Pearl Harbor Tour Tickets

[philipgallo]

Hey folks -

My apologies if this isn't the right forum or if this has been answered elsewhere: We'll be in O'ahu April 10-17 and would love to take the kids to Pearl Harbor and do whatever tour is best to experience the monument and area to its fullest. I have seen that you can book tickets through recreation.gov but I've looked for our dates and they are sold out. I would like to have some tickets for a specific time slot if possible as we'll have 4 kids in tow.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks, all!

 

[Luanne]

If they are sold out on the recreation.gov website you could check into booking a tour through a separate company. I would think they might have space available.

 

[LisaRex]

Even if the tickets are sold out online, they will still have some available for walk-ins. Just plan to get there very early.

Also, Viator.com has lots of tours available. The cheapest is ~$150 for 4 people. Well worth it if you have young kids because they can chill out on the bus in between stops.

 

[alwysonvac]

Do it on your own. A tour is not necessary. I recommend the audio headsets.
I've taken family and friends several times without pre-reserved tickets. Just plan to arrive early.

Tickets & Parking are free.
FAQ - https://www.nps.gov/valr/faqs.htm

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open seven days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.
Timed programs to the USS Arizona Memorial begin at 7:30 a.m. and run through 3:00 p.m. daily, starting every 15 minutes (except for 12:15 and 12:30). Programs to the USS Arizona Memorial include a 23-minute documentary film, followed by a boat ride to the memorial. All together, the program lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes.

While you are welcome to bring cameras, water bottles, and other items, bags are not allowed on site for security reasons. You will be required to check them at the Baggage Storage building located just to the right of the visitor center entrance. There is a fee of $3 per bag.
NOTE: Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

From https://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/fees.htm

Walk-in Tickets to the Memorial

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is managed by the National Park Service. Parking, entrance, and tickets are free to all visitors. Over 1,000 free tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial are available daily on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are issued to each individual visitor; therefore, all individuals in your party must be present at the ticket counter at the time of issue.

Tickets are required for our timed programs to the memorial, which run seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every 15 minutes (except for 12:15 and 12:30). The program starts in our theater with a 23-minute documentary about the Pearl Harbor attack. After the film, visitors board a U.S. Navy boat for a 15-minute ride to the USS Arizona Memorial. You'll have about 20 minutes to spend at the memorial before your boat ride back. All together, each program takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Please note: Everyone going on the USS Arizona Memorial tour is required to have a ticket, including young children.

Visitors are also invited to see our two museums and walk along the harbor. Audio tours are available for purchase and cover points of interest throughout the grounds, at the museums, and at the memorial.

USS Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center Audio Tour

The audio tour for the USS Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center is available through our partner association, Pacific Historic Parks. The tour is available in English, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, German, Spanish, and French, for a cost of $7.50 per headset. If you plan to make reservations online, you will have the option to reserve headsets ahead of time, as well.

 

[mjm1]

I recommend this tour to everyone. A number of years ago they added a walk through display and video area that is very informative. We killed some time going through that before our assigned time came up.

I also recommend going on the USS Missouri, the battleship on which the Japanese surrendered. That was quite an experience to walk around the ship and see the exact spot where the ceremony took place.

They also have a airplane museum I the area. We haven't seen it yet, but I suspect that would also be a good experience.

Have fun.

Mike

 

[alwysonvac]

Yes, I recommend the battleship Missouri too

For the Missouri, I recommend their Guided Tours (see link). We enjoyed the Guided Tours much more than the audio tour especially the Heart of Missouri tour
https://ussmissouri.org/plan-your-visit/tours/

The Pacific Aviation Museum is cool too if you have time and not too tired after visiting the Arizona Memorial, the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center and the Missouri. The museum is not a must do. There's also the Bowfin Submarine as well.
http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/
http://www.bowfin.org/

And nearby at the Aloha Stadium is the Swap Meet (Flea Market) on Wed, Sat & Sun- http://www.alohastadiumswapmeet.net/content/home.aspx

 

[lily28]

We went to Pearl Harbor every time we were in honolulu. Last year, the tickets were sold out when we arrived in early afternoon. We ended up waiting at the standby line and everyone on the standby lines were able to go. We did get in line about 15-20 early to better our chance of getting on the tour

 

[singlemalt_18]

They also have a airplane museum I the area. We haven't seen it yet, but I suspect that would also be a good experience.

The Pacific Aviation Museum and Hangar 79 are an incredible new part of the Pearl Harbor experience and absolutely a "must do".

 

[philipgallo]

Thanks for all the great feedback, everyone!

 

[singlemalt_18]

Although it is a bit late in the game, you may want to check with these guys:

http://adventureinhawaii.com/oahu/pearl-harbor/

We had a full day package with all necessary ground transportation, and it was a good way to maximize your time. It included both DYI and guided portions - the guided parts were very good - for other parts they tell you what time to be back at the shuttle, and "don't be late!"

Our package included Pearl Harbor, Bowfin and Museum, Mighty Mo, Pacific Aviation and Hangar 79, plus a lite lunch and a drive thru Punchbowl National Cemetery. It was a very long day, but I don't think we could have done as much on our own.

There may be somewhat of a premium with their packages, but the experience was excellent. In our case it included island hop airfare to and from Maui, but it sounds like you don't need that. Good luck!

 

[alwysonvac]

For those who don't know...

Pearl Harbor is very easy to do on your own (especially if you want to avoid the high tour prices and/or like to visit at your own pace)

• All Pearl Harbor attractions are accessed via Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Park (by walking or their internal shuttle bus to Ford Island).
• How to get there on your own by car or the public bus - https://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/directions.htm
• How to get there on your own by taxi - http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Honolulu & https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g29222-s304/Oahu:Hawaii:Taxis.And.Rental.Cars.html
  
• There are several places to pick up something to eat. The Visitors Center has a small snack shop on site where you can buy sandwiches, snacks, drinks, etc. The USS Bowfin Submarine and Museum has a small concession area where you can buy hotdogs and soup. The Battleship Missouri has a lunch wagon, and the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island has a cafe - http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/visit/cafe

From - http://www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org/map

TOUR INFORMATION
USS Arizona Memorial: Program length is 75 minutes and programs run from 7:45am through 3:00pm.
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park: Allow 1 hour on site.
USS Oklahoma Memorial: Allow 15 minutes.
Battleship Missouri Memorial: Allow at least 2 hours on site.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor: Allow at least 2 hours on site.

TICKETS & ADMISSION
USS Arizona Memorial: Free admission obtained at the Visitor Center. Program tickets are first come, first served.
USS Oklahoma Memorial: Free. Requires shuttle ticket.
USS Bowfin, Battleship Missouri Memorial & Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor: Tickets available at Pearl Harbor Visitor Center ticketing window.

TRANSPORTATION
Shuttle stop to Ford Island departs from inside the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Park. Shuttles run from 8:00am - 5:00pm. Allow 30 minutes for roundtrip shuttle ride. Visitor Center is accessible by TheBus (city bus #20 or #42) from Waikiki.

 

[alwysonvac]

The Pacific Aviation Museum is cool too if you have time and not too tired after visiting the Arizona Memorial, the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center and the Missouri. The museum is not a must do. There's also the Bowfin Submarine as well.
http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/
http://www.bowfin.org/

The Pacific Aviation Museum and Hangar 79 are an incredible new part of the Pearl Harbor experience and absolutely a "must do".

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one

JMHO....As I stated the museum is cool (especially for fans of aviation) but there are so many Aviation Museum across the US this just isn't a must do on our list. We took our teenage nephew to the Pacific Aviation Museum during one of our Oahu trips since he hadn't been to many Aviation museums and saw Hangar 79 which we all enjoyed.

 

[singlemalt_18]

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one

Not sure I could agree to disagree…? Let’s see, “swap meet” or Pacific Aviation Museum? Hmmmm, let me think…

Ok, I choose:

- Seeing the only surviving B-29 from Doolittle’s raid, exactly as it was the day it crashed in New Guinea after completing its suicide mission. (absolutely haunting BTW)
- Seeing the actual bullet holes from the day of the attack still present in the original glass in the hangar doors
- Learning about the details of the Niihau Incident and the plight of Japanese fighter pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi who was heroically killed by Niihauans "Ben" Kanahele and "Ella" Kanahele, and the subsequent suicide of Yoshio Harada
- Seeing the tractor that the Robinson Family used in its 8 year long quest - prior to the attack - to plow cross patterns in the island after being warned in 1933 that the Japanese might try to seize the island as an advance base for a takeover of the Hawaiian Islands.

Thanks, but you can have the swap meet.

 

[alwysonvac]

NEVER MIND I'm done here :ignore:

 

[frank808]

Not sure I could agree to disagree…? Let’s see, “swap meet” or Pacific Aviation Museum? Hmmmm, let me think…

Ok, I choose:

- Seeing the only surviving B-29 from Doolittle’s raid, exactly as it was the day it crashed in New Guinea after completing its suicide mission. (absolutely haunting BTW)


FYI The bombers used by Doolittles Raiders were actually B25 models. The B29 did not enter service for another 2.5 years after the raid. Most of the bombers made it to crash in China, a few crashed in the ocean on the way to China and one bomber crashed in Russia.
New Guinea is south of Japan and about 1500 miles North of Australia. It would be impossible for a B25 to bomb Japan then turn south and fly 3000 miles to New Guinea.

 

[LisaRex]

- Seeing the tractor that the Robinson Family used in its 8 year long quest - prior to the attack - to plow cross patterns in the island after being warned in 1933 that the Japanese might try to seize the island as an advance base for a takeover of the Hawaiian Islands.

Total sidetrack, but why were they plowing cross patterns in the soil after being warned that the Japanese might seize the island? What did that accomplish?

 

[singlemalt_18]

Total sidetrack, but why were they plowing cross patterns in the soil after being warned that the Japanese might seize the island? What did that accomplish?

Niihau topography was favorable for airplanes to land on. It was US Army Engineers that gave this warning to the Niihauans years in advance of the Pearl Harbor attack. The Robinson's were an influential family on the island, and its patriarch took it upon himself to buy a tractor and begin plowing up the land over a period of years in order to prevent Japanese planes from landing.

His efforts would eventually pay off, when on the day of the attack a Japanese fighter pilot would try to land his disabled plane upon retreating from the attack. That is when the story gets interesting; it is known as the Nihau Incident. The tractor and remains of the plane wreckage are part of the museum collection.

FYI The bombers used by Doolittles Raiders were actually B25 models. The B29 did not enter service for another 2.5 years after the raid. Most of the bombers made it to crash in China, a few crashed in the ocean on the way to China and one bomber crashed in Russia.
New Guinea is south of Japan and about 1500 miles North of Australia. It would be impossible for a B25 to bomb Japan then turn south and fly 3000 miles to New Guinea.

You are right, good catch. The plane I was remembering is a B-17 that has become known as the Swamp Ghost. (Our Navy Aviator tour guide kept making references to the Doolittle Raid and the similarities of their missions with respect to running out of fuel.)

The original plan was to do a restoration of this plane and bring it back to "museum quality", but once they got it back on US soil, they quickly realized it was not meant to be touched. We were told the plan is to eventually display it in a mock-up of the swamp, exactly as it was found in New Guinea. It is a remarkable thing to see, and it sends a chill.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/swamp-ghost-pearl-harbor-wwii-bomber-hawaii_us_56200556e4b0c5a1ce62a803

My apologies to real WWII Historians for any other errors. Its just further evidence that the PAM should be included in any Pearl Harbor plan if possible. Disclosure: although I have passion for Civil and World War history... I was on vacation too.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Even at 7:15am the parking lot was half full in the one section, and there was lines- get there early