Historic Honolulu: A Self-Guided Driving Tour – Hawaii, Hawaii

EXPERIENCE

Take in Honolulu’s history and sights on a three-and-a-half mile driving tour that begins outside the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. It’s a must-visit site that’s home to the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri battleship known as Mighty Mo, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum. As we leave Pearl Harbor and make our way through Downtown Honolulu and the mountains above it, I’ll show you some sites that most visitors don’t find on a traditional city tour, including Punchbowl Cemetery, a military burial site often called the Arlington of the Pacific. There you‘ll hear stories about World War II Heros and the Honolulu Memorial. Unlike on a traditional tour, you can even stop and pay your respects on foot.

From there you’ll learn about Hawaiian warriors and royalty as we head past the Queen Emma Summer Palace on our way to the Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout at Koʻolau Mountain. We’ll then tour Downtown Honolulu where I’ll tell you the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and even some fun television trivia. While traveling around the city, you’ll have the opportunity to see the Iolani Palace and the Kamehameha Statue where our Historical Honolulu Walking Tour conveniently starts. Throughout the day, you’ll have opportunities to indulge in some retail therapy or a tasty meal. And if you take the tour on a Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday, you’ll be able to enjoy the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, Hawaii’s biggest open air flea market. We’ll make plenty of recommendations on our way to Tantalus Lookout in Puu Ualakaa State Park. A local favorite is the uniquely named Itchy Butt Chicken, a mountain-top eatery that was featured in Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii, which offers absolutely gorgeous views at sunset.

Set aside at least two hours for this drive but, if you’re planning on touring Queen Emmaʻs Summer Palace, Iolani Palace, or taking the Downtown Historical Walking Audio Tour, then add another 2.5 hours to get the most out of the experience. Don’t forget to plan time for lunch, and make sure to check out the hours of operations and make any reservations in advance.

Kapena shows you around his neighborhood on this historical excursion. In fact, you actually drive right by his house next to Queen Emmaʻs Summer Palace. Born and raised on O’ahu, Kap (as his friends call him) is a professional tour guide and entertainer.

Donʻt forget about the free and fun scavenger hunts and quizzes that accompany every tour. There are Easy(ish) 10 Question versions and Hard(er) 25 Question extras to enjoy. Now you donʻt have to worry about pulling the kids off their phones to enjoy the day!

HIGHLIGHTS

Explore Pearl Harbor National War Memorial’s iconic landmarks
Hear from Kapena, a native O’ahu resident who brings this tour to life
Do it all in 120 minutes or linger at stops along the way
Get unlimited use of the tour before your booking date and after it
Use the virtual tour option at home

Discover more exciting & fun things to do in Hawaii