Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona & USS Missouri Tour from Waikiki

Two Warships, One Morning: Pearl Harbor's Defining Memorials

You get hotel pickup, entry to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and its documentary, a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial (subject to availability), a full tour of the Battleship Missouri's decks and interior, and a drive past Punchbowl Cemetery and other Honolulu landmarks. The whole day runs as a small group from Waikiki with return transport included, so you move through the sites without arranging logistics yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Explore Pearl Harbor Visitor Center exhibits
• Watch Pearl Harbor documentary movie
• Boat ride to USS Arizona Memorial
• Tour USS Missouri Battleship decks and interior
• Drive by Punchbowl Cemetery and King Kamehameha Statue

The Experience

The boat cuts through the harbor water toward a white structure floating on the surface—the USS Arizona Memorial, built directly over the ship that sank on December 7, 1941, with 1,177 sailors still inside. You stand on the deck in silence, watching the oil still seep from the wreck below. This is where the tour lands you, after the Visitor Center screening and the short film with actual footage of that morning. It's the kind of moment that doesn't need narration.

Before the boat ride out, you'll spend time at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center exploring the exhibits and watching the documentary—the one with real footage from the attack and the weeks before it. The guide walks you through what you're about to see, so when you're standing on that memorial, the weight of it hits differently. After the Arizona, you cross to Ford Island to tour the USS Missouri, the battleship where Japan's surrender was signed in 1945. You walk the decks and interior spaces, and the contrast is stark: one ship a tomb, the other a monument to the war's end. Both are on the same harbor. Both matter.

On the drive back to Waikiki, you pass the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, set inside Punchbowl Crater with a view over all of Honolulu—the "Arlington of the Pacific," as it's known. The guide points out the King Kamehameha Statue and other historic sites along the way. The whole experience runs as a small group, which means you're not herded through with a hundred other people, and the guide has time to answer questions and let you take photos without rushing. Hotel pickup and return are included, so you don't have to figure out how to get there yourself.

One thing to know: USS Arizona Memorial tickets are not guaranteed—availability depends on the day and how many people are ahead of you—but the tour still includes the Visitor Center, the film, and the Missouri, so you're not left empty-handed. Bags aren't allowed in the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center (they can be checked for $7 to $10), and your wallet needs to fit in a pocket the size of a regular phone. Bring comfortable shoes and water.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and return from Waikiki, admission to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center with its exhibits, a screening of the Pearl Harbor documentary film, a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial (subject to daily availability), a full tour of the USS Missouri Battleship including decks and interior spaces, and a drive past the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific inside Punchbowl Crater and other historic Honolulu sites. The tour operates as a small group with a knowledgeable guide who has time to answer questions and let you photograph the sites.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pearl Harbor Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see both the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri in one morning without arranging your own transport, tickets, or timing—the small-group format and included pickup mean you show up at your hotel and the logistics are handled.

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Top questions

Is the USS Arizona Memorial visit guaranteed?

No. Tickets depend on daily availability and visitor volume. The tour includes the Visitor Center, documentary film, and USS Missouri regardless, but Arizona Memorial access is not promised.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and return from Waikiki, admission to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, the documentary film, USS Missouri Battleship entry, and a small-group guide. USS Arizona Memorial access is included if tickets are available that day.

How long is the tour?

The itinerary does not specify total duration, but plan for a full morning or early afternoon based on the number of stops and boat transit time.

Can I bring a bag or backpack?

Bags are not allowed inside the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, but they can be checked and stored for $7 per small bag or $10 per large bag. Clear bags approved by the US Navy are permitted.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes. Infants can ride in a stroller or pram, and infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation?

No. Hotel pickup and return from Waikiki are included in the tour.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, water, and a small wallet (no larger than a cell phone). Sunscreen and a hat are recommended. Leave large bags at your hotel or use the storage service.