Discover Hawaii Tours Blog

On June 4, 2010, the USS Missouri Battleship celebrated another achievement in its long and illustrious history. Though this did not take place in battle and there was nothing fired from the deck, it is still quite an accomplishment.
As Rachel Chmiel boarded the great battleship, she was met with gifts and celebration as the 4-millionth guest to visit the deck of the retired war vessel. With ties to Oahu and the daughter of a Navy man, she certainly understood the magnitude of the battleship and all of the glory that she carries. Various attractions from Pearl Harbor and around Oahu provided gifts to help Rachel celebrate her achievement that she will forever share with the Mighty Mo.

The Mighty Mo and all Her Glory

On the heels of a major preservation effort, the proud Missouri is still going strong and attracting an average of about 1400 visitors each day. The memorial recently announced that, in order to keep up with the demands of visitors, they will be extending its hours by 90 minutes each day. New opening time will be 7:30am and closing at 5:00pm, with the operating hours remaining in effect until Labor Day at the least.
With the busy summer season, we have seen a great increase in visitors to the islands and Pearl Harbor remains as a top attraction. Book your tour today for your chance to see the USS Missouri, the USS Arizona Memorial, or any other attractions that Pearl Harbor or Oahu has to offer. See you on tour!

Each June, Hawaii gears up for a fantastic celebration of their greatest ruler, King Kamehameha. The great monarch led the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under one rule, creating the Kingdom of Hawaii. Long remembered for the “Law of the Splintered Paddle”, which protects human rights of non-combatants in times of battle, Kamehameha was a very ambitious ruler who has been honored and celebrated in many ways since his death in 1819.
The first Kamehameha day occurred in 1872 after the King’s great grandson, Kamehameha V, established the order in the previous year. June 11 brings a parade and a block party through Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, complete with food, games, and music, with a ceremonial lei ceremony draping his statues on not only Oahu and Big Island, but a statue located in Washington DC in the company of federal officials. A 2-day hula competition also takes place in Honolulu at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
Many of our tours visit King Kamehameha’s statue located in downtown Honolulu near the Iolani Palace. To see this and many more Hawaii landmarks, join us on one of our fantastic island tours.

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, what better way to celebrate than with family, friends, baseball, and barbecues. It is also important to remember what the meaning of the holiday is and salute the brave soldiers that have served our country both presently and over the many years through our countries history.
History lives on at Pearl Harbor everyday with remembrance and tradition; and perhaps the most storied and touching tradition that lives on with the USS Arizona is the burial of the surviving crew members. Crew members who were assigned to the Arizona on December 7, 1941 have the right to have their remains cremated and interred inside the remains of the battleship. Those who were crew members before the fateful date, have the right to have their ashes scattered over the ship, also in a private ceremony. Accordingly, any survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks can have their ashes scattered over the location in the harbor where their ship was located during the attack.
This tradition began on April 12, 1982 when retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley M. Teslow was returned to his ship, becoming the first survivor to return. This tradition has since continued, and as of 2006, 28 surviving crew members have chosen to return to the ship on which they once served.
The process to return the survivor’s remains to the ship is a private ceremony for the families, consisting of a two-bell ceremony from the Fleet Reserve Association, a rifle salute from the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps, and a benediction with the echo of Taps being played across the harbor. These services are conducted inside the memorial and consist of an invocation, a funeral ceremony, and a flag presentation to the family. As the ceremony concludes, the urn with the remains of the sailor are presented to divers, who swim the urn into the open barbette of gun turret number four and proceed to a large opening where the urn is placed and slides into the ship.
Though these ceremonies are entirely private and restricted to family, you can discover Pearl Harbor on one of our tours. We offer many tour options and give you the best chance to see Pearl Harbor and tours are available from Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, as well as Oahu. We look forward to sharing Pearl Harbor with you and showing you our beautiful island.

For a part of the morning on April 14, 2010, the USS Missouri Battleship was back in action. A portion of the once great battleship acted as a foreign merchant vessel that the Navy searched for illegal activity. Sailors from two Navy destroyers and a frigate came from the sea, climbing the side of the ship in body armor and helmets, wielding fake training guns.

The training, used to better prepare for missions, will assist search and seizure teams from three ships and offered an unfamiliar ship for the teams to search. The Battleship Missouri Memorial volunteered the space and many that were visiting the ship were able to witness the training activity. In locations such as the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden, ships are searched for contraband such as drugs and weapons that take place everyday and cost international shipping more than $100 million a year.

The Missouri hosts many ceremonies such as re-enlistments and retirements, and on this day, was able to provide a training venue as it further supports our military.

Check out Tour 2 and Tour 8, as they offer the opportunity to board the USS Missouri Battleship and see many historic locations, both on the deck and below. We’re look forward to seeing you on tour and visiting a truly great piece of American History

With over 1.6 million visitors annually the Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center is in desperate need of repairs. The 29 year old visitor center is showing signs of the times and is slowly deteriorating. What originally began as an $8 million renovation in 2000 has increased to a $58 million construction program.

Recently there have been a lot of new and exciting things going on at Pearl Harbor including the USS Missouri Battleship being released from dry dock. The Mighty Mo is looking better than ever and is now open to the public. Beginning Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Pearl Harbor operations will begin in the new visitor center. The newly designed visitor center will preserve the panoramic views of Pearl Harbor and the Memorial while maximizing the use of the available space. However there are many more exciting improvements to the center which are scheduled for completion in December, 2010.

New renovations soon to be complete:

There will be three new museums designed to educate visitors about pre-war life in Hawaii and around the world. The focus of the new museums will feature 3 phases, “Road to War”, “Oahu 1941”, and “Attack and Aftermath.” There will be new gallery stets depicting competing Japanese and American world views, and differing political and cultural perspectives through graphics, audiovisual displays, and other interactive exhibits.

“Oahu 1941” will allow guests to see how civilian life in Hawaii before the war was through contemporary street scene graphics and historical photos, artifacts, and oral histories. Guest will also learn about the many harbors of Pu’uloa and its sacred meaning for the Hawaiian people. Other exhibits focus on the later arrival of service men and women away from home for the first time. Another display is about the emerging strategic importance of the most isolated group of islands in the world.

“Attack and Aftermath” This new and exciting exhibit will incorporate real salvage materials, artifacts, and photographs which allow visitors to experience Hawaii during the aftermath of the attack including military checkpoints. The centerpiece will be a scale model Japanese aircraft hanging directly over the entrance to the gallery.

A new education wing will provide a resource area that will be open to the public. Access to digitized documents, photos and oral histories will all be available. The new Education and Research Center will offer a resource area, a classroom, and a much needed video teleconference room.

Another much needed renovation will be the theaters. The movie is one of the most critical interpretive parts of any visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. During the renovation stages the movie theater will undergo extensive renovations including new carpet, seats, and audio video equipment to better serve visitors.

The famous USS Arizona anchor will also have a new location. Originally the gigantic anchor was positioned at the entrance to the visitor center. After the renovations the anchor’s new home will be on the lawn area next to the water’s edge.

Join us on one of many great tours to Pearl Harbor. We have many exciting day tours to Pearl Harbor that are sure to meet the needs of any visitor.

See it all on our Day at Pearl Harbor Tour!

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Admission to the USS Missouri Battleship

• Pacific Aviation Museum
• USS Bowfin Submarine Tour
• Historic Honolulu City Driving Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:15am; returns approx 4:15pm)

Spend a half day on our WWII From Beginning to End Tour

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Admission to the USS Missouri Battleship

• USS Oklahoma Memorial
• Historic Honolulu City Driving Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:00am & 8:40am; returns approx 1:30pm & 3:35pm)

Check out Pearl Harbor and still have time for shopping at a Flea Market

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Aloha Stadium Flea Market
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:25am & returns approx 11:30am)

Enjoy a morning at Pearl Harbor and still have time for more!

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Historic Honolulu city Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:00am & 8:40am; returns approx 10:45am & 1:00pm)

According to the most recent publications from the popular travel magazine, Recommend, Hawaii was named the “Best Selling Destination” in North America in its 13^th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards. 

For those who have ever visited the island state already know how special of a destination Hawaii truly is.  Whether you are a local or visitor alike, there is always something to do on the islands.  Not only does each of the islands have their own “personalities” but each also has their own unique adventures waiting for you.  Exploring the islands on your own can be fun, but if you want to truly relax and enjoy yourself let one of our professional guides show you only the best spots to visit. 

Here are some of the most popular “not-to-be-missed” activities in Hawaii.

Kilauea – The World’s Most Active Volcano

Located on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, Kilauea truly is one of the most “jaw-dropping” attractions in the state.  Let us take you on our Hawaii Volcano Night Eco Tour – Tour 33, (available from all islands) where you can witness nature’s fury upfront and personal.  Explore the only national park on the islands, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you learn all about Hawaii’s fiery origin.  Get a chance to see black sand beaches, jungle waterfalls, gardens, and historic Hilo town.  Join us on a fun filled fiery day which is “not to be missed” by anyone!

Pearl Harbor War Memorial Tour

USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri

Learn about a day in history that changed the world forever as you re-live the day that started WWII for America.  Enjoy a professional guided tour that depicts the opening scenes of Pearl Harbor and witness first hand the devastating repercussions of the Japanese Naval and Air force attack on Pearl Harbor.  Join us on any of our Pearl Harbor tours including: Tour 2: A Day at Pearl Harbor Tour, Tour 3: Pearl Harbor and Historic Honolulu, Tour 5: Discover the North Shore and Pearl Harbor Combo Tour, Tour 6: Arizona Memorial/Aloha Stadium Flee Market Tour, Tour 7: Circle Island Tour with Pearl Harbor, Tour 8: WWII From Beginning to End, Tour 11: Pearl Harbor/Dole/Polynesian Cultural Center Tour, Tour 19: Dolphin Swim, Pearl Harbor, and Scenic Oahu, Tour 41: Pearl Harbor Tora Tora Tora, Tour 42: Pearl Harbor War Memorial Tour, Tour 50: Hawaii Experience Package.

Road to Hana – Maui

Wailua Falls from the road to Hana

No trip to Hawaii is complete until you’ve been on the Road to Hana.  Experience one of the most scenic drives on earth where every turn offers an even more amazing view than the last.  Complete with more than 615 curves, the road to Hana stretches all the way from Kahului Maui to Hana town and offers amazing scenery the whole way through. From this incredible roadway, see black sand beaches, great views of the Pacific Ocean, waterfalls, and beautiful green landscapes.  Join us on our Tour 21A, Discover the Road to Hana Tour From Waikiki and enjoy a free complimentary breakfast and a gourmet picnic lunch.