Shannon_Kellogg

Please help me plan our day:We are staying in Kailua for 3 nights and plan to drive to Pearl Harbor for the day and then drive to Waikiki for dinner at Shore Birds and walk around Waikiki. I don't know anything about the parking in either place. Should we tour Pearl Harbor and park there and then drive to Waikiki? Where would we park and how much is it? Thank you, Shannon

sf7307

First of all, I don't really think Pearl Harbor is an all-day excursion--- half-day at most, and apparently, you can now reserve timed tickets in advance. When we were there last, there was a large parking area, but I don't remember whether you had to pay to park.

Pearl Harbor is a good half-hour+ drive past Waikiki, so you'll have to drive to PH and then drive back to Waikiki. There are parking lots all over Waikiki.

Tomsd

Go early to Pearl Harbor - and take what is called the "Navy Boats" - now run by the US Park Service? - the only ones to actually go/dock at the Arizona Memorial. They now have a short pre-show/museum you go through and then on to the boat. see if this helps:

http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm

Half a day for Pearl Harbor, the sub Bowfin, etc - should be fine - again, if you go early and beat the crowds.

From there back to Waikiki- 20 minutes max unless the traffic is particuarly heavy.

Tomsd

And don't think it costs to park at Pearl Harbor and email the restaurant and ask them if they have parking or what they recommend.

sf7307

According to Googlemaps, it's 45 minutes from Pearl Harbor to theShorebird "with traffic".

Tomsd

Sf: I don't trust Google map estimates - and I have driven it many times in 20 minutes or so. With traffic - yes, you can double that, but absent "rush hour" - it's usually pretty smooth.

sf7307

Tom, I guess you can go 60 mph for the 20-mile drive, even in Waikiki?

dusty56438

It will be about a 25-30 minute drive depending on traffic for the 12 miles between Pearl Harbor museums parking lot to Outrigger Reef. Add 15 minutes for rush hour.

I also have done it in 20 minutes. But rarely.

Send an email to Outrigger Reef to see if they have inexpensive validated parking at dinner time.

If not, you can park at Waikiki Business Plaza & have a cocktail at Top of Waikiki Restaurant & get free 4-hour validated parking. That will give you plenty of time to go to Outrigger Reef (Shore Bird) & stroll Waikiki.

USS Arizona Memorial 3 hours.

Add 1 hour for USS Bowfin (optional)

Add 1 1/2 - 2 hours for USS Missouri (optional)

Add 2 hours for Pacific Aviation Museum (optional)

Tomsd

Good work Dusty. I usually make good time driving.

And Yo - Sf7: How far was it again from the airport to the edge of Waikiki-Outrigger Reef?

Tomsd

Perhaps the bigger question is how long will it take you to get from your place in Kailua to Pearl - in time to get a tour during the early part of the day - and then be able to make it down to Waikiki - presumably before traffic picks up.

There is a morning rush hour from Kailua over to Hono - so I would suggest you either try to make reservations at Pearl for mid - morning tours (assuming that's possible) - or get up early to try and be ahead of the rush hour into Hono.

Shannon_Kellogg

Wow! That is what I call helpful. Thank you, everyone. I am sure we will have a great day. Shannon