Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum: WWII Aircraft & Control Tower

The Control Tower That Watched the Attack: Now Open to You

You get general admission to the museum's two WWII hangars, a free audio tour in your choice of six languages, access to 70+ restored aircraft, and a guided ascent of the 168-foot control tower with a 360-degree view of the attack site. Complimentary shuttle service from Honolulu hotels is included, so you arrive without the logistics of base entry or parking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

• Enter Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
• Discover Pacific aviation history
• Visit historic Ford Island hangar
• View Hawaii’s largest aircraft collection
• Watch film narrated by survivors
• Use free audio tour headset
• Shop at museum store
• Relax at Hangar cafe

The experience

The Ford Island Control Tower stands 168 feet above the water, and for the first time in decades, you can ride the vintage elevator to the top. From up there, you see the exact angles where Japanese aircraft came in on December 7, 1941: the flight paths, the harbor layout, the whole geometry of that morning. It's not a metaphor. It's the actual view the operators had, and the guided portion of the tour walks you through what they saw and what they did. The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum sits in one of the two hangars that survived the attack, and that detail alone changes how the place feels.

Inside, there are more than 70 restored aircraft spread across the two hangars (fighters, bombers, transport planes) each one with a story tied to the Pacific war. You move through at your own pace with an audio tour (available in English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Korean, and Mandarin), so you can linger on the ones that hold you or move past the ones that don't. There's a film with actual footage of the attack, narrated by survivors, and it's the kind of thing that sits with you after you leave. The museum doesn't try to be grand about it. It's straightforward and respectful, which somehow makes it more powerful.

The shuttle runs from Honolulu hotels to Ford Island and back, so you don't have to navigate the base yourself or worry about parking. The whole visit takes a few hours depending on how deep you go with the audio tour and whether you do the control tower climb. There's a cafe if you need coffee, and a shop for books or aviation gifts on the way out. Wheelchair access is available throughout, and kids under four get in free.

What’s included

Your visit includes general admission to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, a free audio tour headset in one of six languages (English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Korean, or Mandarin), access to more than 70 years of Pacific aviation history across two WWII-era hangars, complimentary shuttle service to and from Ford Island, and a stirring film featuring actual footage of the December 7, 1941 attack narrated by survivors. The museum also has a cafe and gift shop on-site.

Options for this experience

4 options

General Admission09:00Entry ticket for general admission

General admission plus the tower view experienceGuide in English or Japanese · 10:00Tower view experience lasting 15 minutes. The ticket can be used at any time during operating hours.

General admission plus a guided tour of the hangarGuide in English or Japanese · 7 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:00Guided tour of the hangar

General admission plus a guided tour of the towerGuide in English or Japanese · 09:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 16:00Guided tour of the tower

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Is this one for you?Best for anyone visiting Honolulu who wants to understand the Pacific war through the aircraft and the people who flew them, without arranging base access or transport: the shuttle and audio tour handle both, leaving you free to move through the hangars at your own pace.

Traveler reviews

4.25★★★★★★★★★★

69 verified traveler reviews

5 ★40

4 ★19

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★6

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

Do I need to book the control tower tour separately?

The reference content mentions adding the Top of the Tower Tour to your experience, which suggests it may be optional. Confirm with the museum whether it's included in your ticket or requires an additional fee.

Is there parking at the museum?

The ticket includes a complimentary shuttle to and from Ford Island, so you don't need to arrange your own transport or parking on the base.

What if I use a wheelchair?

The museum is wheelchair accessible throughout, and transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.

Can I bring my service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed.