Photos of this tour
On your way to the picturesque Hawaii Plantation Village, one of the most important historical sites on Oahu, your expert naturalist guide will inform you about the fascinating 2,000 year history of Pearl Harbor beginning with a detailed explanation about the geological formation of Pearl Harbor.
Ancient Hawaiians originally called this historic place “Puuloa” but later they renamed it “Wai Momi” or “The Pearl Waters” because of the beautiful pearls that once flourished here. You will learn about the extensive fishponds that formally dotted Wai Momi’s shores and exciting details regarding the fierce battles between various warring Hawaiian chiefs that occurred in this area. You will hear about the shark goddess Ka’ahupahau who inhabited the aquamarine waters of Pearl Harbor’s three lochs and other interesting mythological tales about the harbor.
Arriving at the colorful plantation village, you will be transported back in time to the early 1900’s where you can walk along a tree lined path and enjoy the interesting homes and witness the lives of Hawaii’s major immigrant groups; who lived and worked on the sugar cane plantations that once flourished in the Pearl Harbor area.
After viewing a traditional Hawaiian hale, thriving Taro fields, and the plantation–era Museum, you will be served a delicious international lunch featuring favorite items from Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Philippine and Portuguese immigrants cuisine.
On your way to Oahu’s only operating railroad, this intriguing look at Pearl Harbor's history continues with details about the first mapping of the entrance to Wai Momi by Master Joseph Widbey in 1793, the famous Spaniard Don Francisco de Marin “the father of Hawaiian agriculture” who once lived on Ford Island; and the early militarization of the harbor prior to WWII.
We now board the Oahu Railway for a unique 90 minute train ride from Ewa to the coast at Kapolei with beautiful ocean views at Kahe point. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as the conductor provides excellent information about WWII military sites, Oahu railroad history, and the "ghost town" of Gilbert.
After the train ride you can walk around the yard to look at the old locomotives and railway cars on display.
As we take the scenic route to the airport, going past the Arizona memorial and Ford Island, you will be presented with a very detailed account of the attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7,1941 and the history of the harbor during the WWII years up to the present. Many famous movies were filmed at Pearl Harbor and your guide will tell you about Hollywood’s role at this famous place.
*If your group would also like to visit the Arizona Memorial we can add 3.5 hours to this itenerary.