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    Home » Travel » Tropical Destinations

    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

    Published: Jul 19, 2015 · Modified: Mar 27, 2023 · by Renée B. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Front end of a restored Flying Tigers airplane from WWII. Nose painted to look like a mouth with sharp teeth.

    The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on historic Ford Island occupies two battlefield hangers, and is filled with meticulously restored aircraft, exhibits, and artifacts that tell the story of American military aviation from the early 1940s through present day.

    Front end of a restored Flying Tigers airplane from WWII. Nose painted to look like a mouth with sharp teeth.

    Table of contents

    • Aviation Museum Tour
      • Hanger 37
      • Hanger 79
    • Aviation Museum Information
      • How to Get There
      • Museum Hours & Tickets
    • Hawaiian Dining & Recipes

    Aviation Museum Tour

    The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (previously, Pacific Aviation Museum) is one of the principle historic sites at Pearl Harbor. The museum’s mission is to “steward America’s first aviation battlefield of World War II… and honor those who have defended our freedom so we might educate and inspire future generations.”

    Sign from the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (before 2019 name change) with a Flying Tigers plane in lower right.

    Hanger 37

    Our experience at the Aviation Museum began in Hangar 37, a 42,000 square foot former seaplane hangar that survived the December 7, 1941 attack.

    When we arrived, we first watched the award-winning 12-minute documentary, “East Wind Rain," that covered the events leading up to and around the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

    Postcard pictures of idyllic Hawaiian beach filled with white tourists; before WWII.

    Once inside, we walked through a long corridor lined with images depicting life in the Islands in 1940s pre-war Hawaii.

    A number of postcards from pre-war Hawaii.

    The corridor opened up to a large exhibit area. The first thing we saw there was an authentic Japanese Zero in a diorama setting on the deck of the Japanese carrier Hiryu at dawn on December 7th.

    authentic Japanese Zero in a diorama setting on the deck of the Japanese carrier Hiryu at dawn on December 7th.

    Also in the hangar was a light civilian plane that was airborne and shot during the Oahu attack. Other exhibits include an actual B-25B Mitchell similar to one used in the Doolittle Raid on Japan in April, 1942, and an authentic F4F Wildcat, featured in a Guadalcanal diorama that tells the story of the “Cactus Air Force.”

    Life-size diorama of Jimmy Doolittle and his plane.

    The authentic, carefully restored aircraft found in Hanger 37, from both U.S. and Japanese forces, along with vintage artifacts and interpretive placards, gives visitors new perspective on the “day that will live in infamy,” and marks the beginning of the story that launched the United States into World War II.

    Hanger 79

    The second hanger making up the Pacific Aviation Museum - Hangar 79 - is an expansive 80,000 square foot seaplane hangar. Its blue glass windows are still riddled with bullet holes left by the December 7th attack.

    Bullet holes in Hanger 79 windows.

    During the WWII, Hanger 79 was a maintenance and engine repair facility, filled with fighters, bombers and patrol aircraft that were based in Pearl Harbor or en route to the front lines. Today, it holds modern jets and historic helicopters.

    Life-size diorama of crewman working on small fighters.

    Hanger 79 continues the story that Hanger 37 started, and tells the story of American military aviation through World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars.

    Artist's interpretation of Flying Tigers plane on the ground, with crew setting up for takeoff.

    Aviation Museum Information

    Updated: March 2023

    How to Get There

    The museum is located on Ford Island, which you can visit by hopping on one of the shuttles that leave the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center every 15 minutes. The last shuttle returning visitors to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center leaves the Museum at 5:00 p.m.

    Military Personnel and Military Contractors with valid ID access can directly visit the Ford Island.

    Museum Hours & Tickets

    The Aviation Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year’s Day.)

    General Admission gives full access to 50+ aircraft, all exhibits in Hangar 37, Hangar 79, and The Raytheon Pavilion. Free guided audio tours are available.

    • Adults: $25.99 (USD)
    • Children (Ages 4-12): $14.99 (USD)
    • Children 3 years of age and under are free.

    Visitors should expect to spend one to two hours or more exploring the Aviation Museum's impressive collection of vintage aircraft.

    For security reasons, no bags are allowed on the shuttle bus to Ford Island. A bag storage facility, located at the Bowfin Submarine Park shuttle bus stop, can store your belongings for a fee.

    Hawaiian Dining & Recipes

    Our Hawaiian vacation inspired a waterfall of recipes! (If you can only pick one, we recommend the Kahuku Shrimp - they are Amazing!) Be sure to check out our recommendations for dining on a budget in Oahu, too!

    • Best Oahu Cheap Eats II
    • Overhead shot of a plate of garlic shrimp, garnished with lemon slices. Hawaiian fabric in background.
      Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp (Kahuku Truck-style)
    • Otai in small snifter-style glasses, garnished with watermelon cut-outs.
      Easy 'Otai (Polynesian Watermelon Drink)
    • Korean-style Pan Fried Fish (Saeng Sun Jun)
    • Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding (Chè Chuối) in a small ramekin on an old wooden bench.
      Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding (Chè Chuối)
    • Serving of lomi salmon on a plate, garnished with additonal green onions and nasturtiums.
      Fresh Lomi Lomi Salmon
    • The Dole Plantation: The Complete Pineapple Experience | The Good Hearted Woman
      Tour the Dole Plantation on Oahu
    • caramel sauce dripping from a bitten banana lumpia, with others stacked on a plate int he foreground.
      Banana Lumpia (Filipino Turon)

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is self-taught home chef with a penchant for creating healthy(ish) comfort food recipes, and adapting vintage recipes for the 21st century cook. In her spare time, she writes unfinished novels and songs about cowboys.

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