Things to Do Near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam: A Military Family Guide (2026) - WANDERLUSTYLE

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Off-Base Activities with Military Discounts

The brochure boards around base are packed with flyers for activities, and for good reason. Most of these places offer military discounts that make them genuinely affordable. Here are the ones we recommend, all accessible from JBPHH.

Kualoa Ranch

📍 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy., Kāneʻohe | About 30 minutes from JBPHH

Kualoa Ranch is 4,000 acres of mountains, valleys, and coastline on the Windward side, and it is one of the most impressive pieces of land on Oʻahu. You might recognize the valley from Jurassic Park. They offer ATV tours, horseback riding, zipline adventures, a movie sites tour, and a Secret Island beach experience. Military families get a 15% discount at check-in with a valid military ID. One ID covers up to four people. Book online at retail rate and the discount gets applied when you show your ID at the ticket office. You can also buy tickets through the ITT office on base, which sometimes has even better rates.

Luaus

There are several luaus on Oʻahu, and military families get discounts at most of them. We covered these in depth in our Best Luaus in Hawaiʻi guide, but here is a quick breakdown of the ones you will see advertised around base.

Germaine’s Luau is one of the longest-running luaus on the island, held at a private beach in ʻEwa. Military families get up to 20% off with a valid ID. It is a good starter luau, especially if you have keiki, because the beach setting keeps things relaxed. Chief’s Luau at Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaiʻi in Kapolei offers up to 30% military discount and is one of the more theatrical shows. Mauka Warriors Luau is another option that shows up on the MWR board. For all of these, buying through ITT is usually the cheapest route.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

📍 63 Cowpens St., Pearl Harbor | Right next to base

The Mighty Mo is literally in your backyard. If you have not walked the decks of the battleship where Japan formally surrendered to end World War II, put it at the top of your list. Military with valid ID get discounted admission. Combined with the free USS Arizona Memorial and the other Pearl Harbor sites most visitors miss, you can easily spend a full day here without spending much. It is also a must when family visits from the mainland.

CLIMB Works Zipline (North Shore)

📍 Kahuku, North Shore | About 45 minutes from JBPHH

CLIMB Works runs a zipline course through the agricultural lands above the North Shore with views of the mountains and ocean. It is a solid half-day adventure, especially if you pair it with lunch at one of the North Shore food spots afterward. Check with ITT for military pricing before booking directly.

Catamaran Sails and Snorkel Tours

Several catamaran companies offer snorkeling, sunset sails, and turtle-watching tours off the coast of Oʻahu. The flyers around base advertise options from Waikīkī and the West Side. These typically run $80 to $150 per person at retail, but ITT tickets can bring that down by 20 to 30 percent. If your family visiting from the mainland wants that classic Hawaiʻi ocean experience, a catamaran sail is hard to beat. Just make sure everyone takes Dramamine if the swells are up.

Magnum Helicopters

📍 130 Iolana Place, Honolulu (near the airport)

Helicopter tours are one of the splurge activities in Hawaiʻi, but Magnum runs tours in the same red helicopters made famous by the original Magnum P.I. series. Doors-off flights give you unobstructed views of the Ko‘olau Mountains, Sacred Falls, and the North Shore coastline. They offer military pricing, and again, ITT sometimes has packages that make it more affordable. This is a great anniversary or special occasion activity.

Polynesian Cultural Center

📍 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy., Lāʻie | About 45 minutes from JBPHH

PCC is the largest cultural attraction in Hawaiʻi, covering six Pacific Island village experiences, a luau dinner, and the evening show. It is a full-day commitment, but families consistently rate it as one of the best things they did during their tour. Military families get discounted admission through ITT. If you only go to one cultural attraction during your time on Oʻahu, this is the one most military families say was worth it.

Coral Crater Adventure Park

📍 Kapolei | About 20 minutes from JBPHH

Coral Crater is the closest adventure park to base, located in Kapolei. They offer ziplines, UTVs, an aerial adventure course, and a freefall jump. It is particularly good for teens and older keiki who want something more exciting than a beach day. Military discounts are available, and it is close enough to make it a half-day outing without eating up your whole Saturday.

Current JBPHH MWR Events (April to May 2026)

MWR rotates their events monthly. Here is what is coming up right now. For the latest schedule, follow @greatlifehawaii on Instagram and Facebook, or visit jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com.

April is Month of the Military Child, so there are extra events for families this month. The JBPHH Library is hosting Military Storytime on April 4, 11, and 18 at 10am, where kids can hear stories read by an airman, a sailor, or a submariner. Sharkey Theater is running a free movie day on April 11 for kids 11 and under.

The JBPHH Duathlon happened on April 4. It was a 500-meter swim at Hickam Beach, followed by a 5K run, then another 500-meter swim. If you missed it, keep an eye out for similar fitness events throughout the year.

The Strong Woman Competition is set for April 17 at the Hickam Memorial Fitness Center, starting at 9am. Events include squat, deadlift, bench press, and more. It is free to enter and open to all DoD ID cardholders 18 and up.

Karaoke at Tradewinds runs every Wednesday from 5:30 to 9pm. Show up, grab some food and drinks, and belt out your favorite songs. It is free and it is honestly one of the more fun low-key things to do on a weeknight.

Mother’s Day Brunch at Tradewinds is happening through May 4 (reservation deadline). Reservations are required and they fill up. Call 808-449-7144 to secure your spot.

Spring Artisan Fair at the Hickam Arts and Crafts Center is on May 2, featuring artist booths, entertainment, giveaways, and food and drinks. A fun excursion for everyone. Call 808-449-2392 for more info.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Tour

First, download and bookmark the MWR website and follow their social channels. Events get posted there before they hit the physical bulletin boards, and some fill up fast. Second, always check ITT pricing before booking any activity directly. Even if the discount seems small, it adds up fast when you have a family of four.

Third, do not wait until your last month on island to start exploring. We see it all the time. Families get comfortable in their routine and suddenly they are three weeks from PCS-ing out and they have not done half the things on their list. Start early, do one new thing a month, and by the time you leave you will have experienced more of Hawaiʻi than most people who live here their whole lives.

And if you need more ideas, we have a full 101 Things to Do in Hawaiʻi bucket list and a complete military budget guide that covers every discount program we know about. Mahalo for your service, and welcome to the island.