Day 3 of our Maui dream vacation. When planning our week, I decided each kid would have a special excursion. Ford and I wanted to visit Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona. Initially, I was going to use a concierge travel service. I figured it would be less stressful, but when I realized the time commitment (6:00 am- 7:00pm) and pricing (500.00 per person), I started doing my own research on how we could make this happen. Grant showed an interest in taking the day trip, so I definitely didn’t want to pay 1,500.00 for 1 day.
Southwest Airlines: We settled on Southwest airlines; they have multiple flights a day from Maui to Oahu. I really didn’t want to leave the hotel super early in the morning. I decided 9:00 am departure would give us ample time to get up, eat breakfast and drive the hour to the airport. We traveled the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, and I was expecting heavier traffic.
Rental Car: Although ubering is an option when I looked up the pricing, I felt like I would be spending about 100.00 with tip to navigate to and from the airport. I could rent a car for less than that, which gave me the option to store a bag, water or food in the trunk while visiting the memorial, as you’re not allowed to bring a bag into Pearl Harbor. I also wanted to see the Palace in downtown Honolulu. Having our own mode of transportation allowed us to squeeze in a trip to the Palace.
Iolani Palace: We were in our rental by 10:30 am which meant we had enough time to swing by the Palace. We found an open parking meter and decided to walk up to the palace to take a picture. I found it to be beautiful and quite different than the palaces I have visited in Scotland. We walked near the back of the estate and saw the most magical banyan trees. We stopped there to listen to the birds and just admire how large and unique they were. It was an unexpected surprise and made the trip to the palace extra special. We spent no more than 30 minutes and decided to make our way to Pearl Harbor.
Bowfin Submarine: We arrived at the Pearl Harbor memorial by 11:45am, which meant we had some time to visit another site until we needed to be at the ferry location. We opted for the Bowfin Submarine. It is in the same location, so you don’t have to bus over like the other exhibits. It also has a couple of food options so we could eat before our tour time. The tour of the submarine isn’t very long at all if you don’t have the audio headsets, which we didn’t. We enjoyed looking at the various items and discussing it. Like the bathrooms, bunks and kitchen! We probably spent 45 mins in the submarine and then had lunch.
USS Arizona Memorial: To obtain tickets for the USS Arizona, you have to purchase the reservation time through the Recreation.gov site. Tickets are only 1.00 and can be obtained up to 60 days in advance. This was the only “Must Do” for our trip. I booked a 1:45 tour. I figured this allowed us ample time to get there from the airport, even if we encountered a delay. The boat ride to the memorial was somber, and upon reaching, the sight of the sunken battleship beneath the clear waters was a poignant reminder of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. The memorial itself is a beautiful structure that stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives. The park ranger shared information about the events of the day and the black tears that rise to the top. I’m really proud of how respectful the boys were and interested in the events of the day.
Touring the USS Missouri: Next, we toured the USS Missouri, also known as the “Mighty Mo.” Walking the decks of this historic battleship, where the Japanese surrender was signed, marking the end of World War II, was an educational experience. We walked all 3 decks, overheard some narration by one of the guides and decided we were ready to make our way back to the airport. We probably could have included the flight museum, but we were pretty tired by this point. The bus back to the Pearl Harbor visitor center picked up tourist from the flight museum, so I was able to see the one thing I was interested in which was the hanger glass with bullet holes.
Return to Maui: We were back at the airport by 4:00 pm and sitting at our gate by 4:30. Our scheduled flight was set to depart at 6:00, but the gate had one leaving at 5:00pm. I asked the person at the gate if we could switch our tickets to the earlier flight. They had ample space, and we were excited to get home earlier than originally planned. I decided to make a target order so we could pick it up before driving back to the resort on the west side of town.
Conclusion: The day trip from Maui to Pearl Harbor was an unforgettable journey into history. Planning your own day trip is cost efficient, must easier than expected and can fit your desired goals. Our trip was a day filled with learning, reflection, and deep respect for those who served and sacrificed. If you’re in Hawaii, I highly recommend dedicating a day to visit Pearl Harbor.
The Gosdin Group 