HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I hope you all get a driver self-nicknamed "Short".
We booked a Pearl Harbor tour which included a visit to the Dole pineapple gift shop as well as a drive around the island (with a few stops and drivebys). Our driver nicknamed "Short" was a great driver as well as a native who knew the island and all it's customs, history, and it's little fun facts and quirks. Short is also a life philosopher. I won't spoil it should you get him, but he has a good way of keeping things light hearted but really makes you think about why the world and it's constant feuding is the way it is.
The trip started sharply at 8AM (hotel lobby pickup) and after picking up a few passengers at different hotels, we were off. The Pearl Harbor tour and the ride over was excellent. While I knew a lot of what he was narrating, he goes into the back story of why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Much different than what you probably learned in history class. Nothing excuses the Japanese military government for doing what they did and he's not an apologist for them, but he laid out the facts leading up to it. Very informative. The movie at the Pearl Harbor center was well done by the Park Service, but we didn't have much time to look around much after that as we needed to keep to schedule.
A few passengers were a full 30 minutes late, but he didn't give them the riot act but instead gently and jokingly chided them a little. It was pretty funny!
The Dole pineapple gift shop stop was all about buying stuff, so if you've done it you'll be bored. But for first timers, get the Pineapple Freeze at the back of the store.
We stopped by three parks and beaches which included the North Shore, a park whose name I forget, and Hanauma Bay.
We highly recommend PPF. Just remember as part of a tour, be courteous and be on time. Write it down, put it in your phone, whatever it takes to keep everyone on the tour on track! read more