14 Historical Tours on Oahu Worth Booking Ahead

1.Mauka Warriors Luau Honoring Polynesia’s Forgotten History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,013 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $145Our pick

At Coral Crater Adventure Park, this outdoor luau serves kalua pork, taro rolls and other island dishes before a show of Polynesian dance, fire-knife performance and Hawaiian history. You can try activities such as hula and headband weaving, though the options may vary. Hotel pickup is available for an added fee.

“Luau is in a huge outdoor area. It took us an hour and a half to get there from the cruise port.the show was interesting and well done. The food was adequate. Biggest disappointment was alcohol permit not available. I was really looking forward to a Mai tai!”

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2.Pearl Harbor History Remembered Tour from Ko Olina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,009 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $154

From Ko Olina, ride an air-conditioned minicoach to Pearl Harbor for the Navy shuttle to the USS Arizona Memorial, time at the visitor center and a visit to the USS Missouri. Guides including Steve, Kimo and Nani Popolo have led the narrated drive, which can also include Honolulu sights. Expect a full day, limited time at some stops and strict no-bag rules.

“It definitely is a once in a lifetime experience. It's making me type more than I want to for a review.”

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3.Pearl Harbor with USS Arizona and Hawaiian Kingdom History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 184 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $57

Ride from Waikiki in an air-conditioned vehicle for a narrated visit to Pearl Harbor, including the Navy boat and USS Arizona Memorial ticket, then see Honolulu landmarks such as ʻIolani Palace and the King Kamehameha Statue. Local guides including Kanoe and Rockie have earned praise for lively, personal storytelling. Palace admission is not included.

“Excellent and engaging Guide. Enough time if you don't add submarine museum and tour, which would make you hurry a bit.”

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4.Pearl Harbor [Early Access], USS Arizona & Historic Honolulu Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $79

Start early with Waikiki pickup, a guide’s introduction and self-guided time at Pearl Harbor. Daniels Hawaii arranges USS Arizona boat tickets when available, or helps you try the standby line. Then explore central Honolulu’s royal and civic landmarks, including ʻIolani Palace and the King Kamehameha Statue, in a group of no more than 14.

“Good visit. Enjoyed the pearl harbour and the Arizona memorial bits of the tour. Your guide was okay in the morning but seemed to loose the plot abit after the pearl harbour stop. Took us the the Supreme Court to see where Hawaii five o was filmed but that was it. Nothing else done after the pearl harbour bit of the tour.”

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5.Historical Honolulu Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $149

Start at Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach Banyan Tree at 7 a.m. and ride about 13.5 miles with guide Kelly through beach parks, Kaka’ako’s murals, Chinatown, and central Honolulu. Bikes, helmets, water, and snacks are included. Expect regular stops for local history, photos, and views from Aloha Tower.

“Kelly was incredible. He knows a ton about Hawaii - I learned so much! Definitely worth the tour!!!!”

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6.History & Culture Tour in Honolulu via Segway

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $254

In 2.5 hours, ride from Kaka’ako through historic Honolulu, past Kawaiahaʻo Church, ʻIolani Palace, Chinatown, and Aloha Tower, then along the waterfront. A guide such as Jeanne, Michael, or Zach shares local history over a two-way radio. The group is capped at eight; Waikiki pickup costs extra.

“Allen and Jeanne were the best. They tailored our tour to our family and spent time telling us history and making content so we just had to ride and listen! We Segway wherever we can and this was one of the best tours we have had! Thank you Segway of Hawaii, you are amazing!”

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7.Through A Glass Darkly The Strange and Tragic History Of Honolulu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Walk central Honolulu with guide Terry on a 90-minute tour of royal landmarks, churches and government buildings. Hear about King Kamehameha’s conquest, the overthrow of the monarchy and local ghost stories. The group is capped at 20, and admission to Iolani Palace and Capitol Modern is not included.

“This was a very nice intimate tour with Terry. He provided great context to how the iolani palace came to be and the history of King Kamehameha and the Hawaiian people. Thank you for that history lesson that most people probably never hear. The weather was saying rain and we made it through the whole tour with no rain!”

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8.Semi Private Honolulu Historical Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $144

Spend five to six hours exploring Honolulu’s history by air-conditioned minivan, with hotel, airport, or harbor pickup. Visit Diamond Head viewpoints, Iolani Palace, the Hawaiian Mission Houses, and Bishop Museum. Guides named in past tours include Ama, Simina, Melissa, and Eva, though your guide may differ. Admission to several sites costs extra.

“Great customer service and communication from the tour operator. Our guide was Ama. Ama, as a native islander, knows a lot about the history of Honolulu and Hawaii in general. We visited the Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum. We elected to skip the mission part of the tour because I had blisters on my feet, but still received the history from Ama. Ama also took us through Chinatown, a scenic drive along the coast where he regularly surfs, and down to Honolulu Harbor, Merchant Row and to the royal cemetery / mausoleum. Great experience!”

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9.Best Of Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial & Historic Honolulu

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $75

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from your hotel or condo to Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, Punchbowl, Iolani Palace, and the King Kamehameha Statue. The tour is planned for about four hours, with a maximum of 35 people. Drivers have included Kama, Cousin Pe, and Kenny, but your assigned driver may differ. Confirm Arizona boat-ticket arrangements before booking.

“We enjoyed our tour. Kama our driver was excellent knowledge about the area and humorous. We enjoyed his many comical insights on the various sites and history. It was better than driving to the site with no interpretation.”

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10.Arizona Memorial & Historic Honolulu City Tour from Waikiki Area

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $75

Spend about six hours visiting Pearl Harbor’s exhibits and USS Arizona Memorial, then see Honolulu landmarks including Punchbowl, ʻIolani Palace, the King Kamehameha Statue, and Kawaiahaʻo Church. Waikiki pickup, air-conditioned transport, and the memorial ticket are included. Groups are capped at 15, and guides such as Leena Bush and Jeremiah have been praised for their local history commentary.

“Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial is a deeply moving and unforgettable experience. It’s not just a historical site — it’s a place of reflection, respect, and remembrance.”

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11.Historical Tour of Downtown Honolulu in Red Light District

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $60

Meet at the Old Blaisdell Hotel in downtown Honolulu for a one-hour walking tour of Chinatown’s former red light district. Jackie and Jim are among the guides who bring the 1930 to 1944 era into focus, including the story of the Blaisdell and six former brothels. The route is wheelchair friendly.

“Absolutely fascinating and awesome tour! The underside of life in Honolulu during WWII comes to life as Jackie and Jim took us back through history. Entertaining and educational. I highly recommend!”

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12.Historic Downtown Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $155

Sidewalk Surfing Tours takes you on a two-hour, small-group Segway ride through central Honolulu, from Kakaako’s murals to Iolani Palace, Chinatown, and Aloha Tower, then along Ala Moana Beach. A safety briefing and practice session are included. Tours are offered in English and Japanese; guide Timo has been praised for patient instruction and Japanese-language explanations.

“Timo was an amazing tour guide! He tailored the tour to our wishes and explained everything in detail!”

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13.Honolulu Historic District a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $10Best value

Walk a self-guided route through central Honolulu, starting and ending at Aliʻiolani Hale. A phone-based English audio tour explains royal landmarks, historic buildings, public art, and local stories, with GPS-triggered commentary. It takes about one to two hours, costs $10.99 per person, and does not include entry to attractions.

“Great tool for a self guided tour of downtown Honolulu. Enjoyed the background info and artistic touches like voiced stories from historic people. Some your stops were more impressive than others, but the your makes it easy to skip and walk your own routes when you want. Overall, you can't beat the price for a good way to spend an afternoon in Honolulu. Would also recommend adding China town to the end of your tour. Bring earbuds so you can hear the sometimes quiet audio.”

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14.Premier Pearl Harbor and Hawaii Kingdom History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $57

Ride from Waikiki with a local guide, then visit the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. The tour includes Arizona tickets, a Navy-operated boat trip, and downtown stops at Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha statue. No guide names are provided, and Pearl Harbor time is largely self-guided.

“They may want to have a rain poncho in case they need it to sit on. For the boat ride to the Arizona memorial”

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