Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Excursion: Historic WWII Hangar Tour and Pilot Stories in Hawaii

Experience the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Hawaii and uncover the untold stories of WWII pilots and crew members. Explore a historic hangar, watch footage of the 1941 attack, and immerse yourself in 70 years of Pacific aviation history.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum - Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most historic sites — Hawaii’s Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor — on a 60-minute Aviator’s Tour.
    Join veteran docents (resident experts) on a journey back in time and into Hangars 37 and 79, two still-intact WWII hangars that housed both the aircraft and the…
What's Included
  • General Admission
  • Docent-led ‘Hangar Guided Tour’
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Combat Flight Sims
  • Top of the Tower Tour
Additional Information

Listen to the unrevealed narratives of seasoned pilots and airplane staff during a one-hour guided exploration of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, located on Ford Island, Hawaii. Travel back in time with narrators who illuminate important events spanning 70 years of Pacific flight history. Investigate the Lt Ted Shealy Restoration Shop, previously a…

Location
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Lexington Boulevard
Front Desk at Hangar 37
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(19 Ratings)
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O8677df_
Dec 3, 2025
Japanese Tour of Aviation Museum - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
606yukah
Dec 3, 2025
That was fun! - 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
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942karini
Dec 3, 2025
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:)
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Vacationer623485
Nov 29, 2025
It's worth a visit. - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sirwhisky
Aug 15, 2025
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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U1426mymichaelj
Feb 5, 2024
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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alejamor28
Mar 30, 2021
Beautiful Museum - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Loren
Mar 21, 2020
A must visit if you're interested in history - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspiration821113
Jun 27, 2025
Enough American planes at once. - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulcf5560ay
Jun 16, 2025
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
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $41
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).