At one time, planes swiftly swooping in and out of sight signaled an ordinary day at Ford Island. Home to an Army Air Corps (the future Air Force) base since 1918, the island became the property of the Navy in the early '30s. Had the military still maintained planes on the island, where they could more quickly take off to defend themselves, the attack on Pearl Harbor might not have been as devastating. But the past is the past, and the residents of Oahu have kept alive the amazing, if awful, recent history of the island through one of the newest museums in Hawai'i—the Pacific Aviation Museum. Opened in 2006 on the anniversary of that fateful attack, the museum space includes several hangars, two open to visitors.
You begin your visit in Hangar 37, a 42,000 square foot room once dedicated to housing seaplanes. Now it contains a history of the island up to the U.S.'s entry into WWII. You start by watching a short movie, with actual historical footage of the Pearl Harbor attack, before moving into the huge room filled with photos, dioramas, and big planes that tell the story of that fateful day. After your visit, you can play pilot in one of the museum's interactive Combat Flight Simulators.
Next, check out Hangar 79 for the Aviator's Tour, a behind-the-scenes view of the place where restorers preserve old war planes. Once a maintenance and engine repair facility, the two-acre hangar became a way of preserving history when the museum opened. There, you participate in an interactive presentation of the maintenance crews' techniques while listening to stories from the '40s.
Once your museum time ends, enjoy a scrumptious meal at the museum's restaurant, the Laniākea Cafe, or check out the museum store for memorable souvenirs.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 9am to 5pm daily
- Admission:
- Adults: $15
- Child (4-12): $8
- Hawai'i Res/Military: $10
- Child: $10
- Directions:
- With tickets in hand, board the shuttle bus at the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor's Center (bus leaves every 15 minutes). Since the only road to the museum passes through the navy base, only those with authorized military decals on their cars may drive themselves.
- Contact:
- Phone: 808-441-1000
- Website: www.pacificaviationmuseum.org
