Pearl Harbor USS Arizona & Bowfin Submarine

Pearl Harbor is not a quick photo stop. The USS Arizona Memorial sits above the sunken battleship, where more than a thousand sailors remain entombed. This tour gives you a boat ride to the memorial, access to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and a close look at the cramped USS Bowfin submarine in one organized morning.

I like two things here: reserved admission saves time, and the guide helps connect the exhibits to the larger story of the December 7 attack and the Pacific War. I also like the practical pickup from Waikiki, especially if you do not want to arrange a taxi or navigate a bus connection.

The main drawback is that the day can feel long, with six to seven hours including driving. Pickup has also been uneven at times, and the guided portion at Pearl Harbor may be lighter than some people expect. You are buying convenient transport and organized access, not a private historian at your side every minute.

Key points to know before booking

• The USS Arizona boat ride is included, but the National Park Service or Navy can cancel it for weather, mechanical trouble, or safety reasons.
• The USS Bowfin is a real WWII submarine, with narrow passageways, tight sleeping quarters, and torpedoes close to the crew’s living spaces.
• Pickup is designed mainly for Waikiki hotels, with port pickup noted in the tour details, so confirm your exact meeting point before the morning of departure.
• No bags are allowed at Pearl Harbor, and the bag restriction is easy to overlook when packing for the day.
• The group can reach 24 people, making this more social and less personal than a small private tour.
• The tour costs $59, a fair price if you value transport, reserved access, the boat ticket, and Bowfin admission more than a fully guided museum visit.

Why the USS Arizona Memorial carries such weight

Pearl Harbor National Memorial is the heart of the outing. The attack on December 7, 1941 changed the course of the United States and the Second World War, but the site is not only about dates and military decisions. It is also a place of personal loss.

You begin at the visitor center and receive an in-person briefing. Narrated stops and films help explain what happened, while exhibits and National Park Service archival material add names, photographs, and physical evidence to the story. That matters because the memorial can otherwise feel abstract. The displays give you a clearer sense of the people and machines involved.

The USS Arizona Memorial itself is reached by boat. The ride is included in the price, which is important because this is the signature part of the visit. From the white memorial structure, you can look down toward the battleship below and see oil that still rises from the wreck. The quiet setting makes this less like a museum exhibit and more like a place of remembrance.

The memorial includes the names of those who died aboard the Arizona. You may also hear about former crew members who chose to be placed with their shipmates after death. That detail gives the visit an emotional force that photographs alone cannot provide.

Allow yourself time to be quiet. This is not a stop where you rush through, take a selfie, and move on. Some parts of the experience can be physically tiring, especially when combined with the submarine visit, but the subject deserves a slower pace.

What your guide adds at Pearl Harbor

The driver or guide is an important part of the value. Several guides have received strong praise for being warm, funny, helpful, and well informed. Arlayne has been singled out for keeping people organized and explaining what to expect. Anthony has been praised for both local history and thoughtful service after a forgotten item was left on the shuttle. Ian, Sergei, Will, Ro Ro, and Barney have also led well-regarded outings.

That said, do not expect the same guiding style every time. One poor experience described the operator mainly as a transportation service, with little guidance once inside the base. That is a useful warning. The quality of the day can depend heavily on your assigned driver and on how much independent time the group receives.

The guide can still be useful even without walking beside you everywhere. A good introduction helps you understand the order of the exhibits, the memorial rules, and the meaning of the sites. It also reduces the stress of figuring out where to go next.

Pickup is another part of the guide’s job. The tour begins at about 8:30 in the morning, and the schedule needs to work around traffic, timed access, and the boat departure. One delayed pickup was reported at around 40 minutes, while other outings used clean vehicles and ran on time. I would keep your morning flexible and avoid scheduling a tight activity immediately afterward.

Inside the USS Bowfin, the Pearl Harbor Avenger

The USS Bowfin adds a different kind of history to the day. The submarine was launched on December 7, 1942, exactly one year after the attack. Its nickname, the Pearl Harbor Avenger, explains why its permanent home beside the memorial feels appropriate.

Bowfin served as a fleet attack submarine in the Pacific. It also helps explain why submariners were called the Silent Service. The memorial honors those lost in a surprise attack, while Bowfin shows the difficult work carried out by crews after the United States entered the war.

The submarine itself is the main attraction. You move through narrow passageways and compact compartments, seeing how the crew worked, slept, and lived among machinery and torpedoes. The space is not easy for everyone. Taller people, older visitors, and anyone with limited mobility may find the ladders and low passageways demanding.

That discomfort is part of the lesson. It is hard to picture a crew living aboard in such tight quarters until you see the bunks and equipment in person. The submarine also offers a useful contrast with the open memorial outside. One site asks you to reflect on loss; the other shows the pressure and danger of service at sea.

Plan to spend about an hour at Bowfin. You will also have access to the submarine museum and park, not only the vessel. The exhibits cover submarine warfare and boats lost at sea, adding useful context before or after you go aboard.

Honolulu sights on the way back

The day may include brief views or drive-by stops around central Honolulu. Punchbowl Crater is an extinct volcanic tuff cone that now serves as a memorial to members of the United States Armed Forces, including those who gave their lives.

You may also see several historic landmarks near Honolulu’s business district. These include Iolani Palace, the King Kamehameha statue, Kawaiahao Church, Aloha Tower, the Hawaii State Capitol, Washington Place, and Honolulu Hale.

These stops are not the main reason to book the tour, and the amount of time available at each can vary. They work best as an added introduction to Honolulu rather than a full city tour. If you have never visited the downtown area, the drive gives you useful bearings and a glimpse beyond Waikiki’s hotels and beaches.

One useful scheduling detail came from an outing that finished the Pearl Harbor portion early, leaving time for additional Honolulu sights. Another person felt the overall tour ran about an hour too long. In practice, the day may feel just right if you want a broad introduction, but slow if Pearl Harbor is your only goal.

Is $59 good value?

At $59, this is a sensible package for someone staying in Waikiki. The price includes transport, the USS Arizona boat ticket, Pearl Harbor admission, and the USS Bowfin submarine and museum. Buying those pieces separately may take more planning, and you would still need to arrange transportation to the memorial.

The strongest value is convenience. You do not have to worry as much about the long ticket lines, the drive to Pearl Harbor, or finding the next stop inside the complex. That can be worth more than the price difference for a first visit or for anyone on a cruise stop with limited time.

The weaker value is the level of personal attention. A group of up to 24 people is not enormous, but it is large enough that you may spend much of the visit on your own. If your main aim is a detailed, guided interpretation inside every exhibit, compare this with a smaller specialist tour.

The tour also makes financial sense if you want Bowfin. If you only care about the Arizona Memorial and prefer to spend the rest of the day at your own pace, a simpler visit may suit you better. The $59 price is fair because it bundles several admissions and transport, not because every minute is guided.

Practical rules that can shape your morning

The bag rule deserves special attention. No bags are allowed at Pearl Harbor, so do not arrive with a purse, backpack, or day bag unless the operator gives you a specific storage instruction. One person specifically wished this had been explained earlier. Pack as lightly as possible and confirm the current procedure before departure.

Wear clothing and shoes that make walking easy. You will move between outdoor areas, exhibits, the boat, and the submarine. Bowfin can be physically demanding, and wheelchairs or scooters cannot be accommodated by every vehicle. If you use a mobility device, call the operator right after booking to arrange suitable transport.

Pickup is offered from Waikiki hotels, and the tour information also refers to port pickup. Another section limits included pickup and drop-off to Waikiki hotels, while Ko Olina pickup is not offered unless the booking title specifically says it is from Ko Olina. Because these details do not fully match, confirm your location rather than assuming the shuttle will come to you.

The group size is capped at 24, and most people can participate. The start time is 8:30 in the morning, with the full outing lasting about six hours, sometimes described as six to seven hours including driving.

The Arizona boat program can be canceled by the National Park Service or Navy because of mechanical trouble, dangerous weather, or another safety issue. The supplied terms say the tour is non-refundable in that situation, so this is worth understanding before you pay.

For ordinary cancellations, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this Pearl Harbor tour?

I would choose this for a first visit to Pearl Harbor, especially if you are staying in Waikiki and want one organized day. It suits families with older children, history-minded visitors, cruise passengers, and anyone who prefers a guide to handle transport and admission details.

It is also a good match if you want both remembrance and military technology. The Arizona Memorial and Bowfin show two different sides of the war, and the nearby Honolulu landmarks add a little more local context.

I would think twice if you dislike fixed schedules, shared shuttles, or extended days. The tour can feel padded if you finish the main sites early, and the guide may not accompany you through every section of the memorial grounds. People with mobility limits should check the vehicle and submarine requirements before booking.

My take: book it for ease, not total control

I would book this tour if your priorities are simple: get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor, avoid the worst ticket-line hassle, ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, and see Bowfin without piecing everything together yourself. The emotional power of the memorial and the physical reality of the submarine make a strong combination.

I would not book it expecting a private, fully guided experience from start to finish. Pickup delays have occurred, the shuttle may be basic, and the day can run longer than necessary. Still, at $59, the package offers solid value for a first visit, provided you confirm pickup, prepare for the no-bag rule, and accept that some time will be self-guided.

FAQ

What does the Pearl Harbor tour include?

The tour includes transportation, admission to Pearl Harbor National Memorial, the boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, and admission to the USS Bowfin submarine and museum.

Is the boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial included?

Yes. A ticket for the boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial is included.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about six hours, including travel time. The included information also describes the total duration as six to seven hours.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8:30 am.

Where is pickup offered?

Pickup and drop-off are included from Waikiki hotels. The tour overview also mentions port pickup, while another condition says Waikiki hotel pickup only. Confirm your exact meeting point before departure.

Can I bring a bag to Pearl Harbor?

No bags are allowed at Pearl Harbor. Plan carefully and confirm any storage instructions with the tour operator.

Is the USS Bowfin submarine included?

Yes. Admission to the USS Bowfin submarine, museum, and park is included.

Can people using wheelchairs or scooters join?

Not every tour vehicle can accommodate wheelchairs or scooters. Call the operator immediately after booking to make arrangements.

What happens if the USS Arizona boat ride is canceled?

The National Park Service or Navy may cancel the boat program because of mechanical problems, dangerous weather, or other safety concerns. The supplied terms state that tours are non-refundable when the boat ride is canceled for these reasons.