HONOLULU BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Pearl Harbor Revisited: A Two‑Hour Narrated Walk Through the USS Arizona Story, with Virtual Reality Immersion
The official 2-hour National Park Service USS Arizona narrated tour paired with included admission to the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center — this guide lays out what to expect, what’s included, and how to handle boat tickets and logistics.
Pearl Harbor Revisited: A Two‑Hour Narrated Walk Through the USS Arizona Story, with Virtual Reality Immersion.
An official National Park Service experience, the USS Arizona Narrated Tour is a self-guided, two-hour presentation that threads the Visitor Center’s museums, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the shoreline Path of Attack with first-person testimony and curated narration; the package also includes admission to the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center for a 360-degree historical immersion.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Where the Pacific War Began
The USS Arizona Memorial sits at the heart of Pearl Harbor and draws millions of visitors as Hawaii’s most-visited destination; the narrated tour and survivor testimony trace the events of December 7, 1941 across 29 interpretive stops.
Curated Narration and Firsthand Accounts
Hosted narration — including a recorded guide by Jamie Lee Curtis and testimony from Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona survivors — carries you through museums, the memorial, and along the shoreline Path of Attack to place artifacts and displays in human terms.
Virtual Reality That Recreates December 7
Admission to the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center is included; the VR program provides 360-degree perspectives of the attack using supplied, easy-to-use equipment so visitors can experience archival scenes alongside museum interpretation.
What the day feels like
How the Visit Unfolds
Expect a tightly organized, two-hour self-guided visit: start in the Visitor Center’s two museums with narrated stops, follow the audio to the USS Arizona Memorial for on-site narration, continue along the shoreline on the Path of Attack, and finish with the included session at the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center — all presented to deepen context with survivor testimony and historical narration.
THE HISTORY
Where the Pacific War Began
The USS Arizona Memorial sits at the heart of Pearl Harbor and draws millions of visitors as Hawaii’s most-visited destination; the narrated tour and survivor testimony trace the events of December 7, 1941 across 29 interpretive stops.
THE VOICE
Curated Narration and Firsthand Accounts
Hosted narration — including a recorded guide by Jamie Lee Curtis and testimony from Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona survivors — carries you through museums, the memorial, and along the shoreline Path of Attack to place artifacts and displays in human terms.
THE IMMERSION
Virtual Reality That Recreates December 7
Admission to the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center is included; the VR program provides 360-degree perspectives of the attack using supplied, easy-to-use equipment so visitors can experience archival scenes alongside museum interpretation.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this experience — and who needs to plan ahead.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The Virtual Reality Center supplies all VR equipment and guidance; bring comfortable shoes for the Visitor Center and shoreline walk and plan to purchase or reserve separate boat tickets if you intend to board the memorial.
$7 daily parking is available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center (1 Arizona Memorial Place); park gates open at 7 a.m. — arrive early if you need onsite boat tickets from the NPS queue.
For tour reservations and group discounts contact Pacific Historic Parks Tours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. HST) via phone or email; the operator provides tour support and group pricing information.
Official USS Arizona Memorial gear is available through the park store (promo code 'advance' offers a 15% discount on most items) with proceeds supporting the parks.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Are boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial included with this tour?
No. This program does not include the boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial; tickets must be obtained separately through Recreation.gov or by calling the listed toll-free number.
How much do boat tickets cost and when are they released?
Boat tickets are $1.00 each; the first round of tickets is released eight weeks in advance and a second round is released one day in advance at 3 p.m. Hawaii Time.
Is Virtual Reality included and do I need to bring my own headset?
Virtual Reality admission to the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center is included in the tour and all VR equipment is provided and described as easy to use.
What languages is the narration available in?
Narration is available in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, German, and Spanish.
Is there parking at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center?
Yes. $7 daily parking is available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center located at 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818.
How can I contact the tour reservations department?
Tour reservations are handled Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HST; phone numbers and an email address are provided by the operator for reservations and group inquiries.