Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum — Attraction in Ford Island

Title: A Remarkable Tribute with Unforgettable Stories

Review: I recently had the privilege of visiting the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and I was absolutely blown away by the experience. This museum stands as a remarkable tribute to the heroes and events of that fateful day in history, and being able to witness the remnants of the attack firsthand made it all the more unforgettable.

One of the most captivating aspects of this museum is the preserved glass in the hangar, which still bears the bullet holes from the attack on Pearl Harbor. It's a chilling reminder of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by the servicemen and women who fought during that infamous attack. Seeing these bullet holes serves as a tangible connection to the past and brings a deeper appreciation for the historical significance of the site.

Apart from the bullet hole-dotted glass, the museum offers a wealth of other exhibits that are equally awe-inspiring. From the restored aircraft to the informative displays, each element contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the aviation history of the area. The knowledgeable and passionate staff are readily available to answer any questions and share more stories, making the visit even more enriching.

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum not only educates visitors about the attack itself but also shares personal stories of the individuals who were directly impacted. These stories, combined with the expertly curated exhibits, paint a vivid picture of the bravery, resilience, and sacrifice exhibited by the men and women who served during World War II.

The museum's dedication to preserving and honoring history is evident throughout every corner. The attention to detail and the meticulous restoration work on the aircraft and artifacts truly showcases the dedication that has gone into creating this remarkable museum experience.

With its stunning artifacts, poignant exhibits, and the extraordinary glass with bullet holes in the hangar, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the events that occurred on that day. It's an emotional and educational journey that will leave a lasting impact.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum enough. Its respectful commemoration of the past, combined with the remarkable sight of bullet holes in the glass, creates an experience that is both humbling and thought-provoking. It is a testament to the bravery of those who served and a reminder of the importance of never forgetting...

An excellent museum located on Ford Island that is family friendly and still has the museum for adults. The biggest draw for me is "Swamp Ghost," a B-17E pulled from a swamp in Indonesia and returned to the States unrestored.

Currently there is also a math thremed/related kids exhibit that runs through August 2019. Our kids loved all the interactive stations, of which many give you the option of a photo or video that will be emailed to you.

Lastly, if you like history and airplanes, this is most likely the best museum in the Pacific. There are helicopters, airplanes and other exhibits that are educational and entertaining. There is also a gift shop with some nice items for sale at decent prices too.

As of 23APR22, no masks or vaccine cards are required. A lot of the airplanes/exhibits in Hangar 79 have been moved outside because of renovations. Still a lot of cool stuff and now they have a F-18 from the Blue Angels.

Update as of 2JUL22: No masks required. Some of the aircraft in Hangar 79 have been moved outside. The Bob Hope Tent is still there with stories of him. The old air traffic control tower is now open for visits to the top. Cosr is $24-35, depending on a few factors and you have reserved times to go and stay at the top. There is a nice tour at the top also! Still an excellent museum. Highly recommend going!

Update as of 5OCT23: Still many good exhibits, but some new aircraft and displays. The gift shop has new items also and the little cafe on site has good food for fair prices. Hangar 79 is under construction currently so a lot of the display aircraft are outside. No date for construction completion but the new exhibits should be good. Bob Hope exhibit is still here also; it will eventually move into Hangar 79. The traffic control tower is now open too. There is a price just for the tower and a discounted price if you got into the museum also. The flight simulator is a big hit too, recommend buying tickets in advance.

Updates as of 19JUN24: PHAM is undoing some renovations. Hangar 79 is closed and most of the 70's aircraft are parked outside. The Bob Hope Exhibit has moved on and a new, Disney in WWI exhibit is in its place until 31DEC24. Disney exhibit is included in the entry fee. Cafe still has fantastic food at reasonable prices. Simulator is still a favorite of all of attend. Simulator price is $10.70 per person if you go as a pair, $20 if you go single (meaning you ride the simulator by yourself and no one else is...

This is something we knew we needed to see on our next trip to Honolulu. This museum is located on Ford Island. If you booked a tour/ticket package, or if you booked on your own, you will park at the Pearl Harbor memorial ($7 to park) and take a free shuttle over to the museum. If you have military base access then you can drive to the island and park yourself in the parking lot. You check in at the main hanger. You can ask for a free audio tour. Pro tip, either bring your own plug in earbuds or visit the submarine museum at pearl harbor first (because they provide free cheap earbuds as part of the audio tour). Otherwise you have to hold up the device to your ear like a cell phone. However please do the audio tour! It is so much more information. We could have walked through the entire museum in about 30 minutes had it not been for the audio tour. So we were there for about 1.5 hours. There is a short movie in the main hanger, and then there are many planes, and some signage. This area is mostly about WWII. Then you move to the second hanger. Unfortunately right now about 90% of that hanger is closed due to refurbishment, so there isn’t much to see but there are a few places to scan your audio tour. After exiting the second hanger, there is a small building with a Bob Hope exhibit if that is interesting to you. After that, it is all outdoors. You get to walk around and see the different helicopters and planes that they have parked all there on the tarmac. Here is where it gets to be more of general aviation instead of WWII focused. It goes from 1940’s eras all the way to present day with the different jets they have set up. For an extra cost you can do the flight simulator in the first hanger, or you can go to the top of the operations tower in the separate building next to the main hanger. In here there is also a small firehouse exhibit. You get a wristband so everyone knows you have paid admission when you are walking around and in between the areas. There is also a gift shop in the main hanger. Overall it was interesting, but as people who aren’t super into aviation, about 1.5 hours was perfect for us. If you have an aviation buff in your party this is an absolute must and budget around 2 hours. If you like history as well this is an interesting place to go and see a lot of...