Hangar Guided Tour

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

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:)

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.

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

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.

What a beautiful museum. Not only did we get to see history but some of the coolest airplanes in American/ Japanese history. The volunteers walking around are the best. They tell you some cool and interesting facts of pearl harbor attacks and each airplane. If you love history and planes this is your heaven. Their is also a restaurant inside and it was really good! Try the chili cheese fries!

A terrific tour through history. Pearl harbor, aviation, and the part planes have had on our history. We took the tour with a docent and lucked out it was a very small group. It was absolutely extraordinary and filled with information. Highly recommended. They have a new interactive building that is great for kids, and adults!

We took in the aviation museum as part of our all day passport at Pearl Harbor. At the main entrance to Pearl Harbor they have free shuttle buses that take you over to Ford Island to see thee Mightu Mo (USS Missouri) & the Air Museum. I highly recommend to see the planes & learn about the history of Ford Island & the significance that many of the planes displayed played in WW II. Planes on site to name a few are; Hellcats, P-40 Warhawk, Dauntless five bomber, B-25 Mitchell (Doolittle Raider), etc. While at the museum don’t forget to try one of the cool flight simulators, however they are a bit of an added cost at $10 for 15 mins of flight time. Very cool & well worth the try.

I think a visit to Pearl Harbor isn’t complete unless one visits Ford Island. The Arizona Memorial is a must... but don’t leave without going to the Aviation museum on Ford Island. One can do the Aviation museum without a guided tour but if you have the time I’d suggest paying the extra $10 for a guided tour. My guide, Laughlin Tanaka, was exceptional. He gave a narrative on each plane that brought them to life. Additionally, he weaved in WWII & Pearl Harbor stories with the skills of a stage actor. I was fulling entertained for the 1+ tour.

This was part of our bigger tour and I must say it was very informative. The most recent addition to the museum is the training plane used by President George Herbert Walker Bush. It’s a wonderful place to see and experience the history of aviation.

We did the aviation museum as part of our " ROBERTS " tour, while visiting pearl harbour. The aviation museum was a short bus ride away from the main harbour where the USS Missouri and USS Bowfin were docked. The bus got searched when we went over the bridge by there security. The aviation museun was a great find with different types of aircraft in the original ww1 hanger that has the WW1 Bullet holes still in the glass on the sides of the old building. Airoplane were from all over the world. Plenty to see in this hanger there is also a cafe in another hanger.

Purchase your tickets at the museum if you want to get a Military discount. Purchasing your tickets on line will not get you the discount which is about 60% of the regular price especially when you purchase on Groupon. Need to spend at least a couple of hours there to see all. Be sure you go over to Hanger #79 still standing from the Pearl Harbor attack. You will see the aircraft bullet holes in the hanger doors windows pains. Hanger # 79 has vintage aircraft from the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's. I saw fighter aircraft that I worked on while I was in the Air Force during the Viet Nam War during 1969 to 1973.

First time here. This was one of our stops on our father son trip. My father, a percent disabled Vietnam War vet wanted to see all the attractions on Pearl harbor. We got to Hangar 37 and loved the exhibit. But then once we went outside and around the building to walk to the next hangar, we realized it was about a quarter mile, in really hot direct sun, on the concrete runway. We asked the staff if he could get a ride in one of the many electric carts, and the reply was, if you cant make the walk, turn around and leave! RUDE!!! We made the journey, and the second hangar is the best one. Just not an elderly friendly place to visit.

Great place to spend some time if you enjoy history. They give you information you won't learn in your history books in school. ou get a better understanding about what it was really like in the Pacific Theater.

When visiting the Aviation Museum as part of a training program for the university's law faculty, I was guided by Moko Kamiya. I am a university professor who researches war, and Moko's guide was very high quality, offering explanations from various perspectives such as history, geography, culture, weapons development, science and technology, psychology, and journalism, making it a valuable learning resource even for experts in each field. Despite the advanced content, Moko explains it in the simplest possible terms, making her an extremely effective guide for learning. As a university faculty member, I strongly recommend Moko-san's Wednesday morning 10:00 Japanese guided tour to all learners, not just university students.

I participated in Moko's tour. The very clear explanation allowed me to view the aircraft on display inside with a concrete image of how they were used and what history they followed. The descriptions of the Zero fighter and the Type 97 carrier fighter were impressive, covering everything from its development and design in Japan to how it was used in the war, and how it was utilized in America after the war. The exhibits focus on the victorious nation, the United States, but Moko's commentary also included explanations focusing on Japan, which was content that we, as Japanese people, could relate to. If you visit the Aviation Museum from Japan, I strongly recommend participating in the Japanese tour starting at 10 AM on Wednesday.

I participated in a tour with Moko-san, the Japanese guide, at the aviation museum. Not only did you explain the aircraft in detail, but you also carefully explained the evolution of the exhibits and the historical background, which deepened my understanding of the Pacific War significantly. The narration was so captivating, the time flew by. Japanese travelers who are coming soon, please try to go on a Wednesday when Moko is there!

I participated in a guided tour in Japanese. I learned a lot from the knowledge of our guide MOKO. When you have commentary in Japanese, it looks completely different from watching it on your own. I'm really glad I took part. Currently, we only offer Japanese language guides once a week, but we would like to see more of them.

I enjoyed Moko-san's Japanese tour because it was meaningful. It was a good opportunity to think about war and peace. Moko-san has only two sessions every Wednesday at 10:00 and 11:30, and he seems to be free at 10:00, so he recommends it. I was very lucky that I booked it on a Wednesday.

On a visit to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Memorial. The Japanese guide was very good The only regret is that he only gets one day a week. I came all the way from Japan. You can watch the same exhibit. The attendant who will explain Attach or no is 100 times more understandable. At least give me a few more days!

I was guided by Japanese guide Moko. I was able to hear many deep stories that I could not know by looking at the exhibition myself, and I was able to understand not only the airplane but also the background of history. Since I was the only participant that day, they explained it to me in detail beyond the time, and it was a very fulfilling time. Japanese guided tours are held every Wednesday. Recommended for both first-time visitors and those who want to take the time to learn.

I learned a lot from the information and various stories that I did not know about the war. It made me think again about war and peace. It was good to see so many airplanes on display. I want to go again.

Thank you to our guide, MOKO! The explanation was easy to understand and the talk was interesting and the tour was very enjoyable! I'd ask for it when you visit again, and recommend it to friends and family. Thank You So Much

I visited the museum here on the last day of Hawaii, and Moko's guide, who answered my questions aptly, was truly wonderful and a good travel memory! The Aviation Museum is not well known, but it's worth a visit!

The whole was dominated by American aircraft, but World War II propeller aircraft were not very complete. The jet set up outside and the pictures were beautiful. But the placement is messy, even according to the development era. Helicopters are even more lacking in presentation.