Day #1: Explore Pearl Highlands Center

Located off Pearl City’s main thoroughfare, Kamehameha Highway, Pearl Highlands Center is a must-stop destination for entertainment, dining, and everyday needs. With major retailers like Guitar Center, Ross, and Sam’s Club along with Regal Cinemas – with four 3D auditoriums – and an array of restaurants and unique shops, Pearl Highlands offers a full day of fun for the entire family.

Dining options include Hawaii’s only The Pizza Press, the popular Buffalo Wild Wings, and local favorites like Liliha Bakery and Little Joe’s Steakhouse. Also check out the amazing Highlands Market with ‘ono grinds (delicious food) from Jersey Mike’s Subs, Chicken & Brisket, Sushiman – and many more.

Day #2: Tour Pearl Harbor

One of Oahu’s top tourist destinations, Pearl Harbor is a place to connect with national, international, and personal histories of World War II in the Pacific, ranging from events leading to the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Oahu, to continued peace and reconciliation today.

The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, a National Park Service site since 1980, is home to the USS Arizona Memorial, the mostly open-air Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, and the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials on Ford Island. The memorial is a “place of remembrance and contemplation of the nature of war and the sacrifices of those who lost their lives during the Pacific War.” Entry to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is free; however, reservation tickets via recreation.gov must be made beforehand for the USS Arizona Memorial and Ford Island Bus Tour (to see the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials without an active-duty military ID). Reservations are released daily at 3 p.m. HST in two windows: 24-hours and 8-weeks in advance.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum are also interactive, informative destinations on Pearl Harbor, which are operated by non-profit organizations. Admission tickets are required, many of which can be purchased at entry; more information can be found on their respective websites.

If you want to devote a full day to exploring this multifaceted attraction that normally sees over a million visitors annually, purchase a Passport to Pearl Harbor Tour. Passport to Pearl Harbor Tours includes the following: Visitor Center audio tour, Pearl Harbor virtual reality center, Battleship Missouri Memorial admission, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum admission and self-guided narrated tour, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum admission and self-guided narrated tour. Ask about the military price! Note that passports do not include reservations for the USS Arizona Memorial, which must be made at recreation.gov

If you prefer a private tour, Pearl Harbor Oahu offers a selection of guided excursions that handle all logistics for visiting Oahu’s top historic and military destinations. Other tour operators include Roberts Hawaii, Polynesian Adventure, and Royal Star Hawaii.

Pearl Harbor Trip with Kids Top Tips:

  • Consider booking a private guided tour to maximize the ease and enjoyment of your Pearl Harbor visit.
  • Reservations and tickets are not required to enter the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, walk the grounds, or visit the museums.
  • However, to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and to do the Ford Island Bus Tour (to see the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials without an active-duty military ID), tickets must be reserved beforehand via recreation.gov, and a $1 reservation fee is charged.
  • Tickets are given on a first-come first-served basis, and these reservations are released via recreation.gov daily at 3 p.m. HST in two windows: 24-hours and 8-weeks in advance.
  • Tickets are given as a QR code sent to your email and checked at the Ticket Validation Desk at the Pearl Harbor Theater for the USS Arizona Memorial and at the Ford Island Bus Tour desk within the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
  • Purses, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, and any other concealed container are prohibited on the USS Arizona If you need something, put it in a clear plastic bag. A storage facility is available in the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center for a fee.
  • Free parking is available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
  • No restrooms are available on the USS Arizona