Pearl Harbor Tours from HonoluluPearl Harbor Aviation Museum: The Guide to Hangar 37 and Hangar 79
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum sits inside two original hangars on Ford Island that still carry damage from the attack. This guide covers what the museum holds, how the two hangars and the control tower work, and how to reach the island on the free shuttle with your ID. If you would rather see it as part of a booked day, Pearl Harbor tours from Honolulu include it on the full-length options.
Hangar 79 of the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island. Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer The short version
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum opened on December 7, 2006 in Hangar 37 on Ford Island and holds more than 50 aircraft inside hangars that were attacked in 1941. It is open daily 9am-5pm HST, and general admission covers Hangar 37, Hangar 79, the outdoor exhibits, the Operations Building rooftop terrace and more than 50 aircraft. Visitors without Navy base access reach it on a free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center that runs every 15-20 minutes from 8:00am, with the last return at 5:00pm. Plan 2 to 3 hours, longer if you add the Tower or the simulators.
Key takeaways
- See how the museum fits into a full day on the Best of Pearl Harbor Full-Day Tour, which covers four sites in 10 hours.
- The Pearl Harbor Heroes Deluxe Tour also includes the museum, with an optional stop at the Ford Island Control Tower.
- Ford Island is a secured base, so read the Ford Island guide before you go.
- Jump to Hangar 37, Hangar 79 and the Tower for what is inside each building.
The Museum in the Old Hangars
The museum occupies real attack survivor buildings on the airfield that Japanese aircraft targeted first.
A Museum Born on the Battlefield
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum opened on December 7, 2006, exactly 65 years after the attack, and it opened in Hangar 37, one of the original hangars of the naval air station on Ford Island. That date is not a marketing choice. The museum stands on the seaplane base and airfield that the first wave of Japanese aircraft went after just before 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, when 353 Japanese aircraft attacked in two waves from six carriers positioned 230 miles north of Oahu.
The hangars the museum uses today were under fire that morning. They still show damage from the December 7 attack, and the museum leaves it visible on purpose. Visitors walk through buildings that took the hits themselves, which is a large part of why the site feels different from a standard aviation collection. Ford Island covers 441 acres after Navy dredging work in the 1930s, and the museum sits at 319 Lexington Boulevard on the island.
- Opened December 7, 2006 in Hangar 37
- More than 50 aircraft in hangars attacked on December 7, 1941
- Address: 319 Lexington Boulevard, Ford Island
- Open daily 9am-5pm HST
Why the Airfield Mattered That Morning
The attack destroyed more than 180 US aircraft. The museum's collection is displayed inside hangars that were attacked that morning, so the aircraft story is told in the buildings where it happened.
The airfield story is also the reason the museum sits behind a security fence. Ford Island is a secured military base, so the museum cannot be driven to by the general public. Civilians reach it the same way they reach the Battleship Missouri across the island, on the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Guests on the shuttle may be asked for a government photo ID, and foreign visitors should carry a passport. No photography is permitted on the shuttle itself.
- More than 180 US aircraft were destroyed in the attack
- The island is a secured base, closed to civilian driving
- The free shuttle runs from the visitor center every 15-20 minutes from 8:00am
How Long to Allow
The Historic Sites planning guidance says to allow 2 to 3 hours at the museum, longer if you add the Tower or the flight simulators. Treat it as a stop that needs real time, not a quick add-on.
The shuttle adds time too. The Missouri's planning advice of about 30 minutes each way for waiting, boarding and the ride applies to any Ford Island destination, and the shuttle loops from the visitor center to the Missouri first, then the Aviation Museum, then back. If you go under your own steam rather than on a booked day, check the Ford Island access rules and the Pearl Harbor bag policy before you leave Waikiki, because the bag rule applies to everyone boarding the Ford Island shuttle.
| Planning item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Time to allow at the museum | 2-3 hours, longer with the Tower or simulators |
| Shuttle frequency | Every 15-20 minutes from 8:00am |
| Last shuttle return from the museum | 5:00pm |
| Museum hours | Daily 9am-5pm HST |
| Shuttle ride and waiting, each way | About 30 minutes |
Sources: Pearl Harbor National Memorial, National Park Service, Recreation.gov, Pearl Harbor Historic Sites
Hangar 37, Hangar 79 and the Tower
The museum spreads across two surviving hangars and a restored control tower, and each building carries a different piece of the story.
Hangar 37, Where the Story Starts
Hangar 37 is the museum's founding building and the one where the doors first opened on December 7, 2006. The hangars still show damage from the December 7 attack.
General admission covers Hangar 37 together with Hangar 79, the outdoor exhibits, the Operations Building rooftop terrace and more than 50 aircraft. Children 3 and under enter free. Kamaʻāina and military tickets are sold only onsite and require valid ID. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with free wheelchairs available first come, first served, which is more than the Missouri's lower decks or the Bowfin offer, since neither is wheelchair accessible.
- The museum's original building, open since 2006
- Part of general admission with more than 50 aircraft
- Fully wheelchair accessible, free wheelchairs onsite
- Children 3 and under enter free
Hangar 79 and the Machines
Hangar 79 is the second hangar covered by general admission. Together with Hangar 37 and the outdoor exhibits it holds the museum's more than 50 aircraft.
The museum also sells paid extras on site. The Fighter Ace 360 simulator costs $10.99 to share or $21.99 for a solo flight, bought on site. A guided Hangar Tour runs one hour and costs $10.99 per person, for visitors who want a guide. If you would rather have the whole island handled for you, the Best of Pearl Harbor Full-Day Tour and the Pearl Harbor Heroes Deluxe Tour both include museum admission inside their tour prices.
| Onsite extra | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter Ace 360 simulator, shared | $10.99 | not stated |
| Fighter Ace 360 simulator, solo | $21.99 | not stated |
| Guided Hangar Tour | $10.99 per person | One hour |
The Control Tower and the Tower View
The Ford Island Control Tower gives a 360-degree view from 168 feet up. The museum's published listing gives no price or access rule for the Tower, so ask at the museum. For the memorial itself, see the USS Arizona Memorial guide.
Allow extra time if you add it. The Historic Sites planning guidance is 2 to 3 hours at the museum, longer with the Tower or the simulators, and the last shuttle back to the visitor center leaves the museum at 5:00pm. On the Pearl Harbor Heroes Deluxe Tour the Ford Island Control Tower appears as an optional stop, which is the simplest way to reach it on a booked day.
- 360-degree view from 168 feet
- Price and access rules not stated
- Last shuttle back to the visitor center leaves at 5:00pm
- Optional stop on the Heroes Deluxe Tour
Full Guided Tour of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
A walk through the hangars on Ford Island and the aircraft on display. Third-party video by Wander With Dave. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Hours, Shuttle and Time to Allow
The museum sits on Ford Island, a secured military base, so every visit starts with the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Build the shuttle time into your day before you go.
The Practical Numbers
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm HST. The free Ford Island shuttle leaves the visitor center every 15 to 20 minutes starting at 8:00am, loops first to the Battleship Missouri, then to the museum, then back to the visitor center. The last return shuttle leaves the museum at 5:00pm.
The Missouri advises about 30 minutes each way for waiting, boarding and the ride, and the shuttle adds roughly an extra hour of transport time to a multi-site day. Allow 2 to 3 hours inside the museum, longer if you add the Control Tower or the flight simulators. Bring a government photo ID, because guests on the Ford Island shuttle may be asked for one, and foreign visitors should carry a passport.
The bag policy applies to everyone riding that shuttle. You can read more about Ford Island as a place in the Ford Island guide.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm HST |
| Shuttle frequency | Every 15 to 20 minutes from 8:00am, from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center |
| Shuttle route | Visitor center, then Battleship Missouri, then the museum, then back |
| Last return to the visitor center | 5:00pm from the museum |
| Time to allow | 2 to 3 hours, longer with the Control Tower or simulators |
| ID | Government photo ID may be requested on the shuttle, passport for foreign visitors |
| Bags | The Pearl Harbor bag policy applies to all shuttle riders |
Getting There Without Driving Onto the Base
You cannot drive to the museum unless you hold Navy base access. The Ford Island bridge next to the visitor center is for military personnel only, and free parking on the island is for guests with base access. Taxis and ride-shares cannot drop off at the museum either, so they must stop at the visitor center and you continue by shuttle.
No photography is permitted on the shuttle. For how to reach the visitor center itself, see how to get to Pearl Harbor, and check the Pearl Harbor bag policy before you pack, because solid backpacks are turned away at screening.
A Sea King, Sea Cobra and Iroquois helicopter on display in Hangar 79. Photo: Pacific Aviation Museum, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tours That Include the Museum
Few catalog tours cover the Aviation Museum, because it takes a full day. Here is what each one actually includes, with the price from its own listing. The bookable options sit side by side on Pearl Harbor tours from Waikiki.
The Two Full-Day Options With Museum Admission
The Best of Pearl Harbor Full-Day Tour runs 10 hours and covers all four sites, the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Bowfin, the Battleship Missouri and the Aviation Museum, with all admissions in the $208 price. Hotel pickup from Honolulu is included and it is rated 4.8 from 58 reviews. The Pearl Harbor Heroes Deluxe Tour runs 9.5 hours from Waikiki with the same four sites plus an optional stop at the Ford Island Control Tower and lunch, at $214 per person with every admission included, rated 4.8 from 34 reviews.
On the homepage comparison of Pearl Harbor tours from Honolulu these are the listings that put you inside Hangar 37 and Hangar 79 without buying separate tickets.
The 9-Hour Coach Upgrade
The Star of Honolulu Deluxe Coach Tour sells its 5-hour Arizona and city version at $59.23 per person, rated 4.9 from 5,031 reviews. Its 9-hour option adds the Aviation Museum and the Battleship Missouri, and the 9-hour option costs more than the base fare quoted here. The coach has panoramic windows, an onboard restroom and a professional driver-guide.
If you only want the Missouri without the museum, the Arizona and Battleship Missouri Tour and the Small-Group Arizona and Missouri Tour cover that pair in 6 hours.
Tips for Visiting the Aviation Museum
Do
- Do ride the shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, because the museum sits on a secured military base and the free shuttle from 8:00am is the only way in for visitors without base access.
- Do carry a government photo ID, because guests on the Ford Island shuttle may be asked for one and foreign visitors should have a passport.
- Do allow 2 to 3 hours, because general admission covers more than 50 aircraft across Hangar 37, Hangar 79, outdoor exhibits and the Operations Building rooftop terrace.
- Do budget for the extras on site, because the guided Hangar Tour costs $10.99 and the Fighter Ace 360 simulator costs $10.99 to share or $21.99 solo.
- Do plan your return around the 5:00pm last shuttle, because it is the last return shuttle to the visitor center.
Don't
- Don't try to drive or take a taxi to the door, because the Ford Island bridge is for military personnel only and taxis and ride-shares must drop at the visitor center.
- Don't bring a solid backpack, because the bag policy applies to everyone on the Ford Island shuttle and solid bags are not allowed.
- Don't take photos on the shuttle, because photography is not permitted on the Ford Island shuttle ride.
- Don't plan the museum after an early afternoon arrival at the visitor center, because the shuttle adds roughly an extra hour of transport time and you want 2 to 3 hours inside before the 5:00pm return.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Questions
How do I get to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum?
Take the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. It runs every 15 to 20 minutes from 8:00am and the museum sits on secured Ford Island, so visitors without base access cannot drive in. See the Ford Island guide for the access rules.
How long should I allow for the museum?
Allow 2 to 3 hours, longer if you add the Control Tower or the flight simulators. That is on top of roughly 30 minutes each way for the shuttle, and the last return leaves at 5:00pm. Many visitors fit it into a full day with Pearl Harbor tours from Honolulu that include all four sites.
What does admission to the Aviation Museum include?
General admission covers more than 50 aircraft, Hangar 37, Hangar 79, the outdoor exhibits and the Operations Building rooftop terrace. Children 3 and under enter free, and kamaʻāina and military tickets are sold only on site with valid ID. Tickets are sold inside the catalog's full-day listings such as the Best of Pearl Harbor Full-Day Tour.
Is the Aviation Museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the museum is fully wheelchair accessible and free wheelchairs are available first come first served. The shuttle system also serves the whole loop between the visitor center, the Missouri and the museum. For the neighboring ship, see the Battleship Missouri guide.
What will I see in the hangars?
You see more than 50 aircraft in the original hangars that still carry damage from the December 7 attack, and the Ford Island Control Tower gives a 360-degree view from 168 feet. The museum opened in Hangar 37 on December 7, 2006. The context for the attack itself is in the attack on Pearl Harbor guide.
Can I visit the museum without a tour?
Yes. The free shuttle from the visitor center is open to anyone, and the museum is open daily 9:00am to 5:00pm. You need a museum ticket, which the full-day tours bundle. The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum is a separate site beside the visitor center.