Explore the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, museums, and shoreline at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour. These multimedia packages feature narration by Jamie Lee Curtis, historical accounts from survivors, and complimentary take-home earbuds.
Free Cancellation Explore Pearl Harbor at your own pace with this 18-stop multimedia tour narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis and survivors.
Free Cancellation Experience Pearl Harbor through survivor stories, museum exhibits, and a choice of four immersive VR simulations.
Free Cancellation Walk through Pearl Harbor with a 90-minute self-guided audio tour narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis and survivors.
Free Cancellation A self-guided multimedia tour of Pearl Harbor narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, featuring survivor accounts and 23 stops.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Pearl Harbor — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Explore the Pearl Harbor National Memorial at your own pace with a self-guided multimedia tour. Narrated by actress Jamie Lee Curtis and featuring firsthand accounts from survivors and National Park Service historians, these immersive audio guides bring the historic visitor center, museums, and waterfront to life.
Listen to actual recordings of Pearl Harbor survivors and military personnel as you walk the grounds. The audio provides a deeply personal perspective on the events of December 7, 1941.
Walk along the flat, harbor-edge trails while your multimedia device explains the strategic layout of Battleship Row. Look out over the water to visualize where the ships were anchored.
Navigate through the two main exhibit galleries with detailed audio commentary. The guide helps contextualize the artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays detailing the Pacific war.
Pay your respects at this outdoor memorial honoring the military and civilian casualties. The audio guide highlights specific stories of heroism and Medal of Honor recipients.
If you book the upgraded VR package, you can put on a headset to step back in time. Experience a digitally recreated 360-degree view of the harbor before and during the attack.
While the boat ticket must be booked separately, your audio map will guide you on what to look for when you stand over the sunken battleship hull where 1,177 crewmen rest.
Planning your self-guided Pearl Harbor experience requires a bit of preparation, especially regarding bag policies and boat tickets. Here is what you need to know before securing your audio tour.
None of the self-guided audio tours include the U.S. Navy boat ticket to the USS Arizona Memorial. You must reserve this separately through Recreation.gov for a $1.00 fee, or join the free standby queue upon arrival.
Pearl Harbor enforces a strict security policy banning purses, backpacks, camera bags, and diaper bags. You can only bring a clear bag smaller than 1.25" x 2.25" x 5.5", or you will need to pay $7.00 to $10.00 to use the baggage storage facility at the entrance.
You can choose the level of detail you want. The Chief's Tour covers 18 stops in about 30 minutes, the Commander's Tour covers 23 stops, and the comprehensive Captain's Tour covers 29 locations over roughly 90 minutes.
The self-guided multimedia devices are highly accessible for international visitors. The audio programs are available in nine languages: English, German, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, and Spanish.
The entire Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, including the museums and shoreline paths covered by the audio tour, is fully wheelchair accessible. Service animals are also permitted throughout the site.
Since you cannot carry a bag, wear clothing with deep, secure pockets for your phone and wallet. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a non-glass water bottle, and a light jacket, as the indoor memorial theater can get chilly.
You will need to check in with your voucher at the Pearl Harbor Narrated Tour Desk located right inside the Visitor Center. A team member will explain how to use the handheld device and provide your complimentary take-home earbuds.
Most self-guided audio and VR packages offer flexible booking. You can generally cancel up to 24 hours before your scheduled date for a full refund.
| Chief's Multimedia Tour | Commander's Multimedia Tour | Captain's Multimedia Tour | Multimedia & VR Package | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stops Included | 18 significant sites | 23 key locations | 29 key locations | Visitor Center & Shoreline |
| Duration / Depth | Approx. 30 minutes | Medium depth | Approx. 90 minutes | Flexible / Extended |
| Key Features | Take-home earbuds, Jamie Lee Curtis narration | Archival audio, survivor accounts | Most comprehensive audio tour | Includes Virtual Reality experience |
| Price | $9.99 | $11.99 | $13.99 | $20.99 |
The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you are picking up a self-guided multimedia device, the Narrated Tour Desk operates during these same hours.
Programs to the USS Arizona Memorial run throughout the day, with the first program starting at 8:00 AM and the last Navy boat departing at 3:30 PM. On Independence Day (July 4th), boats run from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM every fifteen minutes.
Please note that the entire Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is closed three days a year: Thanksgiving Day, December 25 (Christmas), and January 1 (New Year's Day).
Pearl Harbor is located about 6 miles west of Downtown Honolulu. There are several convenient ways to reach the visitor center:
The best time to visit Pearl Harbor is early in the morning right when the gates open at 7:00 AM. Arriving early helps you secure a parking spot, beat the heaviest crowds, and enjoy the outdoor audio tour before the midday Hawaiian heat sets in.
Visiting during dry, clear weather is highly recommended. During the winter months, unpredictable tropical storms and high winds can force the Navy to suspend the passenger boats to the USS Arizona Memorial for safety reasons.
If you visit on major holidays like Independence Day or before 10:00 AM on December 7th, the park waives the standard $7.00 parking fee.
The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, its museums, restrooms, and the shoreline paths covered by the audio tour are completely flat and fully wheelchair accessible. The Navy transit boats also feature wheelchair locks to secure passengers during the harbor crossing.
Wheelchairs are not available for rent on-site, so you must bring your own or arrange a rental through a third party. Rollators are permitted, but caution is advised as they can cause injury if used incorrectly as a wheelchair on the grounds.
Strollers are allowed around the visitor center but are restricted to the pre-boarding area at the Park Theater. They are not permitted on the Navy vessels or the USS Arizona Memorial, so parents should bring a baby carrier.
Because of the strict no-bag policy, the most important facility to know about is the baggage storage area located near the visitor center entrance. You can store your oversized items here for a fee of $7.00 per standard bag or $10.00 for oversized luggage.
The visitor center features fully accessible restrooms, water fountains, and plenty of benches scattered along the shoreline paths where you can sit and listen to your audio guide.
There is also an on-site bookstore where you can purchase historical literature, souvenirs, and memorabilia related to the Pacific Fleet and World War II.
Bag Policy: No concealed bags are allowed inside the park. This includes purses, backpacks, camera bags, and diaper bags. Only small clutches or clear bags under 1.25" x 2.25" x 5.5" are permitted.
Dress Code: Visitors must dress respectfully as this is a memorial and a graveyard. Swimwear, overly revealing attire, and shirts with profanity are prohibited. Military personnel cannot wear battle dress uniforms on the USS Arizona Memorial.
Photography: Standard handheld cameras are allowed throughout the visitor center and on the audio tour. However, photography is strictly banned while traveling on the Admiral Clarey Bridge to Ford Island.
No, the audio tour packages do not include the Navy boat ticket to the USS Arizona Memorial. You must reserve your boat ticket separately through Recreation.gov for a $1.00 fee or join the standby line at the visitor center.
You can pick up your handheld audio device by presenting your voucher at the Narrated Tour Desk. This desk is located right inside the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
No, Pearl Harbor has a strict no-bag policy for security reasons. Purses, backpacks, and camera bags are prohibited, so you must leave them in your vehicle trunk or pay $7.00 to store them at the baggage facility near the entrance.
The self-guided audio devices offer narration in nine different languages. You can choose from English, German, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, and Spanish.
It depends on which version you purchase. The Chief's Tour covers 18 stops and takes about 30 minutes, while the comprehensive Captain's Tour covers 29 locations and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.
You do not need to bring your own headphones. All self-guided multimedia tours include complimentary earbuds that you can take home with you after your visit.
No, general admission to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, visitor center, and grounds is completely free. You are only paying for the upgraded multimedia audio tour or tickets to other specific historic sites like the USS Bowfin.
Yes, all areas covered by the self-guided audio tour, including the visitor center, museums, and the waterfront interpretive trail, feature flat paths and are fully wheelchair accessible.
Even without a boat reservation, you can still enjoy the full self-guided audio tour around the visitor center, museums, and shoreline. You can also register virtually on standby using your cell phone at the visitor center for a chance to get on a boat.
Parking at the visitor center lots costs $7.00 per day. You can pay this fee using a mobile app or a credit card upon arrival.
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This self-guided multimedia tour covers 18 significant sites throughout the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, museums, and shoreline. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, the 30-minute audio program features accounts from National Park Service historians and Pearl Harbor survivors, paired with archival recordings and historical images. The tour includes a handheld device, a map, and a pair of earbuds that you can keep. Because the experience is self-paced, you have the flexibility to explore the grounds on your own schedule while listening to curated historical content. Please note that this tour does not include boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial. Visitors wishing to visit the memorial should join the official standby queue located at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
This self-guided package covers the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center, including its two museums and the "Path of Attack" shoreline walk. The multimedia narration features accounts from Pearl Harbor survivors, National Park Service Rangers, and historians, providing a detailed look at the events of December 7, 1941. You can also choose one of four virtual reality experiences to supplement your visit. These options allow you to view the air raid, see the aerial battle, walk the deck of the USS Arizona before the attack, or explore the current state of the wreckage underwater. Boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial are not included with this tour. These must be reserved in advance through recreation.gov or by joining the standby queue at the Visitor Center upon arrival.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
This self-guided multimedia tour covers 29 key locations across the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, museums, and shoreline. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis alongside National Park Service historians and survivors, the 90-minute audio program uses archival recordings and historic imagery to recount the events of December 7, 1941. The package includes a handheld audio device, a detailed map, and a pair of earbuds you can keep. Since the tour is self-paced, you have the flexibility to move through the exhibits and memorial sites on your own schedule. Please note that this tour does not include boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial. To visit the memorial, you must sign up for the standby queue at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
This self-guided multimedia tour provides a detailed look at the events of Pearl Harbor through 23 key stops across the Visitor Center, museums, and shoreline. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, the program features archival audio and historic imagery, including firsthand accounts from National Park Service historians and Pearl Harbor survivors. The curated content lasts approximately 60 minutes, allowing you to explore the grounds at your own speed. Each guest receives a handheld media device, a detailed tour map, and a pair of earbuds to keep. This setup offers the flexibility to focus on the areas that interest you most while listening to the historical context of each location. Please be aware that this package does not include boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial. To visit the memorial, you will need to sign up for the standby queue at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center upon arrival.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
