Deluxe Arizona Memorial Bowfin Submarine and Honolulu City Tour

Pearl Harbor is the heart of this outing, and the most valuable part is the reserved access to the Arizona Memorial shuttle boat. You watch original footage of the December 7, 1941 attack, visit the two museum galleries, then cross the harbor to the memorial above the sunken USS Arizona. That boat ride can save you from a long wait and uncertain same-day availability.

I like two things especially: the small group, limited to 14 people, and the unusual chance to tour the USS Bowfin submarine rather than simply look at it from shore. Guides named Vanessa, Akbar, and Ronaldo have been praised for their local knowledge and friendly service. The main drawback is pace. If Pearl Harbor grabs you, the two-and-a-half-hour stop may feel short, while the Honolulu portion is mainly a drive-by tour.

Key points at a glance

• Reserved Arizona Memorial access: Your package includes the ticket and Navy shuttle boat ride, subject to military and weather restrictions.
• Two Pearl Harbor museums: Road to War and Attack provide context before you reach the memorial.
• USS Bowfin interior tour: Walk through a real submarine with an audio set and museum admission.
• Small-group transportation: Waikiki pickup is provided, with a maximum of 14 people.
• Historic Honolulu drive: See Iolani Palace, the Capitol, King Kamehameha’s statue, Washington Place, and Punchbowl.
• Strict bag rule: Bring no bag to Pearl Harbor, including small purses, unless it is a permitted clear bag.

Why the Arizona Memorial reservation matters

A visit to Pearl Harbor can be frustrating if you arrive without a plan. Access to the Arizona Memorial is limited, and the Navy shuttle boat schedule controls the visit. This tour handles the Arizona Memorial ticket in advance, which is the main reason to consider paying for an organized excursion instead of arranging every piece yourself.

Your day begins with pickup from a designated Waikiki hotel area. The operator confirms the pickup details the day before, and you need to be ready a few minutes early. Late arrival means missing the tour, with no rescheduling, so this is not the morning to wander down for coffee at the last minute.

At the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, your guide helps set the scene before you enter the visitor center. The two included museum galleries, Road to War and Attack, explain the political buildup and the attack itself. Original footage gives the event a direct, unsettling quality. You are not simply looking at dates on a wall. You see the moment that pulled the United States into World War II.

The Arizona Memorial sits above the remains of the USS Arizona, where more than 1,000 sailors and Marines lost their lives. The memorial visit is quiet and reflective. The Navy shuttle boat is part of the experience, not just a transfer. You cross the water, spend time at the memorial, and return to the visitor center according to the assigned schedule.

There is an important qualification. The Navy can cancel the boat ride because of rough weather, mechanical trouble, or safety concerns. Ford Island is also an active military area, and access rules can change without notice. If the memorial boat is canceled by the National Park Service or Navy, the tour does not promise a refund. You should understand that limitation before booking.

The Pearl Harbor museums deserve your attention

The scheduled Pearl Harbor stop lasts about two hours and 30 minutes. That includes the museums, the film, the memorial shuttle, and related movement through the visitor center. It is enough for a focused introduction, but not enough for every exhibit at a leisurely pace.

I recommend entering with a simple plan. First, watch the attack footage if the schedule allows. Then spend time in both galleries, rather than rushing straight toward the boat. Road to War helps explain the events leading to the attack, while Attack focuses more closely on December 7 and its immediate consequences.

The two galleries make the memorial more meaningful. Without that background, the boat trip can feel like a quick photo stop. With it, the memorial becomes part of a larger story about military planning, international tension, and the human cost of a single morning.

The tradeoff is that your timing may be tight. A late pickup, heavy traffic, or a delayed shuttle can reduce your museum time. One account of the tour described a rushed visit before an 11:30 a.m. memorial departure. That is a useful warning: the reserved ticket protects your place, but it does not create extra hours in the day.

Walking inside the USS Bowfin submarine

The USS Bowfin is the most hands-on portion of the outing. Admission includes the submarine, the Submarine Museum, and an audio set. You walk through the vessel’s interior, seeing the cramped spaces and equipment that made life aboard a wartime submarine so demanding.

I especially like this stop because it adds physical scale to the Pearl Harbor story. Museum panels can explain submarine warfare, but narrow passageways, compact living areas, and tightly arranged machinery show you what service aboard a submarine actually required. The displays also help explain how the vessel operated in action.

The Bowfin portion is scheduled for about two hours and 30 minutes, though the exact amount of usable time depends on the day’s transportation and ticket schedule. Some people move through the submarine quickly. If you want to read the displays and use the audio set carefully, keep an eye on the clock.

The Bowfin is located at the Pearl Harbor visitor center, so you do not need a separate long transfer between the two Pearl Harbor attractions. That makes the combined package efficient. You get the memorial visit and the submarine in one morning or afternoon block, instead of arranging separate transportation.

The submarine also provides a useful contrast. The Arizona Memorial is solemn and open to reflection. The Bowfin is enclosed, mechanical, and practical. Together, they give you two very different ways to understand the Pacific War.

What the small-group vehicle adds

The tour includes round-trip transportation from designated Waikiki pickup points, with no more than 14 people. That is smaller than many standard coach outings and can make a real difference on a long day. You spend less time managing a large group and more time listening to the guide or getting through the scheduled stops.

Past departures have used guides such as Vanessa, Akbar, and Ronaldo. Their strongest quality is the personal commentary during the drive. This is not a fully guided walking tour at every location, but the ride gives you a chance to hear about Hawaii and the places you are passing.

The vehicle arrangements have not pleased everyone. One booking used a large SUV for six people, while the passengers expected more individual seats. The operator described it as an upgrade, but the experience felt cramped to that group. Vehicle type can vary, so do not book this expecting a private limousine or guaranteed spacious seating.

You also cannot eat or drink inside the vehicle. Breakfast and lunch are not included, and the operator asks you to eat before pickup. A bottle of water is provided for each passenger, but plan your morning around the food restriction. This matters on a seven-hour outing.

Historic Honolulu in 90 minutes

After Pearl Harbor, the tour makes a short drive through Honolulu. This portion lasts about one hour and 30 minutes and is designed as an introduction, not a full city sightseeing tour with extended stops.

You pass through historic downtown and see:

• Iolani Palace
• The Hawaii State Capitol
• The golden statue of King Kamehameha the Great
• Washington Place
• Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery

Iolani Palace is especially important because it connects modern Honolulu with the era of the Hawaiian monarchy. The Capitol and Washington Place add political context, while the King Kamehameha statue gives you one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Punchbowl, formally the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, brings the day back to military memory.

Most of these sights are viewed from the vehicle rather than explored inside. That is fine if you want orientation before spending time elsewhere in Honolulu. It is not enough if your main goal is palace interiors, detailed museum visits, or a long walk through downtown.

The city drive can also be shortened by traffic, government restrictions, or individual drop-off needs. On one departure, Punchbowl access was restricted for a holiday preparation period, and the route was adjusted. You should treat this part as flexible.

If you are dropped at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the arrangement changes. The airport is before downtown and Waikiki on the return route, so airport drop-off happens directly after Pearl Harbor. You will not continue with the full Honolulu drive.

Is $155 a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Pearl Harbor. You are paying for transportation, a small group, advance handling of the Arizona Memorial ticket, Bowfin admission, and a guide who keeps the day moving.

The price makes the most sense if you are staying in Waikiki and want one booking to cover the major logistics. The Arizona Memorial reservation is the key value. It avoids the risk of arriving without a boat ticket, and it saves you from arranging a separate ride to Pearl Harbor.

The value is weaker if you only want the museums or if you already have reliable transportation. In that case, you may prefer to spend a full day at Pearl Harbor at your own pace. This tour is built for convenience and coverage, not unlimited time at each exhibit.

I would also factor in the small-group size. A 14-person maximum is more appealing than a large bus, especially when the route includes a serious memorial site and several downtown landmarks. Still, the vehicle may be an SUV or another small vehicle, and seating comfort is not guaranteed beyond the stated group limit.

Practical advice before pickup

The bag rule is unusually strict. Pearl Harbor’s visitor center does not allow bags of any kind, regardless of brand, size, color, or purpose. A clear see-through bag is permitted, but the safest choice is to bring nothing that could be treated as a bag.

Do not leave luggage in the tour vehicle. The operator says there is no space for suitcases or other luggage, and the vehicle cannot carry it. If you arrive with a prohibited bag, you may need to use paid storage and wait in line. That could cut into museum time or cause your Arizona Memorial ticket to expire.

Keep your phone charged and switched on. The operator contacts you the day before to confirm pickup details, and an active phone helps if the driver needs to reach you. If you have an international number, contact the company after 5 p.m. the day before. Cruise ship passengers also need to confirm pickup details directly.

Eat breakfast before leaving. Food and drinks are not allowed inside the vehicle, and lunch is not included. The day is long enough that arriving hungry can make the tight schedule feel even tighter.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The experience may also be canceled for poor weather or if its minimum number is not reached, in which case you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this Pearl Harbor tour?

I would choose this tour if you want the Arizona Memorial, the Bowfin, and a quick look at Honolulu in one day. It is particularly useful if you are staying in Waikiki, do not want to drive, and value a prearranged memorial ticket.

It also suits first-time visitors who want historical context without planning several separate reservations. A guide such as Vanessa, Akbar, or Ronaldo can make the transfer time useful, and the small group is easier to manage than a large coach.

I would hesitate if you are a serious museum visitor who reads every panel and wants time for every Pearl Harbor exhibit. The schedule can feel rushed, especially if traffic or pickup delays cut into the first stop. I would also hesitate if you need guaranteed roomy seating, plan to bring luggage, or want an extensive Honolulu walking tour.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours. The listed schedule includes about two hours and 30 minutes at Pearl Harbor National Memorial, two hours and 30 minutes at the USS Bowfin area, and about one hour and 30 minutes for the Honolulu drive.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup and return transportation from designated Waikiki hotel areas are included. The operator confirms pickup details the day before.

Can I meet the group at Pearl Harbor?

No. The operator does not meet passengers at Pearl Harbor or another location outside the designated pickup areas.

Is the Arizona Memorial ticket included?

Yes. The tour includes a reserved Arizona Memorial ticket and the U.S. Navy shuttle boat ride to the memorial, subject to Navy, National Park Service, weather, mechanical, and military access restrictions.

What happens if the Arizona Memorial boat is canceled?

The Navy can cancel the boat for safety, weather, mechanical, or other operational reasons. The operator states that tours are non-refundable when the National Park Service or Navy cancels the boat program.

Is the USS Bowfin included?

Yes. Admission to the USS Bowfin submarine and Submarine Museum is included, along with an audio set tour.

Can I bring a bag to Pearl Harbor?

No bags of any kind are allowed inside the Pearl Harbor visitor center. Clear see-through bags are permitted. Paid storage may be available, but lines can cause you to lose tour time.

Is food included?

No. Breakfast and lunch are not included. You should eat breakfast before pickup, and food or drinks are not allowed inside the tour vehicle. A bottle of water is provided for each passenger.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 14 participants. Some departures may use a smaller vehicle or smaller group arrangement.

Can I be dropped at the airport?

Yes, if your pickup location is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. After Pearl Harbor, airport passengers are returned directly to the airport rather than continuing on the downtown Honolulu and Waikiki drive.