Pearl Harbor Oahu Tour: USS Arizona Memorial & Scenic Route

Pearl Harbor's memorial and two coasts in one day, with a guide who knows the island

A full-day private tour of Oahu combines Pearl Harbor National Memorial (including the visitor center, documentary film, and boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial) with your choice of either the North Shore (Dole Plantation, Hale'iwa, Kahuku Shrimp Trucks) or the Southeast Coast (Diamond Head, Halona Blowhole, Pali Lookout). A certified driver-guide leads the route, handles hotel or airport pickup, and adapts stops to your pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pearl Harbor and Scenic Oahu Tour

• Visit Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
• Watch Pearl Harbor documentary film
• Boat ride to USS Arizona Memorial
• Choose North Shore or Southeast Coast tour
• If North Shore: stop at Dole Plantation
• Drive through Hale‘iwa surf town
• Visit Kahuku Shrimp Trucks
• See Chinaman’s Hat and macadamia farm
• If Southeast Coast: stop at Diamond Head Lookout
• Drive along Kahala Avenue and Ka Iwi Coast
• Stop at Lanai Lookout
• Visit Halona Blowhole and Halona Beach Cove
• Pass Sandy’s Beach and Makapu’u Lookout
• Lunch in Kailua town
• Visit Pali Lookout

The experience

Seven and a half hours gives you time to move through Pearl Harbor without rushing, then explore one full scenic side of the island. The tour starts at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, where you watch a 23-minute documentary with real footage of the attack, tour the indoor museums and outdoor displays, then board a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial itself. Your guide waits during this portion (the National Park Service does not allow guides inside the visitor center or memorial), so you move through at your own pace and have time to absorb what you're seeing.

After Pearl Harbor, you choose your route. The North Shore takes you past Dole Plantation, through Hale'iwa (a laid-back historical surf town), and along the coast past the world's most famous surfing beaches. You stop at one of the Kahuku Shrimp Trucks for food, then continue toward Kualoa Ranch with a view of Chinaman's Hat and a macadamia farm. The Southeast Coast route starts at Diamond Head Lookout, then follows the Ka Iwi Coast past Koko Crater, Hanauma Bay, and Lanai Lookout, where clear days let you see Molokai and Maui. You stop at Halona Blowhole and Halona Beach Cove (the filming location for "From Here to Eternity"), pass Makapu'u Lookout with views of Rabbit Island and Waimanalo's turquoise beaches, stop for lunch in Kailua, and finish at Pali Lookout, where King Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands.

The tour is private, so your guide adjusts stops based on what interests you: tourist hotspots, off-the-beaten-path spots, or a mix of both. Hotel, airport, or pier pickup is included, and you get cold bottled water throughout the day. The guide speaks English or Spanish. Lunch is on your own, and gratuities are not included.

What’s included

• Certified professional driver-guide services in English or Spanish.
• hotel, airport, or cruise pier pickup and round-trip transportation.
• USS Arizona Memorial program entry.
• cold bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Visit Pearl Harbor Hawaii

Is this one for you?Pick the North Shore if you want surf culture, plantation history, and casual food stops. Choose the Southeast Coast if you prefer dramatic lookouts, coastal views, and the historical sites where King Kamehameha united the islands. The private format means your guide adjusts stops and timing to what matters to you, rather than following a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens at Pearl Harbor on this tour?

You enter the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, where you tour two indoor museums and an outdoor display, then watch a 23-minute documentary with real footage of the December 7, 1941 attack. Your guide does not accompany you inside (the National Park Service does not permit guides in the visitor center or on the memorial itself), so you move through at your own pace. You then board a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial, the main monument at the site.

Can I choose which scenic route I want, or is it set?

You choose between the North Shore and the Southeast Coast, and you can tell your guide which stops matter most to you. The North Shore includes Dole Plantation, Hale'iwa, and the Kahuku Shrimp Trucks. The Southeast Coast includes Diamond Head, Halona Blowhole, and Pali Lookout. Your guide works with you to combine tourist spots, off-the-beaten-path places, or a mix of both.

What is the Halona Blowhole, and why is it on the Southeast Coast route?

Halona Blowhole is a natural rock formation on Oahu's southeastern shore where ocean waves force water and air through an opening in the lava, creating a dramatic spray. The site sits on the scenic Ka Iwi Coast and is famous as a filming location for the 1953 movie "From Here to Eternity." It is a short stop where you can see the blowhole and the adjacent Halona Beach Cove.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. On the North Shore route, you stop at the Kahuku Shrimp Trucks, where you can buy food. On the Southeast Coast route, you stop in the town of Kailua for lunch, and you choose where to eat.

Who picks me up, and where do they pick me up from?

A certified professional driver-guide picks you up from your hotel, airport, or cruise ship pier. The guide speaks English or Spanish and leads the entire tour, adapting the route and stops to your interests and pace.