Hawaii Army Museum Society — Attraction in Honolulu

Hidden Gem: U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii

During a recent visit to Hawaii, I stumbled upon a hidden gem tucked away amidst the hustle and bustle of Waikiki Beach. The U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, housed within the historic Fort DeRussy, offered a fascinating and unexpected side trip. While waiting for another activity, I decided to explore the museum and ended up spending a captivating hour immersed in Hawaiian military history.

The staff was friendly. The exhibits themselves were truly impressive – well-curated and informative, showcasing the museum's commitment to quality (and this coming from someone who used to work in a museum).

What truly struck me was the museum's ability to weave together three distinct narratives. First, it delved into the rich military history of the Hawaiian Islands, even before European contact. Second, it highlighted the pivotal role Hawaii played in major conflicts like World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Finally, it honored the stories of individual Hawaiians who served with distinction in the U.S. military. This multi-layered approach provided a well-rounded perspective on the history of the region.

History buffs and military enthusiasts are sure to find a lot to appreciate here. The U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii is a must-visit for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Hawaii's unique place in American...

We visited this museum on several occasions during our numerous stays at our resort (Hilton Hawaiian Village).  We actually never knew or heard about this place until we decided to take a walk to downtown Waikiki and walked to this place.  Although there is parking across the street from this museum, for us, this wasn't an issue because we either "hoofed it" or took "The Bus," everywhere we went on this island!

The first thing we noticed was the "helicopter (AH-1 Cobra)" that was sitting on top of the building and on display.  On our visit, it was hot outside and entering the building to get out from the heat was refreshing.  The best part was that the admission was "free."

We absorbed ourselves with the museum's collection of military artifacts, medals, and equipment used by soldiers of that era.

I enjoyed reading about Hawaii's King Kamehameha who as the story goes in the 1700s and early 1800s united the seven Hawaiian Islands under a single rule.

I think my family learned a lot from this visit and the historical value it played during the war in the pacific.  In the end, we toured the small gift shop and browsed the many items for sale such as military memorabilia, clothing, and various military unit insignias.  We continued our walk...

I had some time to spare and ended up going into the Hawaii Army Museum by pure chance and I am so so so glad I did! This museum is free to the general public. The museum itself is in the remains of the old active fort so the exhibits weave in and out of rooms taking you on a historical journey of all of Hawaiian aspects of army. The section about Pearl Harbor is a great alternative to those who can't make it to actual Pearl Harbor. I am very glad that I visited and have encouraged those I've told about my travels to make a point of visiting. Depending on your level of interest this museum could be a quick-ish thing of under 45 minutes or if military history is of interest you could be here for three hours. Army equipment including an old gun make amazing photo ops. This museum is right in Fort DeRussy and has a fantastic military related gift shop with some amazing options for the military lover...