One-day tours from Kona to Visit Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor from Kona

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Pearl Harbor from Kona

Highlights

Round-trip airfare to Oahu included
Must provide your own transportation to/from the Kona airport.
Your guide picks you up at Honolulu Airport
Five different tour options
Early morning departure; return early evening

Description

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without seeing the state's most popular and historically important attraction … the USS Arizona Memorial. The documentary film that is shown at the Visitor’s Center sets a somber and reflective tone which this sacred place deserves. People walk out to the ferry boat in hushed silence for the short ride out to the Memorial. If you have never visited Pearl Harbor, you really should go.

Visiting Pearl Harbor from Big Island requires an inter-island flight to Honolulu and MUST be arranged in advance. The Arizona Memorial is the most popular visitor destination in the state of Hawaii, and space on the ferry ride out to the Arizona Memorial is limited. It is not uncommon for all available tickets for the day to be handed out by 9am or earlier during busy travel periods. This puts guests who are just flying in from other islands at a huge disadvantage UNLESS YOU HAVE RESERVED A GUIDED TOUR IN ADVANCE!!! For this reason we HIGHLY recommend one of the tours offered here for your very best chance of being able to do the boat ride out to the USS Arizona Memorial. With any of these packages the airline reservations, Arizona Memorial tickets, and other features of your tour are all arranged for you "hassle-free" which takes the stress out of your day.

All flights are from the main airport in Kona, which is on the West Side of the Big Island, near most resorts.
Guests are on their own to get TO and FROM their resort accommodations to the Kona Airport.
Flights are provided on either Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest Airlines on modern jets that seat approximately 120.
Morning flight departure times for most of these tours are between 6am and 7am.
You will meet your tour guide and other tour participants when you arrive at Honolulu Airport.
Backpacks, bags, and larger purses are not allowed at Pearl Harbor sites; a storage facility is available for these items for a small fee.
Dress comfortably in casual but respectful attire keeping in mind the Arizona Memorial is the final restingplace of 1100 USA soldiers.
Lunch is not included in the price of these tours. Food is available to purchase on most tours or you might consider packing your own lunch and snacks. Lunch options are very limited on the "Pearl Harbor / Honolulu City Tour" as the only option here is the Arizona Memorial Visitor's Center Snack Shop.
Return flight time will vary with the tour ... most are between 5pm and 7pm.
Exact flight schedules vary from day to day. Your flight numbers and exact departure times will be in your final email confirmation.
Reservations made for these interisland packages are charged at the time your tour is confirmed and due to airline rules they are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-transferable. Any date changes will incur significant change fees.
These Pearl Harbor tours are suitable for most guests who are in good enough health to be able to walk about four city blocks.
Infants are permitted on tour, but the age for "free infants" is the same as airfare regulations; children under 2 are free in lap.

Kona (Big Island) to Oahu One Day Pearl Harbor Tours

Pearl Harbor / Honolulu City Tour

Take an early morning flight from Kona and soon you'll be touching down on Oahu, ready to immerse yourself in the dramatic WWII history at Pearl Harbor. Once you meet up with your guide, your tour group will proceed to the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center. You wil tour the museum which features photos, memorabilia, and artifacts from the war, and have the opportunity to purchase commemorative items at the museum bookstore. When it is your group's turn to visit the memorial you will watch a moving documentary film that documents the events of December 7, 1941. After the film, you will board a vessel in hushed silence for the journey out to the memorial.

After your Arizona Memorial experience is complete, your group will move on to Historic Downtown Honolulu and spotlight famous architectural landmarks that recall Hawaii's time as a royal kingdom. You'll see Iolani Palace (built by Hawaii's last reigning king), Kawaiahao Church, and the statue of King Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawaiian Islands under his rule in 1810.

Schedule: Daily with several tour times offered

Billing: Charges for this tour are processed when your reservation is finalized and all sales for this tour are final.

Cancellation Policy: Due to airline regulations these reservations are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-transferable. Review the complete CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY near the bottom of this page that applies to all Interisland tours.

Pearl Harbor / Honolulu City Tour from Kona Rate (AST3H)

$339.99 per Adult, $339.99 per Child (2-11) (plus 4.712% Hawaii sales tax)

Battleships of World War II

After your flight from Kona to Oahu you will meet your guide at the Honolulu Airport. Your tour group will travel to the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center where you will visit the museum, see the documentary film, and ride the Navy's shuttle boat out to the memorial ... the same experiences found on the Pearl Harbor / Honolulu City Tour. But after you are done with the Arizona Memorial your Pearl Harbor experience will continue with visits to the Ohlahoma Memorial, and on to the decks of the "Mighty Mo" .. the USS Missouri Battleship moored right next door to the Arizona Memorial and accessed from Ford Island. You will see the magnificent guns on the main deck, and participate in a walking tour of the ship. Witness the "Surrender Deck" where the formal agreement to end WWII was signed by the USA and Japan on September 2, 1945 while the ship was in Tokyo Bay, Japan. The Arizona Memorial marks the start of WWII and the Mighty Mo marks the end ... bookends to USA invovement in the war.

After your Pearl Harbor visit, you will continue to Historic Downtown Honolulu. Your guide will reveal fascinating stories about Hawaii's royal family while showing you historic architectural landmarks associated with the islands' time as a kingdom: Iolani Palace, Kawaiahao Church, King Kamehameha the Great Statue, and Aliiolani Hale.

Schedule: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Billing: Charges for this tour are processed when your reservation is finalized and all sales for this tour are final.

Battleships of WWII from Kona Rate (AST8H)

$459.99 per Adult, $449.99 per Child (2-11) (plus 4.712% Hawaii sales tax)

Complete Pearl Harbor

The Complete Pearl Harbor tour is the most comprehensive and diverse tour available. This tour is very similar to the Battleship tour, but instead of the visit to the Oklahoma Memorial the COMPLETE tour visits the Pacific Aviation Museum with displays of aircraft from WWII, as well as the unique opportunity to walk through the USS Bowfin submarine, also known as the "Pearl Harbor Avenger." The Complete Pearl Harbor Experience also includes the same tour of the Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri Battleship, and the driving tour through historic sites in downtown Honolulu.

Schedule: Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Billing: Charges for this tour are processed when your reservation is finalized and all sales for this tour are final.

Complete Pearl Harbor from Kona Rate (AST2H)

$459.99 per Adult, $449.99 per Child (2-11) (plus 4.712% Hawaii sales tax)

Pearl Harbor and Mini Circle Island

Your full-day tour begins with a stop at Pearl Harbor, highlighted by the USS Arizona Memorial and the museums of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Learn the history of Pearl Harbor from your expert tour guide and take in the peaceful harbor that was tragically attacked on December 7, 1941.

After your Pearl Harbor / Arizona Memorial experience, you will embark on a sightseeing tour around Oahu. Circle the island with your guide, taking in the beauty of Oahu throughout your tour. Travel from the perfect beaches of Oahu's North Shore to the lush rainforests of the Ko`olau Mountains and visit the rocky South Shore of the island. The diverse scenery is just part of what makes Oahu so special ... this tour allows you to combine the experience of the Arizona Memorial with the breathtaking scenery around the island of Oahu. Sights include the Dole Pineapple Plantation, North Shore surfing beaches. Makapuu and Pali Overlooks, the Halona Blowhole, Sandy Beach, Diamond Head, and the idyllic and spectacular Byodoin Temple.

Schedule: Monday to Saturday

Billing: Charges for this tour are processed when your reservation is finalized and all sales for this tour are final.

Pearl Harbor / Mini Circle from Kona Rate (AST7H)

$459.99 per Adult, $449.99 per Child (2-11) (plus 4.712% Hawaii sales tax)

Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, and Polynesian Cultural Center

Visit Oahu's top two attractions, Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Center in one eventful day from Kona, with a stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation in between! Following your flight to Oahu, begin your tour at Pearl Harbor with the opportunity to board the USS Arizona Memorial, take in film footage of the attacks and explore the museums and memorials at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Next you'll head north to the plains of central Oahu where the beautiful Dole Pineapple Plantation Visitor's Center is located. Following a stop there, you will continue on to Oahu's North Shore and to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Celebrate the colorful, unique and diverse cultures of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Enter a world of Pacific traditions, featuring interactive exhibits at the islands of ancient Polynesia. Meet real-life Polynesians at Island Villages throughout the Center, each revealing unique cultural traditions, authentic demonstrations, stories, songs and dances, and much more.

Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Billing: Charges for this tour are processed when your reservation is finalized and all sales for this tour are final.

Pearl Harbor / Dole / Polynesian Cultural Center from Kona Rate (AST11H)

$479.99 per Adult, $469.99 per Child (2-11) (plus 4.712% Hawaii sales tax)

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY

ALL ONE-DAY TOURS involving airfare are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-transferable. All sales are final. Date changes MAY be possible, but will incur significant airline change fees and payment for any difference in airfare cost. Due to the expense associated with changing dates, it is best to consider this event completely "set in stone" once your reservation is confirmed. We recommend that you purchase a travel insurance policy that reimburses you for the cost of tours that you are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

TOUR DETAILS LISTED FOR EACH EVENT represent the itinerary that is followed on the vast majority of dates. Not all tours are perfect; due to weather, mechanical failure, or other unforseen factors, some features on your tour may not be available on your particular date. In the event a feature of your tour is not available, the tour operator will adjust your itinerary and substitute alternate sites and experiences ... and provide the best experience possible on your date. The tour operator does not offer partial refunds of any sort due to aspects of the tour changing due to circumstamnces that are out of their control. This includes days when the Navy is unable to operate the shuttle boats to the Arizona Memorial due to high winds ... or equipment or dock issues prevent them from running at normal capacity.

PRICES LISTED ARE THE NORMAL RATES for most dates based upon reserving the tour well in advance of your vacation. If you wait until the last minute to reserve one of these tours, it is possible that the only remaining seats on the insterisland flights could add a premium fee for additional airfare cost. We do not know what this cost is until your tour date is finalized. If there is going to be an increase in the airfare cost on your date, we will contact you prior to any additional charges being made, and you may elect to keep the reservation at the higher rate or cancel the reservation request at no cost to you.

Kevin's Activity Tips:

While it does take a little bit of effort to get there from the Big Island, if you've never been to Hawaii before you really should see Pearl Harbor. It is open seven days a week ... every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. And while technically open on December 7th, there are always so many ceremonial events going on that it makes it difficult to have a "normal" experience at Pearl Harbor on that date. We also recommend that you avoid Friday as this is the busiest day of the week at Pearl Harbor ... this is the day that many people who are doing the weekly interisland cruise on the Pride of America visit Pearl Harbor.

The Arizona Memorial is the most popular visitor destination in Hawaii with over 1 million annual guests. It is truly a moving experience to stand on the memorial and look down at the outline of the sunken hull and realize that this ship is the final resting place for over 1,100 sailors who were killed on December 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor. With this many visitors per year, it is not uncommon to have all of the 4500 or so tickets for the day fully allotted by 9am or earlier.

One photography tip for you while you are visiting the Arizona Memorial ... when you are re-boarding the boat for the return to shore, try to get in the last row. As the boat pulls away from the Arizona you will get a dramatic photo.

Which tour to do? Well, the least expensive option is the "Pearl Harbor / Honolulu City Tour" and is a good choice for those who want to see the Arizona Memorial but are somewhat budget conscious. This tour only visits the Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center though. My highest recommendation is to do one of the tours that also visits the Battleship Missouri ... walking the decks gives you a perspective on what the USS Arizona looked like prior to its sinking. My first choice for a Pearl Harbor tour would be the "Complete Pearl Harbor" ... I really like the experience of walking through the Bowfin Submarine and seeing how tight the living quarters was for the crew! If the Complete tour is not available on your date, consider also the Battleships tour ... this one includes the same tour of the Mighty Mo as the Complete tour.

Finally, for those who just want to see the Arizona Memorial but want to spend the majority of the day sightseeing, I would recommend the Pearl Harbor / Mini Circle Tour over the one that visits the Polynesian Cultural Center. More sightseeing stops are made on the Mini Circle tour, including the spectacular Byodoin Temple.

With the guided tour options you still are "on your own" to get to the Kona Airport. After your flight to Oahu you will meet up with your tour guide just outside of baggage claim at the Honolulu Airport. And at the conclusion of your day your guide will drop you off at Waikiki for some free time and then a shuttle will pick you up to take you to the Honolulu Airport for your return flight to Kona. While airfare is included with these guided tour packages, any issues with cancellations are the responsibility of the airline and not the tour operator.

It is important to realize that with any of these guided tour options the list of sites and attractions that are included with the tour is the typical itinerary that is done on the vast majority of tours. Not all days are perfect. The tour operator is not able to do partial refunds if something on that list isn't available due to circumstances beyond the tour operator's control. If a mechanical issue with Hawaiian Airlines delays your flight to Oahu by an hour, that means that your day of sightseeing is going to be an hour shorter. Either less time will be spent at each stop, or one stop will be dropped in favor of quality time at the other sites. If a traffic accident closes the road to Sunset Beach and your Oahu Circle Island tour needs to be rerouted, you aren't going to get compensated for not being able to see North Shore Surfing Beaches. If your morning flight to Oahu is delayed so long that the tour operator doesn't feel they have sufficient time to give you a quality tour, they will cancel the event and you will receive a complete refund. But no partial refunds are done for tours that are less than "perfect" if those circumstances are outside of the tour operator's control.

The two most important things you need to understand about Pearl Harbor...

1. You MUST plan it right away. The longer you wait the cost of flights can only go UP and your chances of seeing the Arizona Memorial can only go DOWN.

2. Once you have reserved your package involving interisland airfare you should consider it "set in stone." Due to interisland flight restrictions your event cannot be cancelled or refunded (unless the airline cancels due to weather or mechanical issues, etc). And while date changes may be possible, significant airline change fees will likely make any date change "cost prohibitive."