The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is inside two authentic World War II-era hangars on Ford Island in Honolutu, Hawaii, still bearing bullet holes from the attack of December 7, 1941.
This guide was updated in August 2026. Two new experiences are now included free with every visit: the Open Cockpit, letting guests climb into a real F-5 Freedom Fighter jet, and the Rooftop Terrace’s “Timeline on the Terrace” exhibit, which had its grand opening in February 2025 — details many older guides still leave out. You can book your admission ticket in advance through Viator.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Historic Ford Island, 319 Lexington Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96818 |
| Hours | Open daily, 9am–5pm HST |
| Adult admission | $29.99 |
| Child admission (4–12) | $17.99 |
| Children 3 and under | Free |
| Nearest transport | Free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Why book Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum tickets?
- 🏛️ Authentic WWII hangars: Hangars 37 and 79 still show damage from the December 7, 1941 attack.
- 🎟️ Two new experiences included free: Climb into the Open Cockpit F-5 fighter jet and explore the Rooftop Terrace’s Timeline on the Terrace exhibit.
- 🌿 168 feet above the battlefield: The historic Ford Island Control Tower offers a bird’s-eye view of Pearl Harbor (paid upgrade).
- 📜 Free audio tours in six languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
- 💰 Free for under-4s: Children aged three and under, and museum members, always visit at no charge.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum opening hours
The museum is open daily, 9am to 5pm HST. The Hangar Café serves food from 11am to 4pm (with the grill closing at 3pm), and the Museum Store stays open until 5pm. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum ticket prices
General Admission covers both hangars and every included experience.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| General Admission, adult | $29.99 |
| General Admission, child (4–12) | $17.99 |
| Children 3 and under | Free |
| Museum members | Free |
| Passport to Pearl Harbor, adult | $99.99 |
| Passport to Pearl Harbor, child (4–12) | $49.99 |
The Passport to Pearl Harbor bundles the Aviation Museum with the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, the Visitor Center’s multimedia tour, and the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center — though it does not include boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial, which must be booked separately. Book your museum ticket in advance through Viator to skip the ticket counter.
How to get to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
The museum is on Ford Island, an active military base, so most visitors can’t drive there directly. General public visitors should set their GPS to “Pearl Harbor Visitor Center” and take the free shuttle to Ford Island, departing roughly every 15 minutes from 8am to 4pm, with the last shuttle back at 5pm. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can only drop off at the Visitor Center, not the museum itself. Visitors with military or DoD ID can drive directly to the museum using its Lexington Boulevard address.
Parking at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Parking costs $7 per day at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, payable via a mobile app or an on-site kiosk.
How long to spend at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Most visitors spend two to three hours, longer if adding the Ford Island Control Tower tour or a flight simulator session.
Accessibility at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with ramps and wide exhibit spaces throughout both hangars. Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What to see at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Hangar 37 walks visitors through a minute-by-minute account of the December 7, 1941 attack, the Doolittle Raid, and the Battle of Midway, with authentically restored aircraft including a Japanese Zero and a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber.
Hangar 79 covers the rise of American air power after WWII, including the “MiG Alley” Korean War exhibit, modern jets and helicopters, and a working restoration shop where visitors can see ongoing work on historic aircraft.
The Open Cockpit experience, now included with general admission, lets guests climb into the seat of a real F-5 Freedom Fighter jet for photos.
The Rooftop Terrace, home to the “Timeline on the Terrace” exhibit that opened in February 2025, uses audio, visual, and tactile elements to recreate the events of December 7, 1941 from an elevated vantage point.
The Ford Island Control Tower, available as a paid upgrade, takes visitors 168 feet above the battlefield via a restored elevator, with docents narrating the morning of the attack from the observation deck.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Set your GPS to the Visitor Center, not the museum | Ford Island is only reachable by the free shuttle for most visitors. |
| Plan for the shuttle ride if using rideshare | Uber and Lyft can only drop off at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. |
| Don’t skip the free extras | Open Cockpit and the Rooftop Terrace are now included with standard admission. |
| Consider the Passport for multiple sites | It bundles the Aviation Museum with the Battleship Missouri and submarine museum, though USS Arizona tickets are booked separately. |
| Use the free audio tour | Available in six languages at no extra cost. |
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Daily, 9am to 5pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. |
| How much does admission cost? | $29.99 for adults and $17.99 for children 4–12; free for members and children 3 and under. |
| Is the museum wheelchair accessible? | Yes, fully accessible, with complimentary wheelchairs available first-come, first-served. |
| How do I get there? | Drive to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center ($7/day parking) and take the free shuttle; rideshare drop-off is at the Visitor Center only. |
| What’s new at the museum? | The Open Cockpit experience and the Rooftop Terrace’s Timeline on the Terrace exhibit are both now included free with general admission. |
Things to do near the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
The Battleship Missouri Memorial, also on Ford Island, is the ship where Japan formally surrendered in 1945, ending World War II.
The USS Arizona Memorial, reached by a separate boat tour, honours the more than 1,100 sailors and Marines still entombed within the sunken battleship.
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, home to the USS Bowfin, lets visitors explore a WWII-era submarine at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center complex.
The USS Oklahoma Memorial, on Ford Island, commemorates the battleship lost in the attack, marked by a row of white pillars.
The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center itself features its own museum galleries and a documentary film that sets the stage before boarding the shuttle to Ford Island.
What to visit tomorrow
The US Army Museum of Hawaii, in Waikiki, about 20 to 30 minutes away, covers Hawaii’s military history from ancient warfare through World War II and beyond.
The Tropic Lightning Museum, at Schofield Barracks, roughly 45 minutes to an hour away, preserves the history of the 25th Infantry Division, which was stationed on Oahu during the Pearl Harbor attack.
