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Quick and friendly service. We decided to stop by the cafe to grab a bite. Plenty of tables for dine in. We got the family meal pack ($19.41) and 2 fountain drinks ($0.41 each) for under $22 if you are a member of the museum. What a deal!
It was a small birthday celebration--just myself, the newly minted 9-year-old grandson, and his mother. The admission to the museum was pricey, even for Kama'aina, so we opted to get the Family Membership instead. The membership was for 2 adults and up to 4 kids, and also has discounts for other exhibits. After a quick sweep through the museum, and a wary observation of the flight simulator, the grandson decided it was time to eat. I got the Blue Angels Burger and he got the kids hot dog meal. I'd say the prices were reasonable, considering how much takeout and restaurant food costs these days. The burger was fat as hell and the dog wasn't Costco sized but definitely satisfied the kid. I didn't get pics of the food because I was too enthralled over the size of the patty! We spent the day also visiting the Mighty Mo, the Virtual Reality tour, and gift shop shopping also.
So many things to say ! Wow amazing history! What a beautiful part of your vacation to add! The self informative almost like walkie talkies they provide that you put up to your ear are top tier! Coming from someone with ADHD that suffered for years to pay attention and finally found out about it, I was able to listen at my own pace go back re listen or listen again. The shops great inside and so is the restaurant with great prices. I will let my photos speak for themselves I would go here again! The price is free to get into the actual area and you take the bus from each area to the next. They do have cost for different areas but I would go! Even if to see the non cost things
There was a Christmas event at the aviation museum and admission was free! What? Of course I had to go. So since it is located at the base we were not allowed to drive there directly. We had to park at the memorial site and take a shuttle there. There was so much to see especially for anyone interested in history or aviation. And I felt like I was in a movie when I was roaming around the huge hangars. There's a small restaurant and surprisingly the food wasn't too bad!
Our second stop while at Pearl Harbor was the Aviation Museum. Located just a few moments from the USS Missouri on Ford Island. In my opinion the Aviation Museum was one of the cooler stops on our trip. I really enjoyed all the different types of planes and carriers they had on display. We also ate Lunch at the Cafe in the Aviation Museum and the food was delicious! The bus picked us up from the USS Missouri and dropped us off at the Aviation Museum, there was a short line to check in at the front desk of the museum before you could enter the inside portion of the museum. They had a flight simulator inside the internal museum as well as a gift shop and restaurant. The Hangar still had the original bullet holes in the glass from the Pearl Harbor attack which was a really neat part of history to be able see. They also have a section where they are restoring some planes and helicopter parts. My favorite thing they had was this wood paneled plane in the hangar. They also had some old Military trucks out front of the hangar that were really cool. I highly recommend visiting the Aviation Museum while at Pearl Harbor.
Must see place if you are an aviation fan! There's a huge variety of planes from US Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This is a beautiful memorial and active base. The museum is informative with different forms of media to learn from. This is my second time going and not all of the area is still complimentary to roam.
I buy an add-on ticket to go up to control tower. It is extraordinary experience that not a lot of people want to pay extra for but for me it worth. With small group the guide goes to lot of detail of what happen on that day at pearl harbor. You can imagine from the view you see the top of the tower. Coming down to the museum and the hanger to see airplanes that involve during that period of time, the different between model and style of American airplane, Mig and great fighter Japanese zero. They have a small section of Sadako Sasaki and 1,000 cranes. That story I hear when I was a child and still touching my heart. Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese girl who became a victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She was diagnosed with acute malignant lymph gland leukemia. The legend of the cranes and she set herself a goal of folding 1,000 of them, which was believed to grant the folder a wish. She folded only 644 before her death and that her friends completed the 1,000 and buried them all with her. It was such a sad story but giving lot of inspiration to people in the modern world.
If you're even remotely interested in aviation, WWII history, or just looking for a meaningful stop while visiting Oahu, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a *must*. Located on historic Ford Island, this museum is both powerful and fascinating. The experience starts with a short shuttle ride from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, taking you across the bridge to a secure military base -- which already sets the tone for how special this place is. Once you're inside, Hangar 37 greets you with immersive exhibits and vintage aircraft, including a Japanese Zero and a beautifully restored B-25. Every display is thoughtfully presented, with stories and details that make the history come alive. Hangar 79 was my personal favorite. You can still see the bullet holes in the glass from the December 7th attack, and the restoration work being done on vintage planes is incredible. The staff and volunteers were super knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. Pro tip: book the "Top of the Tower Tour" if you can -- the view from the control tower is breathtaking and adds even more context to the events of Pearl Harbor. There's also a cool flight simulator if you're feeling adventurous, plus a gift shop and a small café if you need to refuel.
When visiting Oahu, Pearl Harbor is a must. It's not even a question. I stopped by and spent the majority of the day there. There are multiple museums, so if you're getting your money's worth, you will be there for quite some time like me. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is one of the highlights you should check out. You have to take a shuttle to get there and it was my last stop on my visit. I was there until close. First off, they have a ton of planes and helicopters outside. Walk around and check them all out. There's information about each one. While I was there, they also had a temporary Disney exhibit. Rather than a kid's exhibit as I expected, it was about Disney's role in spreading propaganda during WWIII. Interesting. They also have a hangar where they work on restoring planes. There wasn't much to see here. The meat of the action is in the indoor museum. Planes are inside and elaborate displays are at your disposal to learn a lot about the aerial side of things during the attacks on Pearl Harbor and WWII. There's an audio guide which I highly recommend. You'll learn a lot more this way. They also have a cafeteria (plus beer) and a gift shop. I didn't have time to check out either. You can easily spend two-three hours here if you're listening to everything that's part of the audio guide. Don't miss it!
5++ My daughter wants to become an F-16 fighter pilot someday so this was the perfect place to visit. We were there during RIMPAC and she was able to meet amazing pilots from all over. I highly recommend taking in some history!
Great veggie burger meal combo. They were able to customize to make it vegan upon request.
Incredibly moving...well organized, very affordable, a highly recommended visit in person to help anyone interested in our Country's history to better understand it, as well as its future, and our geopolitical place within the world today. All the exhibits are very approachable in terms of way finding and packed with super interesting historical information. The volunteer docents are particularly knowledgeable. The virtual reality exhibits are worth doing as well. If you are in Hawai'i, try to make it here. It is just minutes from the Honolulu airport.
Finally made it here, and visited during a sold out Hops and Props events: fantastic idea!! Local beer/ spirit vendors along with entertainment and appetizers. Great to see some incredible airplanes, read about the pertinent history as well as local military members of WW2. Some beautiful aircraft outside as well. Looking forward to a return visit. read more
On Ford island and on an active military base. Which means 1. you cannot drive onto the base unless you have a valid ID card. Buses are provided for free to each museum and visitor center. 2. You cannot bring a handbag unless it is clear see through or the size of a checkbook. You need to check it into a "locker" for $7.33. I understand that active military base, but not publishing on the website regarding the bag restrictions and then forcing people to pay it just not right. But oh well. Plan accordingly because while the buses run every 15 minutes, you need to wait. The museum is $30 entry fee but keep in mind 3/4 of the museum is currently closed for renovation. For $30 it is a bit pricey but because of the buses and the amount of employees, i understand the high price tag. 2 stars. The deep history and the significance of this place and the men and women that gave their lives makes this a 5 star must see to show your respect. Museum: very small but well done with restored planes recovered from the war. There was a Blue Angels pilot shared his experience. I was able to catch the last 5 minutes. The employees are very knowledgeable and willing to share stories. I read everything and was done in roughly 45 minutes. The museum is very small - 4 stars. Here is my recommendation: Come the visitor center it is free. Check that out and read everything. See the Submarine from the outside because it is free. Then jump on the bus because it is free. While you are driving to the warship, you pass the Arizona Memorial. Snap a photo and show your respect. Get off at the warship. Walk around the warship it is free. Then jump back on the bus and go to the Aviation museum. Again free. Walk around the outside and see the airplanes it is free. There is a gigantic helicopter it is free. Go to the back and look in the backside to get perspective. Then just back on the bus and go back to the visitor center it is free. If anyone says anything to you, go to the cafe/restaurant across from the Aviation Museum. read more
Why 3 stars? Half the exhibits are closed including the historic Hanger 79. Overall solid history museum focusing on Hawaii's role in WWII. But the value is poor. For $30 per person, it's disappointing. Overall cleanliness: above average Bathroom cleanliness: average Time budget (while half the exhibits are closed): 90 minutes read more
Quick and friendly service. We decided to stop by the cafe to grab a bite. Plenty of tables for dine in. We got the family meal pack ($19.41) and 2 fountain drinks ($0.41 each) for under $22 if you are a member of the museum. What a deal! read more
It was a small birthday celebration--just myself, the newly minted 9-year-old grandson, and his mother. The admission to the museum was pricey, even for Kama'aina, so we opted to get the Family Membership instead. The membership was for 2 adults and up to 4 kids, and also has discounts for other exhibits. After a quick sweep through the museum, and a wary observation of the flight simulator, the grandson decided it was time to eat. I got the Blue Angels Burger and he got the kids hot dog meal. I'd say the prices were reasonable, considering how much takeout and restaurant food costs these days. The burger was fat as hell and the dog wasn't Costco sized but definitely satisfied the kid. I didn't get pics of the food because I was too enthralled over the size of the patty! We spent the day also visiting the Mighty Mo, the Virtual Reality tour, and gift shop shopping also. read more
7 months ago
So many things to say ! Wow amazing history! What a beautiful part of your vacation to add! The self informative almost like walkie talkies they provide that you put up to your ear are top tier! Coming from someone with ADHD that suffered for years to pay attention and finally found out about it, I was able to listen at my own pace go back re listen or listen again. The shops great inside and so is the restaurant with great prices. I will let my photos speak for themselves I would go here again! The price is free to get into the actual area and you take the bus from each area to the next. They do have cost for different areas but I would go! Even if to see the non cost things read more
10 months ago
There was a Christmas event at the aviation museum and admission was free! What? Of course I had to go. So since it is located at the base we were not allowed to drive there directly. We had to park at the memorial site and take a shuttle there. There was so much to see especially for anyone interested in history or aviation. And I felt like I was in a movie when I was roaming around the huge hangars. There's a small restaurant and surprisingly the food wasn't too bad! read more
Our second stop while at Pearl Harbor was the Aviation Museum. Located just a few moments from the USS Missouri on Ford Island. In my opinion the Aviation Museum was one of the cooler stops on our trip. I really enjoyed all the different types of planes and carriers they had on display. We also ate Lunch at the Cafe in the Aviation Museum and the food was delicious! The bus picked us up from the USS Missouri and dropped us off at the Aviation Museum, there was a short line to check in at the front desk of the museum before you could enter the inside portion of the museum. They had a flight simulator inside the internal museum as well as a gift shop and restaurant. The Hangar still had the original bullet holes in the glass from the Pearl Harbor attack which was a really neat part of history to be able see. They also have a section where they are restoring some planes and helicopter parts. My favorite thing they had was this wood paneled plane in the hangar. They also had some old Military trucks out front of the hangar that were really cool. I highly recommend visiting the Aviation Museum while at Pearl Harbor. read more
1 year ago
I buy an add-on ticket to go up to control tower. It is extraordinary experience that not a lot of people want to pay extra for but for me it worth. With small group the guide goes to lot of detail of what happen on that day at pearl harbor. You can imagine from the view you see the top of the tower. Coming down to the museum and the hanger to see airplanes that involve during that period of time, the different between model and style of American airplane, Mig and great fighter Japanese zero. They have a small section of Sadako Sasaki and 1,000 cranes. That story I hear when I was a child and still touching my heart. Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese girl who became a victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She was diagnosed with acute malignant lymph gland leukemia. The legend of the cranes and she set herself a goal of folding 1,000 of them, which was believed to grant the folder a wish. She folded only 644 before her death and that her friends completed the 1,000 and buried them all with her. It was such a sad story but giving lot of inspiration to people in the modern world. read more
1 year ago
If you're even remotely interested in aviation, WWII history, or just looking for a meaningful stop while visiting Oahu, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a *must*. Located on historic Ford Island, this museum is both powerful and fascinating. The experience starts with a short shuttle ride from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, taking you across the bridge to a secure military base -- which already sets the tone for how special this place is. Once you're inside, Hangar 37 greets you with immersive exhibits and vintage aircraft, including a Japanese Zero and a beautifully restored B-25. Every display is thoughtfully presented, with stories and details that make the history come alive. Hangar 79 was my personal favorite. You can still see the bullet holes in the glass from the December 7th attack, and the restoration work being done on vintage planes is incredible. The staff and volunteers were super knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. Pro tip: book the "Top of the Tower Tour" if you can -- the view from the control tower is breathtaking and adds even more context to the events of Pearl Harbor. There's also a cool flight simulator if you're feeling adventurous, plus a gift shop and a small café if you need to refuel. read more
When visiting Oahu, Pearl Harbor is a must. It's not even a question. I stopped by and spent the majority of the day there. There are multiple museums, so if you're getting your money's worth, you will be there for quite some time like me. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is one of the highlights you should check out. You have to take a shuttle to get there and it was my last stop on my visit. I was there until close. First off, they have a ton of planes and helicopters outside. Walk around and check them all out. There's information about each one. While I was there, they also had a temporary Disney exhibit. Rather than a kid's exhibit as I expected, it was about Disney's role in spreading propaganda during WWIII. Interesting. They also have a hangar where they work on restoring planes. There wasn't much to see here. The meat of the action is in the indoor museum. Planes are inside and elaborate displays are at your disposal to learn a lot about the aerial side of things during the attacks on Pearl Harbor and WWII. There's an audio guide which I highly recommend. You'll learn a lot more this way. They also have a cafeteria (plus beer) and a gift shop. I didn't have time to check out either. You can easily spend two-three hours here if you're listening to everything that's part of the audio guide. Don't miss it! read more
5++ My daughter wants to become an F-16 fighter pilot someday so this was the perfect place to visit. We were there during RIMPAC and she was able to meet amazing pilots from all over. I highly recommend taking in some history! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Great veggie burger meal combo. They were able to customize to make it vegan upon request. read more
2 years ago
Incredibly moving...well organized, very affordable, a highly recommended visit in person to help anyone interested in our Country's history to better understand it, as well as its future, and our geopolitical place within the world today. All the exhibits are very approachable in terms of way finding and packed with super interesting historical information. The volunteer docents are particularly knowledgeable. The virtual reality exhibits are worth doing as well. If you are in Hawai'i, try to make it here. It is just minutes from the Honolulu airport. read more
Time: Sunday around 10am Pros: -airplanes! -helicopters! -bullet holes! -cool location -excellent gift shop -limited to base access or NPS tour, so not overly crowded. -but for real, the bullet holes in the hangar are amazing. Cons: -A little pricey for the size, but still worth it. -could use better signage for aircraft outside. read more
1 year ago
My family and I had a great time visiting the aviation museum. They had so many more planes than I thought they did and are still in the middle of restoring other planes that are in pieces. They had a few simulators inside that my son enjoyed doing and there is a restaurant with quick serve food to grab if you are visiting more than one museum like we were that day. read more
Attended an event at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum involving the stars of the HBO series called The Pacific. There were extensive training prior to filming and each actor felt fellowship and camaraderie with each other as soldiers would. There were hard-core fans in the audience. As a reminder- no bags are allowed. There is a storage locker u can use for $7. I used Uber but you have to pay for parking also at the Visitors center The whole place looks different so I took a few pics of the renovated tourist site. The bus depot is on the far right now. The gift shop is much grander than before also. Of course the rangers are very strict with rules so only carry stuff u need in your pockets and follow directional signs. read more
3 years ago
We went when they had the air show and free admission and it was amazing! The whole family had a lot of fun! First off, it's free, when normally we would have to pay $20+, which imo it might not be worth it. Also, we're able to drive to Ford Island directly and I don't think that's possible without the special event. We had so much fun to be able to go inside the vehicles such as a military plane, a military helicopter, a US Coast Guard helicopter, a US Coast Guard boat, a fire truck, etc.. There were also different kids activities, such as coloring station and model plane construction. They also have different boots that give out swag. And of course the airshow was amazing. They were real airplanes doing stunts and also the remote control airplanes as well. There was also a coach bus that will run around the island for different parking lot drop offs. We spent 3 to 4 hours here and had a lot of fun. read more
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is the second stop on the shuttle loop (the first one is the USS Missouri) before returning to the visitor center. Seeing the planes here was really cool! My favorite for sure was the Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, aka the Flying Tiger. I was thrilled to see a magnet depicting it in the gift shop, and bought it! We rode the simulation game as well, which we added on to our tickets. They have limited tickets for this each day, so we were pretty happy we got it on our tickets. It was a lot of fun, and we got flipped upside down a lot. We also had lunch in the cafe, and enjoyed a bulgogi rice bowl, and Pop Culture ice cream pops/ ice pops in Cookie Monster and Strawberry Guava Creamsicle flavor. Definitely visit here if you plan to visit Pearl Harbor! read more
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is another great historical site. Took the Tower Tour and was glad we did. The extra information really gives you a better idea of what happened at this old airfield. The museum is also full of neat things to see and learn. There is more than one building to go through. In addition, there are lots of aircraft to see on the grounds. It's an additional stop on the same bus that takes you to the USS Missouri. Great experience! read more
1 year ago
Three building museum. The audio tour was very informative. I think the band for the audio player could have been a bit longer. It would have made for wearing around the neck and activating it easier. read more
This is by far one of the COOLEST museum's I've ever been to. I love history, and Pearl Harbor has always been something that fascinated me since I was young. When I saw there was a aviation museum, it was a MUST. I love planes and combine that with Pearl Harbor, say less. You park at the visitor center, and walk in to take the shuttle. The shuttle comes every 15 minutes. There's no access into Ford Island unless you're military or on a shuttle. The drive took 10 minutes or so with the first stop at the USS Missouri. It was awesome seeing it up close. There's so much history with this ship, and just seeing it was jaw dropping. When you get to the museum, you see the control tower right outside, along with a older passenger plane. Right away I was excited. You walk in and instantly I got chills. I highly recommend asking for the audio walkthrough, you can hear more information on everything inside. When you walk into the hanger, WOW.. I was blown away. There were so many different WW2 planes, from the P40 to to Zero, to the B17. I literally stared at every piece for minutes before going on to the next. I read each exhibit and listened to everything on the audio piece. There's just so much history, and I was fascinated 100%. You really learn about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was really really cool. The staff there were super friendly and answered a lot of questions I had. We had a really good conversation. He had a lot of knowledge and was very honest. Thank you! There's a flight simulator you can try for $10, we didn't do that but it looks really cool as you're flying over Pearl Harbor. When you're done here, you walk outside to the left, and BOOM! There's a whole fleet of different planes. It was like walking into a candy store for me. You can literally walked right next to, under each plane, up close! There's all types of military planes, Army, Navy, Air Force etc. There's a Blue Angel, F14, F16, different helicopters. The hanger is under construction but you can see inside it. There's engines and different parts. Just standing outside on the actual floor was breath taking. You can see the actual bullet holes on the glass. This was where it all happened. This was probably one of the coolest things I'ver ever seen. My GF had a really good time too and she was very impressed. I had to pick up a few things at the gift shop. This was probably one of the best things we did on the trip right before we left. I HIGHLY recommend coming here and seeing a bit of US history. I'm definitely coming back again, no questions about it. read more
2 years ago
Tourist or local, this is such an amazing spot to check out. There are military and Kama'aina discounts, which are always nice. Currently, there is the Disney collaboration going on, which shows the relationship between disney cartoons and the war. Had the honor of meeting John Gleeson. This man was such a surprise and honor, and the high light of this visit. read more
Wow, a true highlight of the Pearl Harbor experience! We are so glad we did this for $25 per person. Worth every penny! We spent two hours here and I feel like I could have spent another 2 hours looking at all the planes, helicopters and jets outside! The inner museum is super well done, with interactive boards and signs and even a flight simulator. That does cost extra, but it was a must do! The Flying Tiger left me just awestruck. What a plane! Make sure to put this on your list when you visit Pearl Harbor. They ferry you from the visitors center to Ford Island via a nice air conditioned bus that runs every 15 minutes. read more
1 year ago
$25 entrance or $20 w/ military ID Located in Ford Island They have a flight simulator ride that looked sweet but it was $10 to ride Small cafe located inside- restrooms available and clean Hangar 79 part of the tour was closed while we visited there kind of disappointed. There was lots of planes outside to check out. If you are military affiliated or like this stuff- check it out! They had a field trip going on the day we went too. They offered an audio tour as well- grab the device at the front. Handicap / wheelchair accessible. It was so cool to see the old military planes and items from the past. Very interesting to see Grumman planes too as my husband does aviation for a living. Very cool. I wish the entrance fee was a bit cheaper considering the hangar was shut down the day we visited- oh well. The hangar looked pretty sweet to browse around - we took a peek from outside. read more
2 years ago
We love it here. The staff are super knowledgeable and always offer great insight. We want to go back every time we are in Hawaii to get more info. read more
1 year ago
The last stop for today's viewing. The exhibits have been added to. The number of aircraft both old and later models are on display. Including a shot up Japanese fighter. It reminds us that there were casualties on both sides of the conflict. Take your time and enjoy the displays. read more
A piece of American History that cannot be missed. Yes, it's another ~$25 per person but worth the price. Dozens of planes to see with plenty of history, stories and artifacts vital to the allies success in WWII and beyond. Several of the exhibits are hands off but there are plenty of planes stationed outside that are open to touch however, none of the planes are open to climb into. The highlight for us, especially my 13yo, was the flight simulator. There is an additional cost for this over the museum entrance fee and the flight lasts about six minutes. The simulator is much like a video game but it moves based on the pilot's inputs. In other words, you will actually go up, down, roll left, roll right, barrel roll and a full loop; if you can stomach it. Tours are self guided and should last around 1.5-2 hours to include the simulator. There is a little diner on site for food and a gift shop. Transportation to the actual museum is by shuttle bus that picks up at the main center and drops off at the Aviation Museum as well as the USS Missouri. The bus comes about every 10-15 minutes and the trip takes 5-10 minutes. Bring water and leave your bags at home. No bags are allowed other than small clutch sized purses. read more
If you're going to be touring Pear Harbor, get a shuttle over to see this setup on Ford Island. This is the Navy airfield the Japanese bombed on 12/7/41. If you're military, just use your ID to drive onto Ford and park in front of the museum. There are 2 hangars to tour. The first has display with maps etc. The displays are very good and tell them story of the conflict. After that hangar there is an area with older aircraft parked outside. The final and larger hangar (79) was strafed. You'll see the bullet holes in the hangar four glass. Less aircraft displays, but an interesting B-17 recovered are the far wall. A must do. read more
This museum has a lot of information and is very well curated. However if you think it's going to be fun for your little kids I would think twice. There is absolutely nothing the kids can touch or go in. No place for the kids to do anything interactive or fun. Only looking and reading. It's a huge missed opportunity as there is so much space for a children discovery area. If you want to buy membership it's not worth it. Please build an area for the little ones to touch and play. It would be extremely beneficial for future generations to get that experience and excitement. read more
3 years ago
This is one of the museums you can visit while at Pearl Harbor. You must take a free bus there from the main area. It cost around $28 per person. This was my favorite of the three. Mainly because of the Bob Hope exhibit. I like many of the planes as well but the Bob Hope exhibit was unique. They also have a diner in the museum. Plus, you can do some add-ons were you get to do virtual reality. I would highly recommend people visit this place while they are at Pearl Harbor. read more
This is a very well executed aviation museum. My sons and I have been to air museums all over the world, and this is one of the top. The aircraft available to see is quite comprehensive, with several one-of-a-kind planes. Most are beautifully restored. There is both an indoor and outdoor experience, and you must do both. You can even go into the hanger that stood during Pearl Harbor and see the bullet holes from the Japanese planes that occurred during the attack. There are many planes to see along with information about most of them, so plan on at least 2 to 3 hours here. It is well worth it! read more
This review is dedicated to the men and women that served in the Armed Forces of the United States and is in commemoration on this 80th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. We were able to visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial recently to visit the Battleship Missouri Memorial (see previous review) and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. These two military museums are located at Ford Island, the focus of the attack 80 years ago, today. The Arizona Memorial signifies the beginning of WWII for the US and the Missouri represents the end of hostilities with the signing of the Japanese surrender. The Aviation Museum started modestly as the Pacific Aviation Museum -Pearl Harbor and now has expanded as the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum comprising 2 buildings and the many aircraft parked on the tarmac in between. The main building, Hangar 37 focuses on the events on the morning of Sunday, December 7th, 1941. On that day, planes from six aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy, like the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-sen fighter, descended from the skies over Oahu. Torpedoes, bombs and cannon shells rained down on the hapless battleships moored side by side at the piers and on the planes parked at the Ford Island airfield. Over 2,400 Americans lost their lives that day and another 1,100 wounded. ... Today, the Aviation museum is located on Ford Island, a part of the active military base of US Armed Forces, so you need to be escorted onto the island by personnel or to take the Roberts Hawaii shuttle bus from the National Memorial. Tickets are sold when you arrive at the museum. As you enter, you see the infamous Zero, the dominant fighter craft in the early days of the war and the outclassed US Army fighter of the time, the P-40 Warhawk. The P-40 is the symbol of the museum and a pair of them were the only planes to have gotten off the ground in defense of Pearl Harbor. Other displays continue onto later events of the war. The B-25 Mitchell bomber is depicted as one of Col. Jimmy Doolittle's planes during the raid on Japan in retaliation for Pearl Harbor. The exhibits continue with an SBD Dauntless dive bomber and F4F Wildcat fighter, both planes serving with the US Navy at the Battle of Midway. Outside, as you head towards Hangar 79, you'll see many of the museum's more recent acquisitions in the form of modern jets like the F-14 Tomcat (of Top Gun fame), F-15 Eagle, F-5 Freedom Fighter, F-104 Starfighter, F-4 Phantom II, F-100 Super Saber, A-3 Skywarrior F-102 Delta Dagger and a Russian MiG-21. There is also a collection of helicopters including an SH-60 Seahawk, CH-53 Sea Stallion, OH-58 Kiowa and AH-1 Cobra. The entrance to Hangar 79 is currently guarded by an F-105 Thunderchief from the Vietnam era and a rare F-111, once serving with the Royal Australian Air Force. Inside Hangar 79 are some new acquisitions, with some undergoing restoration and readying for exhibition. The unlikely pair of MiG-15 and F-86 Saber will be hung from the ceiling locked in a bitter dogfight. Done the line are an A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-16 Falcon, veterans of the Gulf Wars. The shiny blue and yellow plane in the middle is an F/A-18 Hornet, formerly of the Blue Angels and retired after hundreds of airshows across the country. In the back of the hangar is one of the museum's crown jewels, a B-17 Flying Fortress affectionately called the "Swamp Ghost", recovered from it's 1942 crash landing in Papua New Guinea and currently undergoing a full restoration. And don't forget to visit the Raytheon Pavilion pop-up tent outside Hangar 79 housing the tribute to Bob Hope, a real American treasure. The AC in there feels great! If you're feeling peckish, you can grab some eats at the Laniakea Cafe and maybe a few souvenirs at the Gift Shop. read more
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More info about Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
319 Lexington Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96818
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(808) 441-1000
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https://www.pearlharboraviationmuseum.org
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Ask the Community - Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Do you need to be in the military or know someone who's in the military to get in?
No. You can purchase tickets and plan your visit at https://www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org. You'll board a bus from the visitor center and ride over to Ford Island. You really should get tickets to each memorial listed and plan to spend the…
Can you wear a Fanny pack?
Nope. Those are explicitly called out and not allowed. Any bag that "offers concealment" is not allowed.
Can you bring water in?
Aloha Ricky! Yes, clear plastic water bottles are allowed at the Museum. Visitors can also purchase bottles of water at our Café and reusable water bottles at our giftshop.
Review Highlights - Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
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