experiences
the can't-miss stop:
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Open Daily
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Spanning two historic WWII-era hangars filled with aircraft, exhibits, and artifacts of the men and women who gave their lives for freedom, and the newly restored Ford Island Control Tower, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum offers a can’t-miss stop on your pilgrimage to Pearl Harbor.
Historic Hangar 37
An authentic World War II-era structure, Hangar 37 is home to the artifacts from our collection that tell the story of America’s involvement in World War II from the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Midway and beyond.
Historic Hangar 79
Hangar 79 picks up where the story in Hangar 37 leaves off, documenting the rise of American air superiority that was established in World War II and continued to climb in subsequent decades in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars.
Historic Operations Building
The historic Operations Building, once a vital hub during World War II, served as the firehouse and housed the aerological tower doubling as the interim control tower. Today, it stands as a preserved piece of history, featuring the Top of the Tower Tour and the Rooftop Terrace exhibit, which offer panoramic views of the battlefield and surrounding landmarks that played pivotal roles on December 7, 1941.
Outdoor Exhibits
Our outdoor collection of historic and modern helicopters, stands between Hangars 37 and 79, offering visitors to the Museum an inspired and ever-changing roster of experiences with traveling exhibits covering everything from the future of aviation to the heroes of World War II.
Library and Archive
The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Library and Archive consist of a collection of 23,000 books, periodicals, pulp magazines, photographs, art, and archival documents. The library will be especially useful for individuals looking to research topics related to the World War II, with special emphasis on the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and greater Oahu, the war in the Pacific theater, general aviation in the Pacific, and other research categories pertaining to aviation.
FIGHTER ACE 360º FLIGHT SIMULATOR
Take to the skies in Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s state-of-the-art 360-degree flight simulators and experience aviation like never before. Our Fighter Ace 360 Flight Simulators can roll, somersault, spin and loop at your take the controls.
Our heart-thumping dogfight in a P-38 over tropical waters in Thunder in the Pacific gives visitors a glimpse at the life of a real Pacific aviator’s life in the 1940s, as they flew and fought in the Pacific Theater.
A Piercing Blow:
The Aerial Attack on the USS Arizona
A living piece of American WWII history on display in perpetuity.
Explore our newest exhibit A Piercing Blow: The Aerial Attack on the USS Arizona, and learn about the “date which will live in infamy” from an entirely new perspective – the aircraft that delivered and returned fire on that fateful day.
Land • Sea • Air: Maui in Wartime
Made possible by an anonymous donor, the LAND, SEA, AIR: Maui in Wartime exhibit shares the overwhelming story of the pilot training that took place at Pu’unene field during WWII and throughout the island of Maui.
Guided hangar Tours
An hour-long Guided Tour of Hangars 37 & 79 & Restoration Shop. This behind the scenes peek at our restoration operations, plus an intimate tour with our expert Docents, creates an unforgettable and deeply-moving experience you’re sure to remember forever.
The Shealy Restoration Shop
The Shealy Restoration Shop is genuine aircraft restoration shop that maintains and restores authentic aircraft from World War II and beyond.
Go behind the scenes of the restoration shop on our guided Legends of Pearl Harbor Tour for a can’t-miss experience, including a peek at all the aircraft currently being restored and entrance to our Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
Bob Hope: An American Treasure
Bob Hope was more than just a comedian – he was a beacon of hope for millions of people during the darkest days of World War II. Today, his legacy lives on in our exhibit that showcases his contributions to the war effort and honors the impact he made on the lives of so many. Join us as we explore the life and legacy of Bob Hope, and how his spirit of hope continues to inspire us to this day.
