Hawaii's Only WWII Battlefield Tour!

Visit the Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Wheeler Air Field, Schofield Barracks, Punchbowl Memorial, Downtown Honolulu and the Home of the Brave Museum. Relive December 7, 1941 with the best guides on Oahu!

Since 1991 Home of the Brave Military Base Tours has been acknowledged as the most comprehensive and exclusive tour of its kind in Hawaii. Home of the Brave Tours, unlike any other Pearl Harbor tour has established special relationships with the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Park Service and the DOD WWII Commemoration Committee to allow tour access to many unique and historic points of interest on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Home of the Brave Tours has also worked with the History Channel, National Geographic, and Walt Disney Productions on the epic movie "Pearl Harbor". Home of the Brave offers the most heralded day time tour of Pearl Harbor and historic World War II military sites, the Hawaii Victory Tour. Tour recommended by Fodor's, MidWeek Magazine and many more. Reserve your space on a Home of the Brave tour today!

Arizona Memorial

Your first stop on the tour is the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial. Administered by the National Park Service and located on the Pearl Harbor Navy Base. Your guides will give you all the ins and outs you need to fully enjoy the visitor center including what to bring (and not to bring) and tips such as where to sit for optimum viewing of the memorial.

You will visit the historical museum and view a 23-minute documentary film on the attack of Pearl Harbor. Via the Navy shuttle boat, you will board the Arizona Memorial, which is the final resting place for the majority of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives during the Pearl Harbor attack. The USS Arizona Memorial was constructed to honor American servicemen and civilians who were killed on December 7, 1941. Other military sites were also attacked, killing 2,390 Americans; over 320 aircraft were destroyed or damaged and 21 vessels were sunk or damaged.

Because the USS Arizona accounted for almost half of the casualties, it has become the central symbol of commemoration. Pearl Harbor - December 7th 1941, a date which will "live in infamy", is one of the most well remembered and significant events in the history of our nation and acted as a catalyst in bringing the U.S. fully and actively into WWII with the rallying cry "Remember Pearl Harbor".

"This tour was excellent. It was very interesting to visit all of the places I had read about -- it makes the whole day on December 7, 1941 very real."
- J. Davenport

Wheeler Army Airfield

On your way to Wheeler Army Airfield, your guide will keep you immersed in the romance of the era with vintage movie footage playing on the on-board movie screen, as well as pointing out points of interest on the maps and photos that adorn your vans "cabin".

The next stop on the tour is Wheeler Army Airfield, constructed in 1922, it was the site of several major historic aviation events prior to December 7, 1941. Among them, the first non-stop Mainland to Hawaii flight in 1927, the great Dole Derby air race from California to Hawaii, the first trans-Pacific flight from the U.S. to Australia in 1928, and the first Hawaii-to-Mainland solo flight in 1935 by Amelia Earhart.

On December 7th, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft attacked Wheeler Army Airfield without warning. The main objective of the enemy was to destroy the Hawaiian Air Force, thus eliminating any air opposition so they could cripple the U.S. Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor. Your guide will give you an analysis of the Army Air Corp pilots heroic response to the attack while flying against incredible opposition from the enemy. You'll hear an account of our first two aces of the war, Lt's Ken Taylor and George Welch.

Wheeler Army Airfield was home to the 15th and the 18th Pursuit Groups, flying P-36's and P-40's. Today it is home to the 25th Infantry Aviation Brigade. You can photograph a P-40 World War II fighter plane used in the movie, "Tora Tora Tora" and drive along the flightline where Japanese dive-bombers destroyed and set ablaze hangars while fighters strafed rows of American aircraft neatly positioned on the airfield.

"An outstanding day - both for myself, my wife and my two children. The guides' enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge really brought the trip to life. Great use of music and video, we'll be back again!"
- M. House Schofield Army Barracks

Schofield Army Barracks

The next stop along the tour, filmed in the movie "From Here to Eternity", is Schofield Barracks, the largest Army Base outside the Continental United States. Japanese attack aircraft flew over Schofield where they "warmed up their guns" on the way to bomb Wheeler Field and Pearl Harbor. After the attack, the 24th & 25th Divisions at Schofield Barracks were deployed to the north and south shores to defend against further attacks.

In 1942 the division began their deployment to the South Pacific, landing in Guadalcanal, the Solomons, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and the Phillippines. You'll visit the museum dedicated to the history of the 25th Infantry "Tropic Lightning" where you will enjoy World War II pictures, tanks and weapons. This proud division courageously served in combat throughout WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq. On Mondays (Museum closed) we visit the United by Sacrifice Memorial which honors the soldiers of 4 different wars.

"Excellent job! Makes history more meaningful. Professional and accurate. Need to get kids at an early age to be exposed to this kind of presentation."
- T. Piants

Fort Shafter

Traveling on to Fort Shafter, the oldest U.S. Military base on Oahu completed in 1907, looks identical to the way it looked on December 7, 1941. From 1921 through WWII, Fort Shafter served as an anti-aircraft artillery post and on December 7, 1941, the Coast Artillery batteries established gun positions on the parade ground and sustained the only known casualties at Fort Shafter. The "Pineapple Pentagon" (nickname of the headquarters for the U.S. Army Pacific Command) is situated here among stately plantation-style homes.

You'll drive along beautiful Palm Circle which was strafed on December 7, 1941 and view Lt. General Walter T. Short's famous residence - Quarters 5. General Short was in charge of security for the Hawaiian Islands and Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. You'll see a beautiful fountain build by Italian prisoners of war, King Kamehameha's cannon, and enter the "Pineapple Pentagon" where you will view historical bronze-works and paintings, and admire the many battle-flags earned by the U.S. Army in the Pacific. Also on display are the names of almost 400 U.S. Army soldiers that are recipients of the Medal of Honor. Because of Home of the Brave's special relationship with military personnel, you are often greeted and addressed by present day high ranking officers who are stationed on the base.

At the Fort Shafter Military Club you will enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch overlooking the club's golf course, providing you with the opportunity to visit with your fellow travelers and hear their stories.

"I come every year to Hawaii and take the Home of the Brave Tours. It gets better every time!"
- T. Romero

Punchbowl National Memorial

After lunch, travel to one of the more spectacular vantage points on Oahu. Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery is known to the Hawaiians as Puowaina, or "Hill of Sacrifice", this is the final resting place of more than 30,000 American Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen. Among those buried here are 586 Pearl Harbor victims, Medal of Honor recipients, Ernie Pyle (the famous WWII war correspondent) and many "unknowns" from wars in the Pacific. Here you will see the Statue of Columbia, surrounded by marble columns containing the names of more than 10,000 Americans missing in action in the Pacific.

Downtown Honolulu

As you make your way to the Home of the Brave Museum enjoy the sights and sounds of downtown Honolulu, including the State Capital Building, the Statue of "Father Damien", Washington Place (the Governor's Mansion), the Korean and Vietnam War Memorial, Iolani Palace and it's adjacent guards quarters, King Kamehameha's statue, the Territorial Office Building, one of the oldest Christian churches in the islands (built out of blocked coral), and the Honolulu Advertiser Newspaper building.

Home of the Brave Museum and Gift Shop

Our last stop on our Hawaii Victory Tour is well worth the wait. Privately owned and funded, the Home of the Brave Headquarters Museum and gift shop is for the exclusive enjoyment of tour guests.

Enjoy perusing a fascinating display of authentic WWII uniforms and artifacts, many of which are donated by visitors on the tour and their families. Hundreds of stories lie behind the donated memorabilia.

Take a photo in our famous WWII Jeep and the 1942 Army issue Harley Davidson motorcycle, used in the Disney epic movie "Pearl Harbor". WWII Veterans are welcomed to share their war stories and have their photos taken for our "Wall of Fame". Embrace the romance of the era as you relax in the "Wiki Waki Woo Bar", and addition, The Victory Club - a recreated USO style canteen. Enjoy an ice cold "classic" bottle of Coca Cola while watching vintage movies in the mini theatre and listening to the music of the 1940's.

Remember this one-of-a-kind experience with a unique souvenir or gift for your WWII veteran from the gift shop. Choose from T-Shirts, hats, books, movies, CDs, postcards and more.

Home of the Brave WWII Museum and Gift Shop Highlights:

Authentic WWII artifacts, Pan American Airways & Hollywood/Hawaii movie memorabilia.

Shop for Hats, t-shirts, books, CD's, and one-of-a-kind souvenirs

Take your picture in an authentic 1945 WWII Jeep and a 1942 Harley Davidson

See our Wall of Fame that honors our American Veterans

Check out the collection of famous Celebrity Autographs

Visit our 1940's watering hole the "Wiki Waki Woo Bar", and our nostalgic Victory Club.

"This is the best tour I have ever taken." - J.R. Dietz "Out of the eight tours we took in Hawaii, this was undoubtedly the best!" - B. Wilder

"We just wanted to thank you for a GREAT tour! We could not get over how knowledgeable Olav was regarding the events leading up to and surrounding Pearl Harbor. Olav started telling stories when we got on the bus at 6:15am and did not stop telling stories until we got off the bus at 2pm. As someone who thought they understood what happened at Pearl Harbor from books and movies, I have to say, I learned more in eight hours than I have in the previous 46 years about Pearl Harbor."
- Marty, Prina and Gabriel

What To Know

Tour runs Monday - Friday Only

Due to stringent security requirements bags, purses and strollers are not allowed.
Shoes must be worn. Cameras permitted. Storage is available at the entrance to the USS Bowfin for a nominal fee.

*Waikiki.com shall not be liable to any individual utilizing these tour/activity programs for delays, injury, loss, accident or damage to persons or property beyond its control. Natural phenomena are random and out of the control of the tour provider. Prices, features and/or menu are subject to change without notice.