Take a Day Trip from the Big Island to Oahu
An inter-island tour lets you spend a day on Oahu without packing up and changing hotels. You can leave from Kona in the morning, fly to Honolulu, and spend the day visiting Pearl Harbor and other historic sites before returning to the Big Island that evening.
Current tour options center on Pearl Harbor. Depending on the itinerary, your day may include the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin submarine, USS Missouri battleship, and Pearl Harbor aviation exhibits. Some routes also add Honolulu landmarks and a short stop in Waikiki, giving you a little more of Oahu beyond the harbor.
These are full-day excursions, with current tour times running about 11 to 14 hours, so it helps to think of the experience as a complete day away from Hawaii Island. The long schedule means you can see quite a bit without having to arrange separate flights, transportation, and admission on your own.
Bring a valid photo ID for the inter-island flight, wear comfortable shoes, and review the Pearl Harbor bag policy before you go. Security rules are strict, and traveling light can make the day much easier from the airport through the historic sites and back again.