Ready Room Blog
8/15/2025
Five Reasons You Should Join Us for the 80th Commemoration of the End of WWII
Join us this Labor Day Weekend for a four-day tribute, August 30 – September 2, 2025.
5 Reasons to Join Us for the 80th Commemoration of the End of WWII
80 years after World War II ended aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, we invite you to gather at the very places where this story began and ended: Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. To celebrate the 80th Commemoration of the End of WWII, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and Battleship Missouri Memorial, joined by presenting sponsor the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, are proud to host this four-day tribute. Join us as we carry forward the legacy of the Greatest Generation.
We are celebrating the 80th Commemoration of the End of WWII with a weekend filled with FREE, family-friendly activities for all ages, including Flight Adventures, featuring the return of the Biggest Little Air Show, E.K. Fernandez carnival rides, hands-on keiki activities, a meet & greet with WWII veterans, ono food trucks, and local vendors, an Outdoor Concert featuring Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band, with special opening performance by the Mākaha Sons, along with two historic film screenings and more.
1. Honor the Past with Historical Film Screenings
During this weekend, we will honor a moment in time that gave rise to lasting hope and the enduring impact of a legacy carried forward, as well as pay tribute to the servicemembers who protect and defend our country today.
Miles, Morale, and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII
–Saturday, August 30 | 11:00AM – 1:00PM
-(Pre-registration required) Get your Free Ticket HERE
Join us for a special screening of Miles, Morale, and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII, a film that explores how Bob Hope traveled over 80,000 miles during WWII to entertain troops near the frontlines in Europe and the Pacific and why President Roosevelt enlisted Hollywood stars to wield microphones instead of guns. The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation carries forward his humanitarian and philanthropic mission, honoring his legacy as an entertainer, patriot, and steadfast supporter of the U.S. military.
This screening will be followed by a celebrity panel with Gary Sinise, Linda Hope, and Martha Bolton, moderated by Dave Price. This discussion will offer deeper insight into his story and legacy.
Surrender on the USS Missouri
-Monday, September 1 | 2:00PM – 4:00PM
This film is a documentary about the battleship where WWII ended on September 2, 1945, featuring first-hand accounts of the Japanese surrender and tracing the Missouri’s journey from construction to its place as a memorial in Pearl Harbor.
This weekend offers not just a chance to honor the past, but to inspire the future through keiki activities, and to commemorate history through music and community events.
2. FREE Family Events - Flight Adventures
Saturday, August 30 |10:00AM – 2:00PM
Sunday, August 31 | 10:00AM – 4:00PM
(Pre-registration required) Get Your FREE Ticket Here
Enjoy two days of fun, free activities for the whole family at Flight Adventures. Details below-
Biggest Little Air Show: A showcase of nationally acclaimed RC pilots performing impressive maneuvers in giant-scale aircraft.
Keiki Hands-On Fun:
- RC aircraft flying
- Straw rockets
- Paper airplanes
- Coloring station
- Rock painting
- Open cockpits
- STEM learning stations
Meet & Greet WWII Veterans: Connect with real-life heroes and learn about history through their eyes.
Liberty Jump Team: The Liberty Jump Team will honor paratroopers and veterans with static-line parachute jumps, interactive displays, and stories that share the history of the airborne with all ages.
Photo Booth: Celebrate like it’s 1945 with a fun spot to capture memories!
3. E.K. Fernandez Carnival Rides, Ono Food Trucks, and Local Vendors - at Flight Adventures
This year, with the 50th State Fair not happening, you can still enjoy the fun of carnival rides and local food vendors serving up ono grindz right here at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum during Flight Adventures! You can also browse and shop from a variety of local vendors, offering unique items and handmade goods.
Please note: Carnival rides, food, and craft vendor items are not included with event admission and will be available for an additional fee.
E.K. Fernandez Carnival Rides:
Saturday, August 30 |10:00AM – 2:00PM
Sunday, August 31 | 10:00AM – 4:00PM
- Super Slide
- Balloon Race
- Carousel
- Lolli Swing
- Magic Maze
Ono Food Trucks & Local Vendors:
Saturday, August 30 |10:00AM – 2:00PM
Sunday, August 31 | 10:00AM – 4:00PM
- Grandma’s Pastele
- Da Bald Guy
- Chickies Hawaii
- Donnie’s Barbeque Smokehouse
- Tacokellzz
- Mav’s Mini Donuts
- Pop Culture Artisan Pops
- Dongmei
- Holy Hoagies
- Corn Onoz
- 808 Athletic Club Lemonade
4. Free Outdoor Concert featuring Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, Mākaha Sons
Saturday, August 30 | 4:00 PM
(Pre-registration required) Get Your FREE Ticket HERE
Enjoy an evening of live music in a unique setting—historic Ford Island. This special night will feature two incredible performances beginning with the Mākaha Sons, one of Hawaii’s most celebrated musical groups, who will bring the heart, soul, and sound of Hawaii, while Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band will deliver a powerful reminder of gratitude for America’s heroes through an electrifying mix of rock, pop, and uplifting anthems will have you on your feet, clapping, and singing along while leaving you inspired and filled with hope for the future.
Outdoor Concert Details:
Doors Open: 3:00 PM
Mākaha Sons: 4:00 PM
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band: 5:00 PM
(Gates close at 5:00 PM)
Ono Food Trucks & Local Vendors for the Outdoor Concert:
Saturday, August 30 | 4:00PM – Close
- Dongmei
- Donnie’s Barbeque Smokehouse
- Grandma’s Pastele
- Tacokellzz
- Corn Onoz
- 808 Athletic Club Lemonade
- 808 Athletic Club Shaved Ice
- 808 Athletic Club Burgers and Fries
Seating: This will be a standing concert with no seating provided. Guests may bring blankets to use at their own discretion. No chairs allowed.
5. Make Family Memories
The 80th Commemoration of the End of WWII is more than a weekend of events. It’s an opportunity to honor the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation, inspire the future, and create memories your whole ohana will treasure.
Stand on the hallowed grounds where history was made, learn about the signing of the surrender and the legacy of Bob Hope through powerful historical film screenings, and reflect on their significance. Explore our Museum, take part in the new MISSION: PHAM PHOTOS social media challenge, see aircraft from across the eras, and sit in a real open aircraft cockpit.
Enjoy Flight Adventures with hands-on keiki activities, the rare opportunity to meet a WWII veteran, the thrill of the Biggest Little Air Show, carnival rides, and local ono grindz.
Experience an evening under the open skies of Ford Island at an Outdoor Concert featuring opening act the Mākaha Sons, followed by celebrity actor and artist Gary Sinise—all right here on America’s WWII Aviation Battlefield during the 80th Commemoration of the End of WWII.
Join us for a weekend of fun! Click the button below to learn more and to pre-register for any or all of the events.