One of the most significant events in the USA’s 20th century history was the brazen Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during the Second World War. Coming at a time when the US wasn’t even actively involved in combat, it greatly escalated, and ultimately turned the tide of the war, but not in Japan’s favor. Today it remains a major naval base for the US Pacific Fleet, while also hosting a National Memorial above the wreck of the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the attack, claiming the lives of 1,102 sailors and Marines on board, accounting for almost half of all those killed during the attack.
Pearl Harbor is located just a few minutes west of Honolulu on Oahu island. However, it is also possible to take a longer tour that includes a Pearl Harbor visit from the island of Maui as well. The trip can be done in a full day and all tours listed below include round-trip flights from Maui to Honolulu. When compiling this list, we looked at many factors like the value for money, amount of time dedicated to exploring Pearl Harbor and the itinerary to ascertain which are worth your while. Therefore, here are the best three Pearl Harbor tours from Maui.
FROM: $469/per person
Be prepared to start the day early in order to make the most from your day trip to Oahu island from Maui. Starting out at 7am, you will fly to Honolulu (flight tickets are included in the price) where a driver will pick you and other passengers up and take you to the first of the three main Pearl Harbor attractions included on the itinerary: the USS Arizona Memorial. A skip-the-line ticket is provided here, before moving on the see the USS Bowfin, a submarine built in 1942, after the Pearl Harbor attack. The final stop is at a battleship, the USS Missouri, which was launched in 1944. The tour also includes a light lunch and ends with a drive through Honolulu City to see some of the main sights along the way before heading to the airport for your return to Maui. This tour should last around ten hours in total.
From $469/ per person
For anybody who’d prefer to pack more into the day and see a little bit of Oahu island’s natural beauty in addition to the Pearl Harbor attractions, this 14-hour tour is a great alternative. With round-trip airfare to Honolulu from Maui included, you will visit Pearl Harbor Visitor Center first to learn all about the tragic attack and see part of the carnage at the USS Arizona. Join your island guide then as you head to the beautiful beaches of Oahu’s northern shoreline. Major landmarks important to the island include the Halona Blowhole and the verdant rainforests of the island interior, as well as a trek up to the summit of Diamond Head Crater, which offers 360-degree views over the Pacific and Oahu, including nearby Waikiki Beach. Please be aware that this tour does not run on Fridays and Sundays.
From $533/ per person
Another popular and well-established Oahu tour, framed around visiting Pearl Harbor, structures its itinerary to include sights closer to Honolulu. Depart from Maui at 6am and take a guided tour of the USS Missouri battleship, while also learning about the Pearl Harbor attacks. After time spent exploring Pearl Harbor, you will head back towards Honolulu for a scenic city drive, with various stops along the way, including Kawaiaha’o Church and some time at the famed Waikiki Beach. If time and weather permit, you can also ascend Diamond Head Crater, before a drive through the Nu’uanu Rainforest to Pali Lookout for the impressive verdant panoramas it offers. You will then be taken back to the airport in time for your flight back to Maui.
