On Visiting Pearl Harbor

[federali]

A sudden opportunity has presented itself and my wife and I will travel to Hawaii the last week in July. Pearl Harbor is on my bucket list as I've never been to Hawaii.

I would appreciate any advice or wisdom on how best to visit Pearl Harbor. Some basic research indicates that there are many excursion services there. I know they could be pricey but I like the idea of being picked up at my hotel and to not have to worry about getting lost or missing nearby sites I didn't know were there.

Three years ago, an excursion service picked us up at our Paris hotel and drove us to the Normandy beaches and the American cemetery there. It was a great experience.

What else should we do in Honolulu? Many thanks in advance.

 

[fixitfred]

Where are you staying? You may want to start early and catch "THE BUS"

 

[the ringo kid]

I cant offer any advice but--lots of pictures wanted--especially of the USS Arizona. I heard that some Arizona Vets still do certain activities concerning the ship.

 

[NYlakesider]

The Arizona tour is probably the most visited place on that island. Go early and be prepared for crowds.

Been there 4 times and each time the lines get longer. The last visit I toured the Missouri which was to me super good. My 2ed last visit the Missouri was in route so I made plans to see it the last trip.

 

[federali]

We'll be staying at Hilton Hawaiian Village® Waikiki Beach Resort.

Turns out my future daughter-in-law has been to Hawaii many times and she can assist with things to do. We'll try to book the Pearl Harbor excursion through the hotel.

 

[eb07]

I have been to both Normandy and Pearl Harbor It was the most humbling experiences of my life. Enjoy it and respect it for what it is.

 

[NYlakesider]

We'll be staying at Hilton Hawaiian Village® Waikiki Beach Resort.

Turns out my future daughter-in-law has been to Hawaii many times and she can assist with things to do. We'll try to book the Pearl Harbor excursion through the hotel.

Just to let you know there is a large military museum (Fort_DeRussy) within walking distance from the Waikiki area (It’s a long walk) its basically devoted TO ww2 in the pacific. I I found it very interesting and yes I did walk there.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Pearl Harbor

The Arizona and the Missouri are of course a must see but also the Submarine Museum which is in the same area and the Punch Bowl, which is the National Cemetery of the South Pacific with it's attendant monuments and displays of WWII. If you can get a tour around Ford Island, you can see what is left of the USS Utah. These tours take time and effort but are more than worth the effort. The Sub base, if you can get in, usually has a couple of Nukes tied up.

 

[S42N8]

Ford Island is worth the effort. Pearl Harbor is a must; go early. Punch Bowl is good, and goes counter flow of morning traffic in Waikiki. You might want to see the North Shore (avoid early mornings or late days - vandals.) The circle tour (1 day, ~120 miles) takes you around most of the island and by a lot of the tourist sites (North Shore, Kaneohe Bay, Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head.) If you can visit the sister islands, Volcanos Natl Park is awesome, and stop by my favorite place - Greenwell Farms Coffee Plantation. (Real Kona coffee, fresh roasted on site. Yum!)

 

[jeffsmith]

Pacific Aviation Museum

This is located in the Historic Ford Island Hangers

 

[MasterTech1960]

A sudden opportunity has presented itself and my wife and I will travel to Hawaii the last week in July. Pearl Harbor is on my bucket list as I've never been to Hawaii.

Three years ago, an excursion service picked us up at our Paris hotel and drove us to the Normandy beaches and the American cemetery there. It was a great experience.

You my friend are a lucky man. Pearl Harbor is also on my list of things to see . I have walked the beaches of Normandy , as we have relatives over there. My Mom is French. My Dad was stationed near Paris and met my Mother. My Grandfather was a Officer in the French Cavalry. He was captured by the Germans and held for two years in a POW camp. To see Normandy was a very emotional event for me as I am sure Pearl Harbor will be in the future.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Do you have a suitcase that I could fit into?

 

[Murphy's Law]

Many times in my 22 years in the Navy I have pulled into Pearl aboard ship and maned the rails with other shipmates. Everyone salutes. Not once was I able to hold the tears back saluting the AZ knowing how many fellow sailors remain in her hull. A must see for sure.

 

[Backlighting]

We'll be staying at Hilton Hawaiian Village® Waikiki Beach Resort.

Turns out my future daughter-in-law has been to Hawaii many times and she can assist with things to do. We'll try to book the Pearl Harbor excursion through the hotel.

I've been to Pearl 2x. I was staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and took a public bus to the site. Just ask someone working at the hotel where it stops.

 

[joeintexas]

No advice, just a congrats on the trip opportunity. Have a wonderful and safe time!

 

[Art Doc]

Not much to it. Take a bus out there and get in line. Not hard or complicated.

Here's a shot I took of windows in an old hanger showing bullet holes from 12/7/41.

Oh, gotta buy a shirt and do a luau...

 

[Bajadoc]

I assume you're the one in the bottom picture, far right.

 

[fixitfred]

If it's still there you can see what a 2.2 billion dollar boat anchor looks like.

Report: Pearl Harbor's golf ball-shaped radar is "$2.2-billion f - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

 

[GaryS]

My wife and I went in 2009 for our 35th anniversary. We stayed at a time share in Waikiki for a week. That was a gift from my sister in law.
We also had a rental car, so take that into account from what I post.

USS Arizona. Get there early. We were there a 0600 and got on the first boat out to the memorial. One thing found interesting is that there were a lot of Japanese tourists that went there. By the time we came back, about 0800, the line was about three hours long.

Pacific Aviation Museum. It was only one hanger a few years ago, but I think it's grown. I had a great time there.

USS Missouri. Worth the trip, the guides are volunteers and some are better than others.

Ford Island itself. There are a lot of things to see and I think there is an organized tour, but we didn't do it. Probably a mistake since I doubt I'll get back.

The Punch Bowl. Another must see. Plan on a couple of hours.

Check the hours on the Fort_DeRussy museum. It was never open when I could go.

There is a Polynesian Village theme park (sort of) on the North Shore. It's run by Brigham Young University. It's a whole day affair if you decide to go, with a Luau at night. It's staffed (mostly) by young people from the various islands who will tell you about historic life on the various islands.

You'll see a few indoor firing ranges in Waikiki. As bad as Hawaii gun laws are, Japans are far worse and they draw a lot of tourists to them. I think some of them feature full automatic firearms, but I did nothing more than look at the signs.

The beaches are gorgeous. I'm not really a beach guy, but I did a lot of walking up and down the beaches. The ocean and ahem, other scenery, are incredible.

We never got to Diamond Head, another thing if we ever do get back.

A couple of practical things. We were advised to stay to tourist areas. Honolulu is not much different than any other big city. There is crime, there are people who will prey on tourists, there are poor people. Stay to the touristy areas and you'll be fine. Lots of cops in Waikiki to keep the tourists safe.

Lots of homeless people there too. They aren't supposed to camp on the beaches, but they seem to do it without being bothered.

We used a book called "Oahu Revealed", written by a guy that lives there. Very valuable in finding good deals in restaurants and other things. I found some really good and not too expensive places to have breakfast within walking distance of where we were staying.

There's also a huge Sunday morning flea market if you're into that sort of thing. It's near Pearl Harbor, so it's not walking distance.

It's pretty expensive, but you probably know that already. I'd go back one time if I could, just to catch the things that we missed.

One last thing. If you buy a Hawaiian shirt, wear it untucked.

 

[scha]

When everyone else in the Army was being sent to Vietnam, I was sent to Hawaii back in 1970-71. I visited the Arizona back then and you had to take a Navy shuttle boat out to the memorial. Today, it is much more commercialized. I was also lucky enough to be able to practice take off and landings on Ford Island. I was working on my Flight Instructors rating at the time and practicing take offs and landings at Honolulu International wasn't very practical so the Navy let civilian planes use the strip on Ford Island. Lots of chances to see the outline of the Arizona's hull from the air. I was back to Hawaii two years ago and Ford Island certainly has changed. I did the extra detailed below deck tour of the Missouri and that was very interesting. Only two of us on the tour with a personal guide. Battleships are certainly impressive. Yes, it is a very emotional place.

Steve