Explore the historic site of the December 7, 1941 attack with guided Pearl Harbor tours featuring the USS Arizona Memorial. Choose from half-day excursions and comprehensive trips that include Waikiki hotel transportation and expert insights.
Free Cancellation Explore Pearl Harbor's historic sites and downtown Honolulu on a guided tour featuring the USS Arizona Memorial.
Free Cancellation Visit the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and WWII galleries on a half-day tour from Honolulu with tickets included.
Free Cancellation Explore the USS Arizona Memorial and historic Honolulu on a guided tour with optional battleship and museum upgrades.
Free Cancellation Visit the USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri to see where WWII began and ended for the United States.
Free Cancellation Visit the USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri on a guided tour from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor.
Free Cancellation Visit the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor museums with transport from Waikiki, the cruise port, or the airport.
Free Cancellation Explore Pearl Harbor’s museums, the Bowfin Submarine, and Honolulu’s historic landmarks on this comprehensive day tour.
Free Cancellation Pay your respects at Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial before exploring Honolulu’s most significant historic sites.
Free Cancellation Visit Pearl Harbor at 8 am before the crowds, followed by a small-group tour of Honolulu’s historic landmarks.
Free Cancellation A guided visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial with round-trip transport and USS Arizona tickets included.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Pearl Harbor — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona is a deeply moving experience that offers a tangible connection to the events of December 7, 1941. Guided tours streamline the logistics of securing high-demand memorial tickets and navigating strict military base regulations, allowing you to focus on the historical significance of the site.
Your tour begins here, where you can explore the 'Road to War' and 'Attack' galleries. These exhibits feature authentic artifacts, photographs, and detailed timelines of the 1941 air raid.
Before heading to the memorial, you will watch a powerful 23-minute documentary film in the park's theater, providing essential context about the surprise attack that brought the U.S. into WWII.
You will board a U.S. Navy-operated transit boat for a short, solemn ride across the cloverleaf-shaped lagoon to reach the memorial structure resting in the harbor.
Stand on the iconic white memorial suspended directly over the sunken battleship hull. You can look down into the water to see the rusted remains and pay respects to the 1,177 crewmen entombed below.
Many upgraded tours include a visit to the 'Mighty Mo' on Ford Island. You can walk the massive decks and stand on the exact spot where the Japanese surrendered in 1945.
Several half-day tours conclude with a narrated drive through historic downtown Honolulu, passing landmarks like the King Kamehameha statue before returning to Waikiki.
Planning a trip to Pearl Harbor requires navigating strict security rules and high ticket demand. Booking a guided tour removes much of this stress, but there are a few critical details you need to know before securing your spot.
Pearl Harbor enforces a strict ban on all bags, including purses, backpacks, camera bags, and diaper bags. You can only bring a clear bag or a tiny clutch (under 1.25" x 2.25" x 5.5"). Otherwise, you must pay $7 to $10 to store your items at the entrance. Tour vehicles cannot store your bags for you.
While entry to the visitor center is free, the boat ride to the USS Arizona requires a highly competitive reservation. Guided tours pre-arrange these tickets for you, saving you from having to log on exactly 8 weeks in advance to compete for time slots.
Due to Department of Transportation regulations, most tour operators cannot pick you up directly at your hotel's front door. Instead, you will be assigned a designated pickup zone in Waikiki, which is typically a 5 to 7-minute walk from your accommodation.
The U.S. Navy operates the shuttle boats to the memorial and has the final say on safety. If winds are high or tropical weather is unpredictable, they may suspend boat operations. If this happens, tours still proceed with the visitor center museums, and refunds are generally not issued for the boat portion.
This is a solemn national cemetery, so respectful attire is required. Swimsuits, overly revealing clothing, and profanity-laced shirts are prohibited. You must wear a shirt and shoes to board the Navy shuttle.
The visitor center and the USS Arizona Memorial are fully wheelchair accessible. However, if you require a wheelchair-lift-equipped tour vehicle, you must notify your tour operator at least 24 hours in advance, as not all standard buses have lifts.
A standard half-day tour focusing just on the Visitor Center and the USS Arizona takes about 4 to 5 hours including transit. If you want to visit the Battleship Missouri or the USS Bowfin submarine, book a full-day tour lasting 6 to 7 hours.
| Half-Day Arizona Memorial Tour | Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour | Deluxe Battleship Combo Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4-5 hours | 5 hours | 6-7 hours |
| Best for | Visitors short on time who want the essential WWII history. | First-time visitors wanting to see both the memorial and downtown landmarks. | WWII history buffs wanting to see where the war started and ended. |
| Includes | Waikiki zone pickup, Visitor Center access, USS Arizona boat tickets. | USS Arizona tickets, guided drive past King Kamehameha statue and downtown. | USS Arizona tickets, admission to the Battleship Missouri on Ford Island. |
| Price from | $55.00 | $45.00 | $149.00 |
The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed only three days a year: Thanksgiving Day, December 25 (Christmas), and January 1 (New Year's Day).
Programs to the USS Arizona Memorial run continuously throughout the day. The first documentary screening and boat departure begins at 8:00 AM, and the final boat of the day departs at 3:30 PM.
If you are visiting on Independence Day (July 4th), Navy boats run on a slightly adjusted schedule: from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, departing every fifteen minutes.
If you are not taking a guided tour with included transportation, there are several ways to reach the memorial from Honolulu and Waikiki:
Note: Independent visitors cannot drive directly to Ford Island (to see the Aviation Museum or Battleship Missouri) without military clearance; you must use the free shuttle from 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 avoid the heavy midday crowds and the intense afternoon Hawaiian heat. It also gives you a buffer in case you need to utilize the standby line for USS Arizona tickets.
Weather-wise, visiting during dry, clear periods is highly recommended. During the winter months, unpredictable tropical storms and high winds can force the U.S. Navy to suspend the shuttle boats to the memorial for safety reasons.
Holidays like Independence Day (July 4th) are incredibly popular, and the park often waives the $7.00 parking fee in honor of the holiday.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is highly accessible. The visitor center, museums, restrooms, and the USS Arizona Memorial itself feature flat, paved paths with no hills or stairs.
The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center acts as the main hub for all historic sites in the area. Facilities include:
Because Pearl Harbor is an active military base and a national cemetery, strict rules are enforced:
No, Pearl Harbor enforces a strict no-bag policy for security reasons. Purses, backpacks, camera bags, and diaper bags are prohibited. You may only bring a clear bag or a small clutch under 1.25 by 2.25 by 5.5 inches. Other bags must be stored at the entrance facility for $7.00 to $10.00.
Tour operators secure tickets for their guests in advance, which removes the hassle of booking them yourself on Recreation.gov. However, access is ultimately controlled by the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy. If the Navy suspends boats due to high winds, the tour will still proceed at the visitor center.
Most likely, no. Due to Department of Transportation regulations in Waikiki, tour buses must use designated pickup zones rather than stopping at every individual hotel. Your operator will assign you a zone that is typically a 5 to 7-minute walk from your accommodation.
There is no formal dress code, but respectful attire is required as it is a national cemetery. Swimsuits and shirts with profanity are banned, and you must wear a shirt and shoes. If you are active-duty military, battle dress uniforms are prohibited on the memorial.
Strollers are allowed around the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and museums. However, they are strictly prohibited on the Navy transit boats and the USS Arizona Memorial itself. Parents should bring a wearable baby carrier for that portion of the tour.
A standard half-day tour that includes pickup, the visitor center, and the USS Arizona Memorial takes about 4 to 5 hours. If you book a deluxe tour that includes the Battleship Missouri or the Aviation Museum on Ford Island, expect the trip to take 6 to 7 hours.
Yes, standard handheld cameras and smartphones are welcome at the visitor center and on the USS Arizona Memorial. However, camera bags are banned, and photography is strictly prohibited while on the military shuttle crossing the Admiral Clarey Bridge to Ford Island.
Tours operate rain or shine. However, if high winds or severe storms make the harbor unsafe, the U.S. Navy will cancel the boat rides to the memorial. In this case, you will still tour the museums and watch the documentary, but refunds are not issued for the boat cancellation since that portion of the ticket is free.
The visitor center, museums, Navy boats, and the memorial are fully wheelchair accessible. However, if you need a tour vehicle with a wheelchair lift, you must contact the tour operator at least 24 hours in advance to ensure they dispatch the correct bus.
You can bring a clear plastic or tempered glass water bottle to stay hydrated. However, glass food containers and large meals are not allowed. There is a small snack shop at the visitor center, but it's best to eat a solid meal before your half-day tour begins.
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