In addition to being an hour Uber trip from Waikiki (afternoon), Pearl Harbor can be a 2 day visit if you want to do all 4 attractions. Most people see no more than 2, but even that takes most of a day with transportation.

Adding to above, Pearl Harbor is next to the airport making interisland visits practical.

Currently in Kona and finding the Big Island unattractive and unappealing. Maybe I will change my mind after seeing the eastern side.

I think you have to be active military for the Pearl Harbor VIP tour since it starts inside the base, not sure since I didn't make the reservation.

One thing you might want to try for, in addition to the Arizona Memorial is the Ford Island bus tour, called Pearl Harbor Bus Tours on recreation.gov. They will sell out immediately. Be sure you know how to book and make an account ahead of time.
You can click on the date you want and they will tell you when the tickets release. Be sure you are logged in and ready to click "buy" immediately. More info here https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/10...icket/10089186

Arizona Memorial are a bit easier to get and they also do a second release a day ahead for Arizona Memorial. All releases drop at 3PM Honolulu Time. AFAIK you can access the Visitor Center without a ticket. (We had a separate orientation on the VIP tour and so didn't go there).

The other sites are privately run museums that charge admission, and you don't have to book ahead of time.

PS I've been on a number of tours of things like battleships, etc., living near San Diego and Long Beach there is no shortage here. One site not often mentioned is the "Punchbowl" Cemetery, which I think combines well with Pearl Harbor https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/nmcp.asp . Don't get suckered into the private "tours" which are drive thrus. And no commercial tours are allowed of the Arizona Memorial, basically expensive transportation.

I don't remember whether tom_mn asked for feedback on his current Hawaii trip. Kona town has become a bit of a rundown dump, most frequent travelers know better than to stay there. The west coast (Kona side) is largely volcanic rock and manufactured beach resorts, most people in winter are there for the sun and maybe golf. Other popular activities are snorkeling and fishing charters. Farther north you will find cattle country and some traditional towns like Hawi (where my neighbor is from). The east side is lush (and rainy). The center is where the volcanoes are. There are other sights on the Hilo side, e.g. waterfalls and botanic gardens but those can be found on all of the islands. Big Island also has a number of historic sights including petroglyphs.

I am reading that the eruptions have resumed, I hope you plan a night time visit, tom_mn. It is easier and safer to do that from Hilo side, though. You can always go for the day and stay after dark if the eruption is active. Some people staying on the west side double book inside Volcano (the town) for a night just so they don't have to drive back in the dark. In December 2021 I was able to see the eruption (on the last night, apparently).I did it from Hilo, actually went during the day, drove back to hotel, and then back again late at night (about 45 minutes). I recommend doing that if staying in Hilo, in order to avoid some of the traffic and parking congestion, bring a flashlight and jacket. Research viewing and parking ahead of time on the NPS website.

Clearly in my previous post I meant to say that Honolulu on Oahu is where you will find more than two lane roads. What makes the Big Island so interesting to me at least is the variety of the different climate areas - from rocky lava coast to tropical rain forest to cattle country to coffee farms and snow covered volcanic mountains. On our first visit to the Big Island, we were in dense fog and when the fog lifted, we found we were riding along a pasture with long horned cattle which was totally unexpected at least to us to find we were then in cowboy country.

Hilo is closer to the Volcano National Park. We visited on our second trip although on that trip there were torrential rainstorms and high wind, to the point where the hotel, HIlton Waikoloa told guests to remain in their rooms, away from the windows one afternoon and so Volcanoes National Park featured sideways rain on the one day we had to visit and places too muddy to walk through. Loved Hilo though and the Tropical Gardens. Not much in Kona and not certain still open, but twice we stopped for breakfast at Buns in the Sun bakery on our way to tour places.

The weather when they get a "Kona Storm" can be brutal! My 2021 trip one had just passed through, and the weather in Hilo and in Volcano were both good. There was snow on the top of Mauna Kea and we had spectacularly clear weather when I did two birding excursions with the incomparable http://jackjeffreyphoto.com

Our last trip to the big island was amazing. I remember looking up Jack Jeffrey for a birding tour but we did a horseback ride instead (amazing, we loved it!). Do you remember about what he charges for two people on a birding trip?

I think he's raised his prices, maybe $500 for two people? That is for a full day tours and includes lunch and fruit from his garden. Worth it if you want to see the rare Hawaiian honeycreepers. The Palila are becoming scarce, I was glad that I was able to see them when I did.

I am not sure whether Pu’u O’o Trail tour is less.

Right on the other beaches. We lived there a year in 1976.

mlgb - that's pretty neat that you saw the honeycreeper - is that the little red one?

The Palila is this one, it reminds me of buttered popcorn



We also did see the full array of Big Island honeycreepers

at Hakalau Forest, including the one with the canopener bill, the Aki (Akiapolaau)

Beautiful