purses and bags are not allowed inside Pearl Harbor. All bags may be stored for $7.00 each
- Clear plastic bags are allowed, such as those allowed at football games, in which the contents are readily visible
- Bags containing medical equipment unsuitable for lightweight, plastic, transparent shopping bags are allowed
- Meals are at your own expense
- Food and water that is not concealed in a package is allowed
- Sites are subject to close due to stormy weather
- There is no smoking allowed on the visitor center grounds or at the memorial
- Wear comfortable shoes you will be walking much of the tour
- No swimwear is allowed
- NOTE: Pick up time is up to 30 minutes or more before the listed tour time. We will contact you the day before via text/email with approx pick up time and location.
- Not recommended for travelers who cannot walk 4 city blocks
Reviews(10)
We never knew we had a Hawaiian cousin until we experienced this tour! Our newly minted Hawaiian cousin Maya was spectacular. He taught us so much during this tour, made us laugh, and even took us to get Malasada (famous Hawaiian donuts) from a food truck on the way to Pearl Harbor! This is not like any other tour at Pearl, our tour guide walked us in with pre-printed passes for the USS Arizona, gave us a complete understanding of grounds with important tips, everything we must see, and timing to optimize our experience. Very well done cousin!
Aloha Anthony! 🌺 Mahalo nui loa for this fantastic review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your "newly minted Hawaiian cousin" Maya made your visit to Pearl Harbor so incredible. 🍩✨ It is wonderful to hear that he kept you laughing, shared so much great knowledge, and treated you to some delicious malasadas on the way! We are also glad that having those pre-printed passes and his insider tips helped you optimize your time and get the most out of such an important, historic site. We will be sure to pass your warm "cousinly" praise along to Maya—he will be so happy to hear it! *A hui hou* (until we meet again)! 🤙🏾
It's mostly a self-guided tour with transportation provided.. Our driver/guide was Leena Bush Excellent local guide with lots of historical information during the transportation sections.
Aloha, thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed Leena Bush’s excellent guiding and local historical insights. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
Booked this the day before and received excellent communication from the tour company and our driver/guide Jeremiah. He did an excellent job throughout keeping us entertained and informed of what we were seeing during the tour and got us to the memorial in plenty of time to maximize our visit.
Aloha! 🌺 Mahalo nui loa for your kind words! We’re so happy Jeremiah made your tour fun, informative, and stress-free 🤙 Glad you had plenty of time at the memorial too. Hope to see you again soon—aloha! 🌈
Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial is a deeply moving and unforgettable experience. It’s not just a historical site — it’s a place of reflection, respect, and remembrance.
aloha! mahalo nui loa for taking the time to leave us a review. we will pass this along to your tour guide and the rest of the family. we hope you have an awesome time in Hawaii. see you next time.
Driver Jorge was both informative and entertaining. This is an emotional trip and everyone was respectful. A must see when in Hawaii no matter your political persuasion
aloha! mahalo nui loa for taking the time to leave us a review. we will pass this along to your tour guide and the rest of the family. we hope you have an awesome time in Hawaii. see you next time.
The tour driver knew so much about the history of the city, the monarchy and the Arizona memorial. Also knew the back roads to saved us time staying out of traffic.
Mahalo for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your tour driver’s deep knowledge of the city’s history, the Hawaiian monarchy, and the Arizona Memorial added so much value to your experience. Knowing the best routes to avoid traffic is just another way we ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. We appreciate you touring with us and hope to see you again for another adventure!
For the price it should offer more. The driver was very knowledgeable. I don't have anything else to say
Aloha Dana, Thank you for touring with us and leaving us a review. I'm curious as to what more could it be? Did we not do everything in the tour description? Please contact us to let us know. Thanks
Tour guide was good except for towards the end she started talking politics. Didn't bother us but felt inappropriate.
Aloha, Thanks for this feedback and I'm happy your enjoyed the Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial Historic City Tour. I'll be sure to address your concerns as I too feel it's inappropriate.
LEMNA was Great! Great spokesperson the whole time. Very informative of culture and things around the city and historic parts. “Alohaaaa” and “ Kindness”
Mahalo for taking the time to review our tour. We are glad you had an awesome tour. We will pass this along to your tour guide. See you next time!
