Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial – Honolulu Tour – Submarine Access

Pearl Harbor is the heart of this half-day tour, but the USS Arizona Memorial is currently closed for maintenance, so there is no boat ride to the memorial. You will still see the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, watch its documentary, visit two museums, and take in the solemn setting before touring downtown Honolulu.

I like the easy round-trip pickup from Waikiki and the chance to combine Pearl Harbor with King Kamehameha’s statue, Iolani Palace, and Punchbowl Cemetery. The main drawback is time: many departures allow only about two hours at Pearl Harbor, which can feel rushed if you want the museums, film, and other harbor sites.

Key points to know before booking

• The USS Arizona boat ride is not operating during maintenance, despite older wording that says tickets are guaranteed.
• Two Pearl Harbor museums and the official documentary are included in the visit.
• USS Bowfin admission costs $22 extra, though you can see and photograph the submarine from outside.
• Waikiki transportation is included, with early pickup at a nearby meeting point.
• Downtown Honolulu and Punchbowl Cemetery add useful context, but most city sights are drive-bys.
• The schedule can feel tight, especially for anyone hoping to visit Ford Island, the USS Missouri, or the aviation museum.

What this Pearl Harbor tour really offers

At $74 per person, this tour sells convenience more than a full Pearl Harbor experience. You avoid arranging transport from Waikiki, finding parking, and planning your own route through the memorial grounds. For a first visit to Honolulu, that can be worth paying for.

The tradeoff is control. You ride with the group, follow its schedule, and return to the coach at the appointed time. If your main goal is to spend half a day studying every Pearl Harbor exhibit, a self-guided visit or a longer tour may suit you better.

The advertised duration is about five to six hours, beginning around 8:30 a.m. Actual time can vary because the coach collects people at several Waikiki meeting points and later drops them off at different locations. Some departures have finished well before the six-hour mark, so do not build a tightly timed afternoon plan around the upper end of the estimate.

The coach can hold up to 50 people, although some departures use a smaller vehicle. Guides also drive, narrate, and manage the schedule. Chelsea, Shelly, and Michael are among the guides associated with this operation, and the best departures benefit from a warm local voice and clear historical explanations.

The Waikiki pickup and ride to Pearl Harbor

Pickup begins in Waikiki at a nearby location rather than necessarily at your hotel door. You must ride the tour bus from Waikiki, even if you are staying in Ko Olina or on the North Shore. Those staying outside the pickup area need to make their own way to Waikiki first.

The ride gives you a quick look at Honolulu as you head toward the harbor. This saves you the work of navigating unfamiliar roads, but it also means the morning includes pickup time. If you are hoping for a quiet, direct transfer, expect a few stops before the tour is fully underway.

A coach or limo bus is used, and the driver provides commentary along the way. Past departures have praised guides for being funny, friendly, and careful drivers. One practical complaint has been an overly cold bus, so a light layer is a sensible addition even on a warm Honolulu morning.

Pearl Harbor National Memorial: start with the essentials

The Pearl Harbor National Memorial serves as your base. This is where you find the visitor facilities, the official documentary, museums, restrooms, and the departure point for boats when the memorial service is operating.

Two World War II museums are included. They help establish the sequence of events and the human cost before you reach the water. The documentary is also included, and it is worth prioritizing because it provides the clearest organized account of what happened.

Here is the scheduling problem: two hours may sound reasonable until you account for arriving, using the facilities, watching the film, walking between buildings, and meeting the bus again. If the film begins at an inconvenient time, you may have to skip it or leave another exhibit unfinished.

You will not have enough time for every attraction in the harbor. The USS Missouri and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are on Ford Island, and both require additional admission. You reach them by the free park shuttle, which can involve waiting in line and watching the clock. One efficient visit cannot comfortably include all of those sites within a short group stop.

The USS Arizona Memorial closure changes the day

The most important fact to confirm before paying is the current condition of the USS Arizona Memorial. The supplied schedule says the memorial is under construction and that no boat rides are operating. That means you will not board the Navy boat, stand over the wreck, see the wall of names from the memorial structure, or observe the site from the usual platform.

Older wording still describes a boat ride and says Arizona tickets are guaranteed. Treat the current closure notice as the controlling information. Ask for the status shortly before your tour if the memorial is the main reason you are booking.

Even without the boat ride, Pearl Harbor remains a serious and worthwhile place to visit. The museums, documentary, harbor setting, and memorial grounds carry the visit. But the experience is not the same as standing at the Arizona Memorial, and the price should be judged on what is actually operating on your date.

The park may offer a short shuttle ride or alternate viewing area, but the supplied information does not promise this as part of the tour. Do not assume that an alternate view replaces the boat trip.

The USS Bowfin: good from outside, extra cost inside

The USS Bowfin is docked near the Pearl Harbor visitor center, making it easy to spot and photograph. The standard tour includes an exterior view only. Full admission to the submarine and museum costs $22.

If the Arizona boat ride is unavailable, the Bowfin becomes the most obvious optional upgrade during your Pearl Harbor stop. The submarine offers a different angle on the Pacific war, but you need enough free time to use the extra ticket. With only about two hours at the harbor, buying admission may force you to choose between Bowfin and the included museums.

I would decide before arrival. If you have a strong interest in naval equipment, budget for the extra admission and ask the guide exactly how much time you will have. If Pearl Harbor’s central memorial story is your priority, keep your time for the visitor center and documentary.

Downtown Honolulu through the coach window

After Pearl Harbor, the tour shifts from wartime history to the story of the Hawaiian kingdom and modern Honolulu. The first proper stop is the King Kamehameha statue, where you have about 20 minutes to take photographs and hear about the ruler who united the Hawaiian Islands.

This is one of the better short stops because you get out of the vehicle and have time to look around. The statue is larger than life, fitting for a king remembered for bringing the islands together. Guides such as Shelly have been praised for making this part lively and giving people time for pictures.

Several other sights are drive-bys:

• Iolani Palace: Hawaii’s former royal residence, viewed from the coach rather than entered.
• Kawaiahao Church: Known for its use of coral and lava rock, as well as its large interior and stained glass.
• Hawaiian Mission Houses: Connected with schooling, law, written Hawaiian, and cultural contact between Hawaiian and Western communities.
• Aloha Tower: A historic harbor landmark and a familiar symbol of Honolulu.

This portion works as an overview, not a serious city tour. You will hear about the buildings and see them from the road, but you will not have time to explore their interiors. If photography matters to you, prepare for quick views through the coach window. Several people have wished for more stops and longer opportunities to take pictures.

Punchbowl Cemetery adds a quiet final note

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly called Punchbowl, is visited by a short driving tour of about 15 minutes. The cemetery occupies a dormant volcanic crater above Honolulu, with rows of white headstones and broad views across the city.

The mood changes here. After the noise and machinery of Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl feels quiet and reflective. The cemetery honors service members connected with World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and later conflicts. Your guide provides background while the coach follows the cemetery roads.

Fifteen minutes is enough to understand the setting, but not enough for a long walk or close look at individual memorials. Still, this stop has real value. It places the events of Pearl Harbor within a wider story of military service and sacrifice, rather than treating the harbor as a single isolated episode.

Timing, value, and the limits of a group tour

The $74 price includes transportation, Pearl Harbor admission, two museums, the documentary, the Honolulu drive, King Kamehameha’s statue, Punchbowl Cemetery, and a guide. That is fair if you value a simple Waikiki pickup and want a broad introduction without renting a car.

The value drops if you expect extensive time at Pearl Harbor. The memorial complex is large, and the included visit can feel like a brief introduction. You may have to choose between the film, museums, Bowfin, and any alternate harbor view.

A group tour also brings less flexibility. The bus waits for everyone, and the day may include pickup and drop-off delays. In exchange, you avoid parking concerns, public transportation, and the need to secure each part of the day yourself.

A self-guided visit can cost less, since the Pearl Harbor National Memorial museums and documentary are free. The submarine, Missouri, and aviation museum charge separately. Driving or taking public transportation requires more planning, but you control the length of your visit and can select the attractions that matter most.

This tour is strongest for someone who wants transportation and a guide, has limited planning time, and is satisfied with a short overview. It is weaker for a history enthusiast who wants to read every display or visit several harbor ships.

Practical rules that matter on the morning

Pearl Harbor does not allow ordinary bags inside. Lockers are available, but the easiest plan is to arrive with as little as possible. A clear bag and a water bottle are permitted according to the supplied instructions, while other drinks may not be allowed.

Bring identification of your pickup point and keep the operator’s phone number available. Pickup details can change, and the company has sometimes contacted people about meeting locations or scheduling. Confirmation normally arrives at booking, though reservations made within one day of departure are subject to availability.

Most people can take part, and public transportation is available near the meeting area. The tour requires you to remain with the bus service, so it is not a good fit if you need to leave early or prefer to set your own return time.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted, except that poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a new date or full refund offer.

Who should book this Pearl Harbor tour?

I would book it if you are staying in Waikiki, want a guide, and prefer one organized morning that combines Pearl Harbor with key Honolulu sights. It is especially practical for a first visit, families that do not want to plan transfers, and anyone who values a driver who can add local stories between stops.

I would hesitate if the USS Arizona Memorial boat ride is the central purpose of your day. Since the memorial is currently closed for maintenance, you should wait until boat service resumes or choose a tour whose current inclusions are clear.

I would also skip it if you want the USS Missouri, Bowfin interior, aviation museum, and Pearl Harbor museums in one visit. The short schedule does not leave enough room for that list.

Should you book it?

Book this tour for transportation, orientation, and a guided introduction, not for an in-depth Pearl Harbor day. The included museums and documentary matter, the Honolulu stops add useful context, and Punchbowl is a moving final stop.

Before booking, confirm three things: the current Arizona Memorial status, your exact Pearl Harbor time, and your return estimate to Waikiki. If those limits work for you, $74 is a reasonable price for a structured half-day. If you want depth and flexibility, go independently or choose a longer Pearl Harbor visit.

FAQ

Is the USS Arizona Memorial boat ride included?

The current information says the USS Arizona Memorial is closed for maintenance and no boat rides are operating. The tour includes Pearl Harbor admission, but not an operating boat ride during the closure.

What is included at Pearl Harbor?

The tour includes admission to Pearl Harbor, two World War II museums, and the official Pearl Harbor documentary. It also includes transportation and the guided visit.

Is USS Bowfin admission included?

No. You can view and photograph the USS Bowfin from outside, but full submarine and museum admission costs $22.

How long is the tour?

The stated duration is approximately five to six hours, beginning around 8:30 a.m. Actual return time can vary because of pickup and drop-off schedules.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is provided from a convenient location near Waikiki accommodations. People staying in Ko Olina or on the North Shore need to meet the bus in Waikiki.

Can I bring a bag into Pearl Harbor?

Ordinary bags are not allowed inside Pearl Harbor. Lockers are available, and the supplied instructions say a clear bag and water bottle may be brought in.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted.