Pearl Harbour & Arizona Memorial - Alone or Robert Hawaii Tour?

[wendycook22]

We are staying on Waikiki Beach a few days prior to our cruise. I was wondering what people would recommend doing the tours on our own or with a company? I want to make sure we get the most out of our day there in the way of information and knowledge. I am not sure if we would get the same on our own or get more information on a tour?

 

The tour company I am looking at is Roberts Hawaii (which I have found him from recommendations on here). This is what it entails (12 hours long).

 

Oahu – Day at Pearl Harbor Tour - 134.50 pp

Tour Overview (*denotes stops made)

 

USS Battleship Missouri*

Pacific Aviation Museum*

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park*

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Iolani Palace

Kawaiahao Church

Hawaii State Capitol Grounds

Honolulu City Hall

Narrated Audio Tour at USS Arizona

“Road to War” and “Attack” Exhibit Galleries

Ford Island (drive through)

Downtown Honolulu

Pearl Harbor Visitor Center*

USS Arizona Memorial*

 

Has anyone done this tour or can anyone provide me with insight on what would be best? We are not renting a vehicle.

Edited May 28, 2015 by wendycook22

[Astro Flyer]

For me, their great public transportation system...The Bus (http://www.thebus.org)...is what I would use when having a few days on Oahu & not wanting to rent a car.

 

You could go to all of those places (or anywhere else on Oahu) for $2.50 one-way or only $1 if you have a Medicare card to travel like a local. If you were trying to see all those things in one day then maybe the Roberts tour would be your best option. However since you'll be there for a couple of days I would take The Bus. Even when we're only on a Oahu for the day during a cruise we have taken The Bus to PH. Some passengers have taken a taxi from the ship for about $35 to get to PH faster and take The Bus back to the ship.

 

You can make free tender boat reservations to the USS Arizona Memorial up to two months in advance on their website.

 

http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/index.htm

 

Here's a link to information about the USS Missouri and other paid options such as the submarine Bowfin at Pearl Harbor. https://ussmissouri.org If you want to experience everything at PH the Missouri organization offers a $65 pass or only purchase the things you want to visit:

 

Passport to Pearl Harbor

 

Experience all of Historic Pearl Harbor for one low price. The Passport to Pearl Harbor includes the following:

Audio Tour of the Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center

Mighty Mo Pass which includes:

Admission and your choice of the following tours:

35 Minute Mighty Mo Guided Tour

Acoustiguide Audio Tour

Guide-To-Go iPod Tour

Self Guided Tour

Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor Admission

Bowfin Museum and Park which includes:

Submarine Admission with Audio Tour

Museum Admission with Audio Tour

 

I know that you don't want to rent a car however even with all of the Honolulu traffic (Maui is busy enough for me ;)) I'd still consider it as the best way to explore Oahu for a couple of days. To me so much of the beauty of a Oahu is outside of Honolulu & is why I would rent a car. Even though recent surveys only place Honolulu behind LA for the worst traffic in the US, I'd still consider renting a car. Waikiki hotel parking can be expensive which I'd also consider. If you decide to explore that option be aware that construction on the light rail system around Honolulu has resulted in road closures & the potential for even worse traffic jams.

 

If I was on Oahu for a couple days pre-cruise I would prefer the flexibility of taking The Bus or renting a car over an escorted tour but that's just me. :)

Edited May 28, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[js4rq]

I recommend doing Pearl Harbour on your own.

 

The above poster has given excellent advice.

 

Do reserve your free USS Arizona memorial tickets at http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/index.htm

 

If you don't want to catch The Bus, I recommend Pearl Harbour transfers with VIP Trans, at $6pp one way or $9pp return. I have used their services and can recommend them. http://www.viptrans.com/

 

Good luck and happy planning!! :D

[Darcy15]

Another vote for The Bus - very easy, cheap and efficient :D

[wendycook22]

Thanks everyone- I am just worried I would miss out on something to see, do or take advantage of while in the area.

 

Greatly appreciate the advice. We aren't going until April 2016 so I have lots of time to figure it all out!

 

I am a huge planner.

[Lucky2326]

I would also recommend the Oahu revealed book. It gives you so many ideas of where to go and what to see. It has great maps and is well worth it. We did only Pearl harbor tour but the cheaper one. Did everything else on our own.

[Astro Flyer]

Thanks everyone- I am just worried I would miss out on something to see, do or take advantage of while in the area.

 

Greatly appreciate the advice. We aren't going until April 2016 so I have lots of time to figure it all out!

 

I am a huge planner.

I think that planning is part of the fun of a trip! :D

 

http://www.gohawaii.com/en/

 

I also want to learn about the history & the culture of destinations. If you'd like to learn about Hawaii the Bishop Museum is wonderful:

 

http://www.bishopmuseum.org

 

Also Iolani Palace is another enjoyable historical building & the hike to the top of Diamond Head has amazing views.

I would also recommend the Oahu revealed book. It gives you so many ideas of where to go and what to see. It has great maps and is well worth it. We did only Pearl harbor tour but the cheaper one. Did everything else on our own.

I agree...the "Revealed" series of books are the best on every island but just heed their cautions to have a safe & fun experience. ;)

Edited May 28, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[Rebel54]

Personally I wouldn't spend money on a tour to Pearl Harbor. You can get there by bus easy or rent a car and make it part of a day. You won't be able to drive or bus onto Ford Island but there is a shuttle that will take you to the USS Missouri and the Air museum. There are audio tours that come as part of your ticket price for the Bowfin and the Mighty Mo. You can walk those at your pace and really enjoy them without worrying about a tour schedule.

 

For the cost of the tour you could rent a car for a couple days and see more of what you want.

[cruise.mode]

For me, their great public transportation system...The Bus (http://www.thebus.org)...is what I would use when having a few days on Oahu & not wanting to rent a car.

 

We have the same question. Will be in HNL for a few days pre-cruise and think we'd like to do PH on our own using the Passport option.

 

Will be staying at the Courtyard Waikiki Beach --- any info on how close the nearest bus stop is? We've heard that an early start (getting to PH by around 7am) is advised --- does the public bus run that early? Where does it drop you when you get to PH?

 

Thanks!

[Astro Flyer]

If you don't want to catch The Bus, I recommend Pearl Harbour transfers with VIP Trans, at $6pp one way or $9pp return. I have used their services and can recommend them. http://www.viptrans.com/

 

We have the same question. Will be in HNL for a few days pre-cruise and think we'd like to do PH on our own using the Passport option.

 

Will be staying at the Courtyard Waikiki Beach --- any info on how close the nearest bus stop is? We've heard that an early start (getting to PH by around 7am) is advised --- does the public bus run that early? Where does it drop you when you get to PH?

 

Thanks!

 

Another option might be to check VIP & I would contact the hotel who should be able to tell your where The Bus stop is located.

 

The Arizona Memorial website recommends to arrive that early for walk up tickets but if you reserve in advance you might not need to be there so early. The Bus stop at PH is at most a 5 minute walk the the AM visitors center.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[agabbymama]

I'm going to be the odd man out on this one.

 

Is this your first visit to Hawaii? And you state you ARE NOT renting a car, so I think trying to get to all the places listed in the Robert's tour will be next to impossible. You are going to spend too much time trying to find your way around strange surroundings. And if you miss the buses?

 

I've been 5 times, and I'm still not comfortable trying to use public transportation. Our last two visits, we did rent a car, and got lost many times, but we had a week there visiting a couple of the sites each day. My husband drove and I had the map. I'm from Los Angeles, so I know traffic, and Honolulu/Waikiki is not a fun place to drive.

 

I think Robert's does a good job at a reasonable rate and they have the worry of fighting the traffic. OP only you know what you are comfortable with. If missing some of the things on the list wouldn't bother you, and you are able to walk (no mobility issues) and waiting on-line for buses wouldn't be an issue, independent could work for you. We all travel different and have our own comfort levels. Just do what you feel you will be happy with. It could be very frustrating to have spent $$$$ and not be happy with your trip.

 

And a tip for an adventure that is not widely publicized. At the end of Waikiki, there is a small U.S. Army Museum at Fort DeRussy Beach Park. My last visit in 2009 it was free admission (they did have a donations box in place), but for a military buff, it is an interesting couple of hours well spent.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army_Museum_of_Hawaii

 

http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org/visit.html

 

Have fun planning then taking your trip to Hawaii, whatever you decide to do.

[marathonrunner123]

Good question. How early do the public buses start running?

[sfaaa]

 

And a tip for an adventure that is not widely publicized. At the end of Waikiki, there is a small U.S. Army Museum at Fort DeRussy Beach Park. My last visit in 2009 it was free admission (they did have a donations box in place), but for a military buff, it is an interesting couple of hours well spent.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army_Museum_of_Hawaii

 

http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org/visit.html

.

 

I love visiting museum especially if it's free. Public bus costs only $2.50/trip or you can buy a 4 day pass for longer visit in Waikiki. Tour is convenient, cost more and you are straightly on their schedule at each stop. It's all a matter of how rush you are, how much time you want to spend at each attraction and your budget.

[Astro Flyer]

We have the same question. Will be in HNL for a few days pre-cruise and think we'd like to do PH on our own using the Passport option.

 

Will be staying at the Courtyard Waikiki Beach --- any info on how close the nearest bus stop is? We've heard that an early start (getting to PH by around 7am) is advised --- does the public bus run that early? Where does it drop you when you get to PH?

 

Thanks!

 

Good question. How early do the public buses start running?

By going to The Bus website (thebus.org) they provide lots of information including for tourists & here are links to a couple of very helpful things.

 

Waikiki guide which includes bus lines to get to tourist destinations including to Pearl Harbor, museums & phone # for more info:

http://thebus.org/pop/Visitor_WaikikiGuide.pdf

 

Map of Waikiki with bus stops:

http://thebus.org/pop/Visitor_WaikikiMap.jpg

 

With construction of their light rail system, routes are sometimes modified due to road closures so check their website or call them at (808) 848-5555 (daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) to confirm their schedules & routes. I only looked at the schedule that goes to PH which begins at 0545.

 

The location for the Courtyard Waikiki Beach was not displayed.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[frenchcanrican]

I was just in Hawaii and visited Pearl Harbor. Traffic was horrible and although the buses sound like a great idea you will miss some of your sites. Getting tickets to go to the PH memorial is very difficult. Our driver waited in line early in the AM to get tickets for the 11am show. The memorial was so crowed we barely saw the exhibits. It was worth it. If the cost is not a problem then take the tour and spare yourself the driving, parking, traffic troubles.

[Astro Flyer]

I was just in Hawaii and visited Pearl Harbor. Traffic was horrible and although the buses sound like a great idea you will miss some of your sites. Getting tickets to go to the PH memorial is very difficult. Our driver waited in line early in the AM to get tickets for the 11am show. The memorial was so crowed we barely saw the exhibits. It was worth it. If the cost is not a problem then take the tour and spare yourself the driving, parking, traffic troubles.

Traffic is bad in the Honolulu (2nd worse to LA) and road construction makes it worse but hopefully when the light rail system is operational it will reduce traffic. Unfortunately it won't be done until later this decade but the map shows it going from Ala Moana Shopping Center to Kapolei although no station for Pearl Harbor.

 

For anyone who can plan ahead, the Arizona Memorial website takes reservations up to 2 months in advance to not have to stand in line & hope to get one of the Walk-In tender tickets to the Arizona Memorial.

 

Visitor Center Walk-In Tickets: 1,300 walk-in tickets are available daily at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, which opens at 7:00 a.m. Tickets are free and available on a first come, first serve basis. Theses tickets are only available to visitors physically present at the time. All members of your party must be present to receive a walk-in ticket. If you would like walk-in tickets, please arrive early! If you arrive early enough to secure your own tickets, you may have a few hours to wait before your tour. The tour is 75-minutes long consisting of a 25-minute documentary film and a boat trip out to the Memorial.

 

http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm

 

Whether driving or taking a bus (public or tour) traffic can be very bad in Honolulu.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[sfaaa]

Wow, this doesn't sound encouraging. Does public bus not have a dedicated bus lane to beat traffic jam like in some other cities?

[Astro Flyer]

Wow, this doesn't sound encouraging. Does public bus not have a dedicated bus lane to beat traffic jam like in some other cities?

 

 

 

I think they do & they also have "zipper" lanes on some freeways which are moveable barriers to maximize traffic flow...inbound in the morning & outbound from town at night.

 

 

 

My experience on The Bus has been only from the Aloha Tower cruise terminal to Pearl Harbor & except for a couple of days during cruises, I haven't stayed on Oahu in nearly 25 years. Thankfully our traffic on Maui is nothing like Honolulu even though it is "worse" than decades ago but still not too bad. ;)

Edited June 2, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[Budget Queen]

For Pearl Harbor, I would recommend going on your own. All the tickets are in one place and it would offer you the flexibility to spend your time as you wish. Get the Arizona tickets in advance, they do offer informative audio tours- if of interest.

 

I have driven and taken the bus many times, including the island circle with both. The driving can be difficult also with the similar sounding and spelling of streets. GPS's are usually also available with rental cars.

 

It is simple riding the city buses to Pearl Harbor, most people would have no problem, drivers will also direct you. Take a look at route maps and schedules online.

[marathonrunner123]

Where does POA depart from in relation to PH? is it possible to see PH before boarding POA?

[greatlakesgirl]

Where does POA depart from in relation to PH? is it possible to see PH before boarding POA?

It is possible if you get an early tour time. You can get your tickets on-line up to two months in advance and then pick them up at the ticket counter when you get there. Note that you MUST pick them up at least one hour before your tour starts or they will be given away.

 

http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm

 

Click on the link that says "fees and passes" and go from there if you want to get them in advance. There's a $1.50 service charge.

[cruise.mode]

For anyone who can plan ahead, the Arizona Memorial website takes reservations up to 2 months in advance to not have to stand in line & hope to get one of the Walk-In tender tickets to the Arizona Memorial.

 

My DH and I are planning a visit at the end of Sept. and are leaning toward doing Pearl Harbor on our own. We would like a full day there, and it doesn't seem as though the tour companies offer that (except for Home of the Brave Tours, which looks wonderful but is already unavailable for the day of our planned visit).

 

The dilemma is whether or not to purchase the "Passport to Pearl Harbor" through recreation.gov in advance ($65 each) or to just make the reservation for the Arizona and buy tickets to the Missouri, Bowfin, etc. once we arrive. In your experience, what are those lines like?

 

The other issue we have to solve is transportation to/from Pearl Harbor. We will be staying at Courtyard Marriott Waikiki Beach and can take The Bus. Just wondering whether public transportation is reliable, clean, safe, etc., as we'd probably be boarding around 5:45 am to get to Pearl Harbor by 7am as many recommend.

[greatlakesgirl]

We did PH on our own. We reserved our tickets ahead of time and then after picking them up we purchased our tickets for the Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. We didn't tour the Bowfin. There wasn't a line to speak of really at all and you don't have to pick a certain time for those tours, you just show up.

 

As for transportation to PH, we had a rental car so I can't help you there. We spent the entire day at Pearl; there is so much to see!

[cruise.mode]

We did PH on our own. We reserved our tickets ahead of time and then after picking them up we purchased our tickets for the Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. We didn't tour the Bowfin. There wasn't a line to speak of really at all and you don't have to pick a certain time for those tours, you just show up. As for transportation to PH, we had a rental car so I can't help you there. We spent the entire day at Pearl; there is so much to see!

 

Greatlakes girl: Thank you so much for this info and for posting your very thorough review. What a lot of work you put into it, and I know we will be referring to it throughout our planning! You have a lovely family. Glad you had a wonderful time!

[greatlakesgirl]

Greatlakes girl: Thank you so much for this info and for posting your very thorough review. What a lot of work you put into it, and I know we will be referring to it throughout our planning! You have a lovely family. Glad you had a wonderful time!

Thank you so much! Our trip was so much fun, and doing the review was a great way to relive it. It's why I read everyone else's Hawaii/POA reviews.

 

Hope you love your trip as much as we did! :)