Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum at 319 Lexington Boulevard on Ford Island, Honolulu, Hawaii, occupies historic hangars where Japanese aircraft struck during the December 7, 1941 attack. Bullet holes are still visible in Hangar 79, and the collection spans the story of Pacific aviation from the 1920s through WWII and beyond. Visitors see restored aircraft, including a Zero fighter, a Stearman, a Dauntless dive bomber, a Corsair and a Wildcat, as well as exhibits on the attack, the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway and the Pacific war. Hangar 37 holds a collection of working restorations and a restoration shop that visitors can watch through windows, along with flight simulators for an extra fee. The Tower View Experience, an additional ticket, climbs the old control tower for panoramic views over Ford Island, Pearl Harbor and the battleship Missouri. The Guided Hangar Tour, also optional, adds historical depth. Access is by shuttle bus from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, included with museum tickets, since Ford Island is a military area not open to private vehicles. Most visitors spend two to three hours, and the museum pairs well with the nearby Missouri since both are on the same shuttle route. The best photo angles are of the aircraft hanging under the hangar roof and the view from the tower toward the Arizona Memorial. Crowds are heaviest from late morning through early afternoon, so mornings are best. Visitors need photo identification for shuttle access, and bags are subject to inspection. Children 4 to 12 receive a lower admission rate, and the Passport to Pearl Harbor bundles entry with the Bowfin and Missouri.