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Everything You Need to Know About the Pearl Harbor Tour in Hawaii

March 12, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About the Pearl Harbor Tour in Hawaii

Pearl Harbor stands as a turning point in American history. The attack on December 7, 1941, pushed the United States into World War II and left an impact still felt today. The site welcomes millions annually, drawn by its history and the stories of those who lived through that day.

A visit here carries weight. The wreckage of the USS Arizona remains beneath the waves, a grave for the men who went down with the ship. The decks of the USS Missouri hold the spot where Japan surrendered, ending the war. Walk through these places, and the past doesn’t feel distant. It surrounds you.

Ahead, we’ll go through everything you need to know, taking you through the key sites you don’t want to miss, the different Pearl Harbor tours we offer, and everything that’s included in each.

You’ll also find practical tips for making the most of your trip, from booking in advance to what to bring on the day. Whether you’re planning your first visit or looking for a deeper experience, this article will help you make the right choices.

What to Know Before Visiting

Pearl Harbor isn’t a single destination. It’s a collection of historic sites within a working naval base. The main areas open to visitors include the USS Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Each tells a different piece of the story.

Planning Your Trip is Key

It should be noted that tickets for the USS Arizona are free but limited. The National Park Service releases them in batches, and they disappear fast. Arriving early gives you a shot, but there’s no guarantee — and your day’s plans might need a last-minute change without a guaranteed ticket.

Guided tours remove the uncertainty in your day, with guaranteed ticket to all aforementioned sites. Guaranteed tickets takes the guesswork out of getting in, and our world-class guides bring depth to what you see just before you enter — because Pearl Harbor isn’t just about ships and aircraft. The people who fought and died had lives before that day, and those stories are told best by Royal Star Hawaii Guides.

Royal Star Hawaii Guided Pearl Harbor Tour Options

A guided tour handles everything for you, so you can take in the full experience without trying to locate Pearl Harbor on a map, searching for parking, or taking out your phone to Google what happened in a particular building. Guides provide details that bring history to life. They point out the scars left behind, the small things that carry meaning, and the connections between the past and present.

At Royal Star Hawaii, we offer three Pearl Harbor tours. Each one includes round-trip transportation in comfortable, spacious Deluxe buses, a crisp bottle of Hawaiian water, guaranteed admission, and a mix of historic sites. All prices below are in USD ($).

The Pearl Harbor Experience

This tour is ideal for those on a tight schedule who still want to experience the most significant part of Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona Memorial is the heart of the site, marking the final resting place of over 1,100 sailors and Marines.

After paying your respects, you’ll continue on a narrated Honolulu City Tour led by a top-rated Royal Star Driver, who brings the city’s history to life with insights about what life was like in Hawaii during wartime. An onboard video enhances the experience, showcasing images and footage beyond what you can see through the motorcoach window, including the interior of Iolani Palace.

The tour also includes a visit to other important landmarks in Honolulu, such as Punchbowl Cemetery, where thousands of service members from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam are laid to rest.

  • Tour: Pearl Harbor Experience
  • Duration: Five hours
  • Includes:
    • Guaranteed ticket to the USS Arizona Memorial
    • Window views of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
    • Drive through historic Honolulu
  • Price: $84.04 per adult

The Deluxe Pearl Harbor Experience

The USS Missouri, known as the “Mighty Mo,” is where World War II officially ended. Walking its decks, you’ll stand on the exact spot where Japan signed the surrender documents. The ship itself tells a story beyond that moment, having served in Korea and the Gulf War before being decommissioned. With a guided tour, you’ll hear about the ship’s role in shaping history, from its first battle to its last. The contrast between the USS Arizona, where the war began, and the USS Missouri, where it ended, makes this tour a powerful experience.

  • Tour: Deluxe Pearl Harbor Experience
  • Duration: Eight hours
  • Includes:
    • Everything in the Pearl Harbor Experience
    • Guaranteed ticket to the Battleship Missouri
  • Price: $124.15 per adult

The Ultimate Pearl Harbor Experience

The most comprehensive Pearl Harbor tour. In addition to the USS Arizona and USS Missouri, this experience includes a visit to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, which offers a unique perspective on the events of December 7, 1941. Visitors can stand inside authentic WWII hangars that withstood the attack and explore historic aircraft that played a role in the war. A highlight of the experience is ascending the Ford Island Control Tower, which stands 168 feet above the battlefield. From this vantage point, the full scope of the attack comes into view, with a panoramic look at key locations across Oahu that were hit that morning.

  • Tour: Ultimate Pearl Harbor Experience
  • Duration: Nine hours
  • Includes:
    • Everything in the Deluxe Pearl Harbor Experience
    • Reserved ticket to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
  • Price: $157.58 per adult

What Makes a Royal Star Hawaii Guided Tour Worth It?

A trip to Pearl Harbor should be memorable, not stressful. Parking is limited, bags aren’t allowed, and tickets can be hard to secure. Royal Star Hawaii takes care of everything so you can focus on the experience.

Enjoy a smooth, comfortable ride in a brand-new Deluxe tour bus with spacious seating, panoramic windows, and clean onboard restrooms. Timed entry and organized logistics ensure your visit runs seamlessly from start to finish.

At the beginning of the tour, you’ll receive an information handout to help you navigate the sites. Before the day ends, we provide a refreshing hand towelette and mint — small details that add to a great experience.

With Royal Star Hawaii, everything is handled. All you have to do is take it in.

Making the Most of Your Experience

Honolulu’s waterfront holds centuries of history. From ancient Hawaiian settlements to the rise of a global port city, the area has seen moments of great change, resilience, and cultural shifts. Without context, these sites might seem like just another view of the harbor — but a knowledgeable guide brings their deeper significance into focus.

Royal Star Hawaii’s guides are rated #1 in the world on Tripadvisor for their expertise and ability to make every stop along the way more meaningful. They share the stories behind the landmarks, the people who shaped the islands, and the lasting impact of the events that took place here.

They point out details that would otherwise go unnoticed and work hard to make every stop you take with them memorable.

Pearl Harbor Shall Not Be Forgotten

While a tourist attraction today, Pearl Harbor was once a battlefield and will always remain a place where history changed course. The attack shaped the world and affected lives far beyond those who were there on the morning of December 7th, 1941. Pearl Harbor’s significance doesn’t fade with time, and the reminders to each new generation of the cost of war and the resilience of those who serve remain prevalent.

For those planning a visit, a guided tour turns the trip into something greater than can be experienced on one’s own. It connects the past to the present, making history feel less like something to be studied and instead something to be felt and remembered.

For more information on how to book your guided tour, please visit Royal Star Hawaii.

 

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