Ford Island is like the quiet kid in the back of the classroom. You know, the one that gets overlooked and passed up while the rest of the more outspoken kids get singled out. I know, the analogy might be a stretch, but while the rest of Oahu’s neighborhoods draw the most attention in our hearts and minds, Ford Island gets forgotten more often than not. That’s why I was so excited to spend the day at one of Ford Island’s most slept-on attractions – the Pacific Aviation Museum. As is my normal routine on Wednesdays, I have the supreme blessing of sneaking my daughter out of daycare for a variety of day trips around the island. Promising her a day full of airplanes and helicopters, I got her excited about our trip the night before. Honestly, I didn’t know what to actually expect from our journey, but I knew it would be a great opportunity to explore this unique island attraction.

The Pacific Aviation Museum is actually 1 of 4 attractions that make up the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, which also includes the USS Bowfin, the USS Missouri, and of course, the USS Arizona Memorial. Strangely enough, I’ve actually never even had a chance to view the other attractions – so this would mark my first trip ever out to this set of landmark sites.Parking was relatively easy when we arrived at 9:30am, but I could quickly see the lot filling up even as we were getting out of the car. Arrive early would be my recommendation, as there does seem to be limited parking for those arriving later in the day. As we walked toward the main entrance of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, the multi-million dollar renovation to the grounds & buildings was evident from the get-go. Clean, bright and modern buildings lay in stark contrast to the deep blue ocean just a few feet away, but it definitely felt much more like a world-class exhibit than I expected.After checking my daughter’s backpack in at the front (bags of any kind are not allowed past the security checkpoint), we bought our kama’aina tickets and headed to the shuttle pick up area.
Because both the USS Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum are housed on Ford Island, access is possible only through the shuttles that arrive every few minutes at Pearl Harbor.We had a blast on the shuttle, which ended up being a huge tour bus filled with plush seats, panoramic window views and some much-needed A/C. Be sure you have your picture ID’s with you, as the bus will be stopped before crossing the bridge each and every time. With the game-changing events of 9/11, security has definitely been heightened, and guards actually physically boarded the bus to check each and every one of us. Thankfully we all passed security without a hitch, and the shuttle lurched forward across the Ford Island bridge. The 15-minute shuttle ride was actually quite an experience – seeing Oahu from another viewpoint was incredible, and you could actually feel the history of the place immerse you.
I could almost picture what this place had gone through during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and it amazed me to imagine Oahu as a literal war zone. Somehow, that Ben Affleck flick didn’t quite capture the gravity of the event. After dropping off a majority of the shuttle passengers at the USS Missouri, we found ourselves at the doors to the Pacific Aviation Museum.Housed in two pre-WWII aircraft hangars (Hangar 37 & Hangar 79), the site was immediately impressive…and, more surprisingly, completely empty. Aside from the warm and knowledgeable staff manning the doors and gift shop, the museum was empty. Apparently, the place doesn’t get too crowded until the early afternoon. I love the hustle and bustle of a good crowd, but I’ll admit – it was nice to have the place to ourselves!Hangar 37: A former seaplane hangar, Hangar 37 is the heart of the Pacific Aviation Museum.
With more than 42,000 square feet of air-conditioned (yes!) exhibit space; Hangar 37 will definitely take up the majority of your time at the museum. A 200-seat theater, fantastic gift shop, and the museum’s restaurant, the Laniakea Café, all offer a great respite from the main exhibits. Everything was top-notch and decorated to the hilt with any and everything related to the world of flight.Obviously, the main attractions are the planes themselves, and Hangar 37 has something for everyone. Japanese Zeros, American dive-bombers, Korean Migs, Wildcats and more are on display, with the focus being the role of these craft in the Pacific. They’ve all been gorgeously displayed, and it’s pretty amazing to imagine what they must have looked like in action. There’s even a set of Japanese torpedoes similar to the ones used on the attack of Pearl Harbor.
One of the more popular exhibits is the museum’s Combat Flight Simulators, where for a separate fee, you can actually experience a simulated dogfight with enemy planes over the Pacific. This is definitely worth checking out.Hangar 79: Just a short walk away from Hangar 37 sits Hangar 79, a former maintenance and engine repair facility. It’s a huge 2-acre space, filled with an actual working workshop where vintage aircraft are housed and repaired for future displays. Be forewarned though – as it is a workshop, there’s no air conditioning, and the sights, smells and sounds can be a bit overwhelming compared to Hangar 37. The coolest part about Hangar 37 is actually quite a few feet off of the floor – where you can still see bullet holes from the Pearl Harbor attack that have punctured the hangar windows.
The Pacific Aviation Museum is truly something to experience. Whether you are spending a day with your family, or simply have the urge to experience one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets, the Pacific Aviation Museum is a must see! Pacific Aviation Museum Info Hours of Operation: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm DailyGeneral Admission Fees: Adult – $20, Child (4-12) – $10. Military and Kama’aina – Adult – $12, Child – $7For more information please click here.
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[…] interesting part of this tour includes a stop at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island. You can still see the bullet holes in the windows from the day of the attack. The planes inside […]