I'm going to be spending a week on the Big Island, and I am wondering if it will be logistically possible to make a day trip over to Honolulu? I would only like to see Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. I see that I can take an interisland flight over in the morning and return in the evening, and rent a car while I am there. Will I be able to drive up and buy a ticket for the Memorial and be able to get in? Or should I book through a tour company so I can guarantee my visit?

THANKS for the advice!

I've said before and will again, best way is to book your flight from the mainland roundtrip to HNL airport then connect on to Big Island (1st day).

On last day take the first interisland flight from KOA (or IHO) to HNL rent a car and do Pearl Harbor and then fly back to the mainland in the evening.

Correction, last day interisland flight from KOA (or ITO)Hilo to HNL

I can't do the trip on the first or last day because I've already bought the flights from Kona to LAX and it would cost a pretty penny to change them, and it would also inconvenience my travel companions' schedules. I can easily get away for a day in the middle of the trip, though.

You could easily do Pearl Harbor in half a day. Take an early flight, get to the memorial early- by 9, (tickets are free), we were there by 9, got tickets for the 10:15 movie/boat ride to memorial and went through all of the exhibits by 12:30. You could easily be on a late afternoon flight.
Well worth the trip to see Pearl Harbor. It is amazing.

Thanks, Shelby! It looked like it owuld be possible, so I am reasuured to hear that it will be! I'll make it happen! I'm coming from too far away to miss out on this by a "few" miles.

Thanks, Shelby! It looked like it would be possible, so I am reasuured to hear that it will be! I'll make it happen! I'm coming from too far away to miss out on this by a "few" miles.