Hangar Guided Tour

Hidden Gem!

Hidden Gem among the more popular museum attractions in Pearl Harbor. We had a fantastic family experience and can highly recommend!! Bernhard

Response from the operator: Thank you Bernhard for referring our museum as "Hidden Gem". I believe this is the first! We are delighted that you and your family had a great experience. We hope you have left our beautiful island with many fond memories. Aloha & Mahalo

via Tripadvisor

It was a valuable experience✨

Visiting the Pearl Harbor Museum and walking through the exhibits with Tomoko’s thoughtful guidance made the historical events feel much more real. Not only the photos and videos, but also the background stories and the emotions of the people that Tomoko shared helped me understand the weight of that history on a deeper level. The quiet, reflective atmosphere left a strong impression on me, and it became a valuable experience that reminded me once again of the importance of peace:)

via Tripadvisor

An Excellent Tour And An Excellent Tour Guide

We started in Hangar 37 with a brief overview of the attack on Pearl Harbor. From their we viewed an unrestored Japanese bomber like the one used on the day, a sample of the armour piercing shell used to penetrate the decks of the USS Arizona was also there for all to see along with the aircraft launched torpedo also used by the Japanese. To truly bring home the massive tragedy that the 7th December 1941 was they had a piece of the USS Arizona on display. 1,177 lives were lost on that ship that day, Being war time they tried reuse everything so the parts that could be salvaged were and repurposed in the fight against the axis. There were a myriad of other aircraft in this hangar, including a mock up of one of the two planes the US managed to get airborne that day donated by the film makers of Pearl Harbor. There was also a sample of bi-plane used to train Navy pilots such as flown by former President George Bush Senior. From the WWII themed hangar we moved on to Hangar 79 which housed another sample trainer also like the former President had used and ultimately a sample of the type of plane he flew during his 58 combat missions. He completed 128 carrier landings while on active duty and was once shot down and then rescued by the submarine USS Finback after the two other members of his flight crew were killed during the mission. The rest of the museum had examples of F14's, F15's, F16's, a Blue Angels F18 and the venerable Australian F111 that I can remember streaking up and down the coast from Williamtown airbase when I was a kid, along with a plethora of other aircraft for our viewing and edification. Chris our guide was a font of wisdom and knowledge, she kept the narrative flowing, maintained interest and answered almost every question. She clearly has a passion for her work and should be commended. I highly recommend this tour. I had a diverting three hours here and felt it worth every moment of my time.

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For Aviation fans

Two Hangars and exterior displays. The signs are quite descriptive, in fact, so much so that you don't need really need the extra cost hangar tour unless you have zero knowledge of WW2 or Aviation

Response from the operator: Thank you for your feedback and for taking the time to explore our exhibits. We’re glad you found the signage informative and engaging. Our self-guided experience is designed to offer meaningful insights for all visitors, while our guided tours provide additional stories and behind-the-scenes details for those looking to delve even deeper. We appreciate your visit and look forward to seeing you again soon!

via Tripadvisor

So worth it!!

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (PHAM) has a pair of aces up its sleeve: 1) A clear, intense narrative: Although there are plenty of more modern aircraft, at its core PHAM tells the history of the Asia-Pacific War, which makes so much sense because aircraft were key to this war, whether reconnaissance, transport, or attack. The Flying Tigers in China, the devastating first wave of Japanese "Kates" on 7 Dec, Doolittle's Mitchells, the cascade of SPD Dauntlesses plummeting at 250 knots toward Japanese carriers at Midway; it's a blood-pumping story, and although the scale of battle can be hard to imagine, the planes put the human element in perspective. 2) Private tours: Generally, we haven't booked private tours at museums (it can be pricey, especially for a family)--but at $10 apiece you'd be missing out to pass on this. Like the difference between a display of musical instruments versus a front-row concert seat, our guide completely brought the museum alive for us. We had three generations present, ages 9 to 76, and Steve was so engaging he had all of us asking questions or opening our eyes wide at the details he shared, both in the main gallery and in the restoration space. As soon as he finished we all knew we'd experienced something special. Absolutely a highlight of our time in Oahu.

via Tripadvisor