Visiting Pearl Harbor can be an experience that is as impactful as it is interesting. This landmark has so much significance in both US history as well as the story of the American occupation of the Hawaiian Islands. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Hawaiian Islands were not yet a state within the USA. When visiting Pearl Harbor in Oahu you get the chance to learn so much more about what makes this landmark so important, beyond that one day.
However, like a lot of popular tour destinations, it can be easy to get distracted or not know what the best plan of action is to make the best day out of it. Keep reading and we’ll let you in on our secret of how to maximize your time touring Pearl Harbor.
Make the Most Out of Your Visit to Pearl Harbor
The accessible areas of Pearl Harbor for visitors are scattered throughout the park; with four main attractions. While initial entry is free you will need tickets to gain access to those main areas, these are on a first-come, first-serve basis. The ticketed attractions noted are “USS Arizona Memorial”, “USS Oklahoma Memorial”, “USS Bowfin, Battleship Missouri Memorial”, and “Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum”.
If you want to make the most out of your tour, be sure to come early so that you can gain access to each focal point within the park. However, bear in mind that these memorials and the museum have suggested hours you should allot in order to dedicate them to each; the average being two hours. This would make for a very hefty day; before traveling to Pearl Harbor, check out our other Pearl Harbor article so you can determine which sites within the historic base you would prioritize over the others if you end up running out of time.
What to Expect on a Pearl Harbor Tour: Tips and Recommendations
As mentioned, the historic memorials and museum within the Pearl Harbor park may take days to thoroughly go through them all. With that being said, we do suggest reading up on what each has to offer so that you may better prioritize your visit to fit within your allotted time frame and to make sure that you check everything off your bucket list.
Our biggest tour tip other than the pivotal “time management” point is make the most out of your day outside of your visit. While this may seem like a simple yet puzzling suggestion, we have some ideas to not only make the most of your time within the park, but on the way to and from as well.
This is one of the most popular attractions for those visiting Hawaii; so keep that in mind when planning your trip. If you want to avoid the crowds you may have more luck visiting in a low season like early fall or late winter; or even a weekday.
What to Avoid at Pearl Harbor
The simplest and truest answer is the lines. Much like any other popular site for visitors; the lines and crowd are the number one thing that we suggest you avoid. There are a few ways to do this; the first is to get there early and the second is to skip stepping foot into the park all together.
While the first may seem obvious as we have mentioned that the tickets to the memorials and museum are on a first-come, first-serve basis; the second doesn’t mean that you write Pearl Harbor off all together. Although you may miss what the inside of the historic memorials have to offer, an air tour is the best way to experience Pearl Harbor without stepping through the gates.
An air tour will, quite literally, give you a new perspective. You will be able to skip the lines and avoid any crowds that could hinder your enjoyment of the experience. Even better you will get to experience more than just the park in your day– something that is sure to maximize your time on Oahu.
Our Favorite Pearl Harbor Tour
The journey is half the fun, and on Oahu the journey is pretty scenically beautiful. Located right outside the bustling city of Honolulu, if you are staying within the capital or even on other parts of the island, make the day of it by venturing to some of Oahu’s most well known dining spots; or even, cruise on down to Ala Moana to do some shopping at the amazing mall there. There is so much to do just next door!
If you are staying on another island and still want to experience the historical landmark, you’re in luck! Ali’i Air Tours offers a Pearl Harbor Tour that takes guests from Kauai to Oahu. There they get to explore Pearl Harbor as well as other wonders of the metropolitan isle like Keehi Lagoon, Honolulu Harbor, Sand Island, Ala moana Beach Park, Magic Island, world renowned Waikiki Beach and Mount Leahi’s crater also known as “Diamond Head”.
The air tour experience of Pearl Harbor is unbeatable. Not only does it combine the impact of seeing the historical monument from above but you are able to experience the other wonderful natural and man made landmarks for which Oahu is known.
