Are you planning a trip to Oahu and trying to figure out how to get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor? Find out the easiest ways to get to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki using shuttle services, car rentals, taxis, buses, and more. Scroll for all the Waikiki transportation options!
This post about how to get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor on Oahu was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Are you staying in Waikiki during your vacation on Oahu? You’ll want to visit Pearl Harbor, of course!
Pearl Harbor is an amazing tourist location where you can explore and learn about the history of the attack on Pearl Harbor, with most of the stuff being free.
If driving on an island in an unknown place is overwhelming to you, don’t worry. Here is your guide on going to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki!
You’ll learn the best Waikiki transportation to Pearl Harbor that will get you there easily and hassle-free, so there is no need to worry!
So, keep scrolling to figure out how to get to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki in a way that works for your family.
Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Oahu.
Popular Oahu Tours/Activities
- Kualoa Ranch UTV Tour (this is a fun adventure with the prettiest views)
- Full Pearl Harbor Tour (this is the BEST way to do everything at Pearl Harbor)
- Hawaii Bucket List Tour (you get to pick where you stop on this custom Oahu Circle Island tour)
- Toa Luau (this is my all-time favorite Oahu luau)
- CLIMB Works Ziplining (this is the longest zipline on Oahu)
- Book a Photo Shoot (this is a Hawaii souvenir you’ll treasure forever)
Favorite Oahu Resorts/Hotels
- Hilton Hawaiian Village (this is our favorite Waikiki resort because of the amazing pool area and nearby restaurants)
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa (this is a splurge that is totally worth it)
- Royal Hawaiian Hotel (this is a luxury resort in Waikiki that is pink and gorgeous)
Want to Rent a Car in Hawaii?
One of the best places to rent a car in Hawaii is Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Oahu Itinerary complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Waikiki to Pearl Harbor FAQs
Getting to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki has never been easier! There are many options for transportation from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor, including the bus, Uber, rental car, and a few other options. Read below to hear about each method! A visit to Pearl Harbor should be on your Oahu itinerary.
Yes, there are a few shuttles to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki! Most hotels will offer a shuttle service as well. Keep scrolling to see all the shuttles you can take!
Beginning in 2021, the Waikiki Trolley won’t provide transportation to Pearl Harbor anymore. However, there are plenty of other great transportation methods that will easily get you there!
If you don’t plan to rent a car during your vacation, you can always take an Uber, shuttle, or tour to get to Pearl Harbor.
How to Get From Waikiki to Pearl Harbor Hassle-Free
Here are six easy ways to get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor! Each of these methods is hassle-free, and each has its own pros and cons.
1. Directions to Pearl Harbor by Car
You can easily get to Pearl Harbor if you rented a car for your vacation.
The best place to rent a car on Oahu is through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. They have amazing deals on top national car rental brands like Alamo, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, and Payless. Check out the latest prices and more details.
It will take roughly 30 minutes, depending on traffic. There are two main ways to get there.
Highway 1 W
You’ll want to head toward Honolulu to the I-H-1 West. Once you are on the highway, keep left at the I-H-201 W fork. Continue left until you reach the Stadium/Aiea exit. From there, you’ll want to continue on Kam Highway until you turn right at Arizona Memorial Pl.
Highway 92
This way is more of the back roads to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki. Sometimes it does take a little bit longer, but if the main highway has a lot of traffic, you might have a shorter route with this method!
Start by heading toward HI-92. You will stay on this highway for about 5 miles until you merge onto I-H-1 West. Stay in the Airport/Pearl Harbor/Joint Base PHH lane until you reach exit 15a. This will take you to H-99 West, where you will stay until you turn left onto Arizona Memorial Pl.
It is probably best to use a GPS if you have a car. The GPS will update you of any accidents and traffic and will find you the quickest route.
2. Pearl Harbor Tours from Waikiki
There are a variety of Pearl Harbor tours that will take you to Pearl Harbor from the hotels or resorts you are staying at in Waikiki.
The nice thing about taking Pearl Harbor tours is that admission to Pearl Harbor is included, and you’ll see some of the battleships that are not provided in the free admissions.
You will also get to skip all the lines too! Here are a few different tours that provide transportation from Waikiki hotels.
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour
This tour will take you around Honolulu for a little sightseeing, followed by a trip to visit Pearl Harbor. During this tour, you will be able to go on the USS Arizona Memorial. Check the latest rates and more information.
This tour offers pick-up and drop-off at select Waikiki hotels, including:
- Ala Moana Hotel
- Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
- 1831 Ala Moana Blvd
- Ross Dept. Store
- Hale Koa Hotel
- La Croix/Gateway Hotel
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial, USS Battleship Missouri and City Tour
This tour is very similar to the above tour, but it also includes a ticket to see the USS Missouri too when you visit Pearl Harbor! Check out the latest rates and more information.
Half-Day Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Landmarks Tour
This half-day tour is a guided tour featuring many of the landmarks around Honolulu that are worth seeing. From there, you’ll head toward Pearl Harbor, where you will stay for a few hours.
This tour to visit Pearl Harbor includes a ticket to the USS Missouri as well. You’ll receive a text for when this tour will pick you up on the scheduled day. Check the latest rates and more information.
Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial & USS Missouri Battleship Tour from Waikiki
This tour is another hassle-free way to get to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki and will allow you to visit both the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri Battleship.
You will have a guide that will share a lot of history about Pearl Harbor and the island. Check the latest rates and more information.
Salute to Pearl Harbor
The Salute to Pearl Harbor is another cheaper tour that will provide Waikiki pick-up and drop-off. You’ll spend a few hours visiting Pearl Harbor and make your way back to Waikiki before 2:30 pm. Check the latest rates and more information.
Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour + Dole Plantation + Macadamia Farms Departing Waikiki, Oahu Hotels
This tour will take you all over the island to see even more tourist attractions! Check the latest rates and more information.
You’ll explore the following locations with this circle island tour:
- Diamond Head
- Halona Blowhole
- Sandy Beach Drive Thru
- Makapuu Look Out
- Pali Look Out
- Byodo-In Temple
- Macnut Farm / Chinamans Hat Picture Taking
- Lunch Break 1hr. Shrimp Truck Or The Farm
- Drive Through Haleiwa Town
- Dole Pineapple Plantation
3. Shuttle from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor
Taking the Waikiki shuttle to Pearl Harbor is another great option if you don’t want to drive there on your own. There are a few Waikiki to Pearl Harbor shuttles you can choose from.
Be sure to check with your hotel to see if they provide a shuttle to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki, as many of them will offer discounted shuttles.
There is a Pearl Harbor Shuttle Service that will pick-up from Waikiki and is a round-trip service. Shuttles do provide more flexibility with times to go visit this tourist attraction than a tour or taking the bus.
However, if you are the first to get on, you may have to wait until everyone else gets picked up as well. Check the latest rates and more information.
4. Other Transportation from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor
There are a few other ways to get to and from Waikiki and will take you to your destination. You can easily take an Uber from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor. It will take around 30 minutes as well. An Uber is a great option that is a little cheaper than a taxi at around $30-40, depending on where you are at.
You can also take a Lyft as well, but they are usually more expensive than an Uber. The nice thing about Lyft or Uber is that you can get the app and see the prices for certain times of the day to figure out how much it’ll cost.
5. Bus to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki
Taking the bus to Pearl Harbor is the cheapest transportation you’ll find. A one-way ticket is only $2.50! You have to make sure you catch the bus on time when you take the bus from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor. While it is the least expensive option, it does have the biggest cons.
There are a few bus stops in Waikiki, but Kuhio Ave + Lewer’s Street is the most common one. You’ll have to look up the closest bus stop to where you are staying.
From there, head over to The Bus website and look at what time the bus will come to your stop. Once you get on the bus, it’ll take a little over an hour to arrive at Pearl Harbor.
The bus is usually not on schedule. Sometimes you’ll wait an extra 10-15 minutes, while other times, it is a few minutes early. If you don’t want to wait around with an unpredictable schedule, try alternative transportation to get to Pearl Harbor.
But, if you are going to Hawaii on a budget, this is a great option; you just have to be more flexible.
6. Taxi from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor
The Waikiki to Pearl Harbor taxi fare is usually more expensive than the other options. It will cost anywhere from $45 to $70. But, you won’t have to worry about following directions and can leave at your own time.
Charley’s Taxi will take you to or from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor for only $45. Taxies are a nice option when you don’t want to go on a tour with a lot of other people or wait for a specific shuttle to come and go. With a taxi, you get to choose the time you go and leave.
Waikiki Beach to Pearl Harbor Wrap Up
If you use any of these methods, you will be able to easily get to Pearl Harbor from wherever you are staying in Waikiki. And you’ll also know how to get from Pearl Harbor to Waikiki!
Be sure to plan ahead and know exactly what route you are taking, so there are no bumps along the way!
Quick Guide to Pearl Harbor
If this is your first trip to Pearl Harbor on Oahu, I’ve got some blog posts that will help you figure out what to see at Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor actually consists of several attractions and you can pick and choose what you’d like to see. The most popular Pearl Harbor attraction is the USS Arizona Memorial.
There’s also the USS Battleship Missouri, the USS Bowfin Submarine, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Read all about them in my guide to visiting Pearl Harbor with kids.
And if you want a more personalized experience, there are Pearl Harbor private tours you can book for your family. This is a great way to explore at your own pace.
Plus, there are plenty of places to eat near Pearl Harbor for all budgets and tastebuds.
More Waikiki Travel Resources
There are countless family-friendly things to do in the area including the Waikiki Atlantis Submarine or the nearby Honolulu Zoo. Families can enjoy endless hiking, beach, and water activities as well.
If you’re traveling to Waikiki with kids, consider Waikiki Beach. It’s a great beach for exploring tide pools and wading in shallow waters with young children.
Whether you choose to stay in Waikiki or go island hopping throughout the Hawaiian islands, there are plenty of things to do to keep everyone busy on your Hawaii family vacation.