Pearl Harbor: WWII Memorials Tour with USS Missouri & Lunch

Summary

Walk through history at Pearl Harbor’s iconic WWII sites

You’ll walk where history happened at Pearl Harbor — from gazing out at the Arizona Memorial to standing on the decks of the USS Missouri and squeezing through submarine corridors. Hear real stories from your local guide and see WWII artifacts up close before sharing lunch with your group. The feeling sticks with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed stepping off the bus at Pearl Harbor was this hush — not silence exactly, but a kind of respectful quiet. Even with groups around, you could hear the flags flapping and the low hum of boats moving across the water. Our guide, Kimo, greeted us with a soft “aloha” and a story about his uncle who’d been stationed here in ’41. It set the tone right away; this wasn’t just another day trip from Waikiki.

I didn’t expect to feel much standing by the shoreline looking out at the Arizona Memorial — it’s just white concrete from a distance, but somehow it hits you. There’s this faint smell of salt and engine oil in the air, and people go quiet without being told. Kimo explained how sometimes you can still see oil rising from below. We couldn’t get boat tickets that morning (they said sometimes it happens), but seeing it from shore was enough for me. You just stand there thinking about all those lives below.

Boarding the USS Missouri felt different — louder, somehow more alive. Kids were running ahead clanging their hands on rails, and one veteran in our group paused to touch a plaque near the surrender deck. The metal under my hand was hot from the sun. Lunch was simple but good (I never expect much from tour lunches but this one had decent kalua pork sandwiches). Walking through the Bowfin submarine after that, I bumped my head twice — ceilings are low if you’re tall like me — and tried to imagine living in those tight spaces for months. The guide inside joked about “submarine showers,” which apparently means barely any water at all.

I kept thinking about how these places aren’t just old ships or museums — they’re full of stories people carry with them even now. On Ford Island, we wandered through hangars at the Aviation Museum where a mechanic waved us over to show bullet holes in an old plane wing (“still there since 1941,” he said). By late afternoon, my feet hurt but I didn’t really want to leave yet. There’s something about Pearl Harbor that stays with you long after — maybe it’s just knowing what happened here, or maybe it’s hearing someone like Kimo talk about his family.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Pearl Harbor WWII sites

• Visit Pearl Harbor National Memorial
• See USS Arizona Memorial
• Tour USS Bowfin submarine
• Explore Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
• Visit Battleship Missouri Memorial
• Browse Visitor Center exhibits and bookstore

Top questions

How long does the Pearl Harbor Heroes Deluxe Tour take?

The tour is a full-day experience departing from Waikiki hotels, including visits to multiple sites at Pearl Harbor.

Is hotel pickup included for this Pearl Harbor tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from specific Waikiki hotels.

Can I visit inside the USS Arizona Memorial?

If Navy boat launch tickets are available on your tour day, you can visit; otherwise, you'll view it from shore.

Are meals provided during this day trip to Pearl Harbor?

Yes, lunch is included as part of your tour experience.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

All areas and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Are bags allowed during my visit to Pearl Harbor?

No bags are allowed due to security policy; only small cameras (not in bags) and items that fit in your pockets are permitted.

Do I need identification for Ford Island visits?

Yes, government-issued photo ID is required when visiting Ford Island attractions like USS Missouri or Aviation Museum.

What’s included

Your day includes narrated transport with a local guide (and plenty of stories), entry fees for all major sites like USS Missouri, Bowfin Submarine & Aviation Museum, plus a simple lunch shared with your group before heading back to Waikiki by air-conditioned vehicle — hotel pickup and drop-off make things easy throughout.