Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

On Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum occupies historic hangars filled with military aircraft from World War II and later eras. Hangar 79 preserves bullet holes and other damage from the December 7, 1941 attack, while exhibits trace the day’s events and aviation’s role in the Pacific. You can get close to aircraft, try a flight simulator and visit the Ford Island Control Tower for a view over the harbor. Allow time to read the displays as well as explore the hangars.

The hangars and their aircraft

The museum is on Ford Island, in two historic hangars that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. Inside, aircraft from World War II and later periods show how military aviation changed over time. The collection includes American and Japanese aircraft, as well as jets from the Cold War era. Among the named aircraft on display are the Curtiss P-40E Warhawk and Lockheed F-104A Starfighter.

Look closely at the planes as you move through the hangars. Their shapes and equipment tell part of the story of how different aircraft were built for different roles. Displays also cover the people who flew and maintained them, the technology behind the machines and the role of air power in the Pacific. Some areas show aircraft and helicopter parts being restored.

Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War

The visit begins with a short film about December 7, 1941. Hangar 37 introduces the attack and its setting, with exhibits about life in Hawaii at the time and the events of that morning. The collection also covers the Battle of Midway and the United States’ wartime mobilization, including aircraft production and pilot training.

In Hangar 79, look for bullet holes and other damage left by the attack. These marks remain on the building itself, connecting the aircraft displays to the events the museum interprets. The exhibits also include personal stories and artifacts, placing the machines within the wider history of the people who served in the Pacific.