Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

What Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum does

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located on Ford Island in Honolulu, Hawaii, operating within the Pearl Harbor National Memorial on the historic battlefield where the December 7, 1941 attack began. The museum stewards 50+ aircraft across two bullet-riddled WWII-era hangars (Hangars 37 and 79), the restored 168-foot Ford Island Control Tower, the Operations Building with Rooftop Terrace, the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Library and Archive (21,700+ digitized items), and the Shealy Restoration Shop. It sells tiered General Admission ($29.99 adult) and Passport to Pearl Harbor packages ($99.99 adult), offers the Fighter Ace 360° Flight Simulator, Ford Island Control Tower, and guided hangar tours as upgrade experiences, and provides audio tours in six languages.

Revenue is diversified across eight streams: admission tickets, multi-tier annual memberships ($50–$5,000), retail (on-site and global online store), food and beverage at the Hangar Café, private event rentals across 100,000+ sq ft, donations and an ongoing $51M capital campaign, education programs (School & Youth Programs, Adult Programs, Aviation Pathways, and the A&P Certification Program launched August 2025), and the annual For Love of Country Gala. The museum serves individual tourists, K–12 school groups, military families (with discounted kamaʻāina and military rates), corporate event clients, members/donors, and aspiring aviation professionals through scholarships funded by the Ray Foundation, Rick & Teresa Price Family, and others. Distribution is primarily on-site at Ford Island (accessible via free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center) supplemented by an online store shipping worldwide and an events team for private rentals. The museum was founded as a nonprofit in 2006, is governed by a Board of Directors, completed a $51M "Remember Pearl Harbor" capital campaign, was recognized by Travel + Leisure in 2025, and is preparing for its 20th anniversary in 2026 alongside the 85th commemoration of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Name

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Legal name

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Website

https://pearlharboraviationmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum on Ford Island, Honolulu, preserving America's WWII aviation battlefield with 50+ aircraft, two historic hangars, and the restored 168-foot Ford Island Control Tower. It serves tourists, school groups, military families, event clients, and aviation scholarship recipients through admissions, memberships, events, and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

Keywords

• Aviation museum exhibits
• Historical aircraft collection
• Wwii battlefield tours
• Aviation education programs
• Museum event rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: General admission tickets provide access to all exhibits, hangars, and outdoor displays. Adult tickets at $29.99, children (4-12) at $17.99. Kamaʻaina and military discounts available at $20.99 and $10.99 respectively.
2. Passport to Pearl Harbor: Combined ticket package granting access to all four Pearl Harbor destinations: Visitor Center, Battleship Missouri, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Priced at $99.99 for adults and $49.99 for children.
3. Membership Program: Annual memberships at multiple tiers ($50-$5,000+) providing free admission, discounts on food, retail, and experiences, plus exclusive member benefits and recognition.
4. Retail Store: On-site museum store and online e-commerce platform selling aviation-themed merchandise, apparel, accessories, and exclusive Swamp Ghost collection items.
5. Food & Beverage: Hangar Café serving all-American meals and island fare in WWII-themed setting. Open to public without museum admission. Military and DoD discount pricing available.
6. Donations & Fundraising: Annual giving, tribute gifts, capital campaigns ($51M Remember Pearl Harbor), memorial donations, and special fundraising initiatives. 501(c)(3) nonprofit dependent on donor support.
7. Event Rentals: Private event hosting including conferences, galas, parties, and ceremonies. Over 100,000 square feet of space available. Catering and event planning services provided through preferred vendors.
8. Experience Upgrades: Additional ticket options including Tower View Experience ($10), Guided Tower Tour ($20), Fighter Ace 360 Flight Simulator ($10.70-$21.99), and Guided Hangar Tour.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation museum operating on historic Ford Island in Honolulu, Hawaii, that preserves America's WWII aviation battlefield. The museum sells general admission and Passport to Pearl Harbor multi-site tickets, premium add-on experiences (Ford Island Control Tower tour, Fighter Ace 360° flight simulator, guided hangar tours), tiered annual memberships, retail merchandise, Hangar Café dining, private event rentals, and educational programs including K-12 field trips, adult programs, Aviation Pathways, and scholarship programs.

Product overview

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive visitor experience centered on America's WWII aviation battlefield. The museum provides General Admission and Passport to Pearl Harbor tickets as core products, with premium add-ons including the Ford Island Control Tower Experience, Fighter Ace 360° Flight Simulator, and Guided Hangar Tours. The facility spans two historic WWII-era hangars (Hangars 37 and 79) containing 50+ aircraft, artifacts, and exhibits. The museum operates a Museum Store and Hangar Café for retail and dining. Additional offerings include Museum Membership (subscription tiers from $50 to $5,000), extensive education programs (School & Youth Programs, Adult Programs, Aviation Pathways), multiple scholarship programs (For Love of Country, Aviation Pathways Grant, Admiral Ronald J. Hays, and others), private event rentals, and the annual For Love of Country Gala. The museum also maintains the Shealy Restoration Shop and the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Library and Archive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NOTAM (Notice to Airmen): Quarterly newsletter publication of Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum covering aviation history and museum news
• For Love of Country Gala
• For Love of Country Scholarship
• Aviation Pathways
• Junior Aeronauts
• Flight School for Boys/Girls
• Hangar Café
• Shealy Restoration Shop
• Fighter Ace 360 Flight Simulator
• Top of the Tower Tour

Products and services

• General Admission Ticket providing access to 50+ aircraft and all exhibits in Hangars 37 and 79, Outdoor Exhibits, and the Rooftop Terrace of the Operations Building. Includes free audio tours in 6 languages. Adult $29.99, children (4-12) $17.99, kamaʻāina/military discounts available.
• Passport to Pearl Harbor Combined ticket package granting access to all four Pearl Harbor destinations: Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, plus Virtual Reality Center. Adult $99.99, children (4-12) $49.99. Does not include USS Arizona Memorial boat tickets.
• Ford Island Control Tower Experience Premium add-on upgrade offering panoramic views from the 168-foot Ford Island Control Tower. Includes Tower View Experience ($10/person, self-guided) and Guided Tower Tour ($20/person, 30-minute docent-led). Requires separate general admission ticket.
• Fighter Ace 360° Flight Simulator State-of-the-art 360-degree flight simulator experience featuring dogfights in a P-38 over tropical waters. Divide and Conquer (shared) $10.99/person; Own the Skies (solo) $21.99/person. Tickets purchased onsite only.
• Guided Hangar Tour One-hour behind-the-scenes guided tour of Hangars 37 and 79 plus the Shealy Restoration Shop, led by expert docents. Added onto general admission or passport ticket; offered daily at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm.
• Museum Membership Annual subscription membership providing free admission, discounts at Hangar Café (20%), museum store (10%), and experiences (10%), exclusive member gifts, recognition in annual reports, and Smithsonian Affiliate reciprocity benefits. Tiers: Individual ($50), Co-pilot ($60), Family ($100), Sponsor ($500), Advocate ($1,000), Ambassador ($2,500), Patron ($5,000+).
• Museum Store On-site and online retail store featuring aviation-themed merchandise including apparel, accessories, home décor, model airplanes, books, toys, and exclusive Swamp Ghost collection items. Online store ships worldwide; every purchase supports the museum's nonprofit mission.
• Hangar Café WWII-themed café serving all-American favorites and island fare in air-conditioned comfort. Open daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., accessible to the public without museum admission. Military and DoD discount pricing available.
• Private Event Rentals Event venue rental offering over 100,000 square feet of historic WWII hangar space for corporate events, conferences, galas, weddings, parties, and ceremonies. Onsite catering and event planning services available through preferred vendors.
• School & Youth Programs Field trip and youth education programs for Pre-K through 12th grade students, including History Encounters, Aviation Learning Center, summer camps (Junior Aeronauts for 3rd-5th grade, Flight School for Boys/Girls for 6th-8th grade), and scout programs. Combines WWII history with aviation STEM concepts. Group visit inquiries processed through the education department.
• Adult Programs Professional development and team building programs for adults, including History Encounters, Basics of Flying, Handling the Collection, and Sketching in the Hangar.
• Aviation Pathways Program Hands-on program for students aged 16-21 to build practical skills for careers as pilots or FAA-certified A&P mechanics. Includes mentorship and Aviation Pathways Grant funding of up to $10,000 toward private pilot's license, supported by the Ray Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Will be the only museum in the world to display all three Japanese aircraft from the Pearl Harbor attack (Zero, Val, Kate)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hawaiian AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Partnership with Hawaiian Airlines to launch A&P Certification Program for high school students, addressing aviation industry workforce shortages. The program combines classroom instruction with practical training to prepare students for FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification.
• West-MECcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Educational partner in the A&P Certification Program, providing vocational training and technical education for high school students pursuing aviation maintenance careers.
• Si Robin FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Foundation partner supporting the A&P Certification Program for high school students, providing grant funding and programmatic support for aviation career pathways.
• SmithsonianflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmithsonian Affiliate membership program. Museum members can add $20 to their membership for Smithsonian benefits including Smithsonian Magazine subscription, free admission to Cooper-Hewitt in NYC, and 10% discounts at Smithsonian venues.
• HalekulaniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury hotel partner for the For Love of Country Gala, providing preferred rates for gala attendees ($530++/night for Ocean View) during the December 2-10, 2026 stay period.
• HalepunaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoutique hotel partner for the For Love of Country Gala, offering preferred rates of $300++/night for Mountain View rooms during the gala event period.
• Enterprise Rent-A-CarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial car rental partner for the For Love of Country Gala, providing transportation services for event attendees.
• BoeingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the For Love of Country Gala, supporting the museum's fundraising efforts and mission to preserve WWII aviation history.
• Lockheed MartinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the For Love of Country Gala, supporting the museum's preservation and education mission.
• RTXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the For Love of Country Gala, supporting the museum's fundraising efforts.
• American AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial airline partner for the For Love of Country Gala, facilitating attendee travel to the event.
• Paramount PicturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered for Top Gun 2: Maverick Hawaii premiere screening at the museum in May 2022, hosting 1,500+ servicemembers in Historic Hangar 79.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Museum of Flight: Seattle-based independent aviation museum with one of the largest air/space collections in the US. Comparable nonprofit operating model, restoration facilities, education programs, and event rentals.
• Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum: Everett, Washington museum founded by Paul Allen featuring WWII combat aircraft. Direct thematic peer for aviation battlefield storytelling with a focus on flying examples of WWII-era warbirds.
• Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (USS Bowfin): Adjacent Pearl Harbor historic site and Passport partner; submarine-themed counterpart within the same Pearl Harbor tourism ecosystem. Comparable nonprofit model bundled in the same Pearl Harbor visitor flow.
• Battleship Missouri Memorial: Adjacent Pearl Harbor historic site and Passport partner; WWII battleship-turned-memorial. Closest co-located peer competing for visitor time within the Pearl Harbor National Memorial complex.
• Pima Air & Space Museum: Tucson, Arizona nonprofit aerospace museum with 300+ aircraft, restoration programs, and tram tours. Comparable independent nonprofit model with strong education programming and donor-funded capital projects.
• National Naval Aviation Museum: Navy-run museum in Pensacola, Florida, focused on naval aviation history with 150+ aircraft and STEM education programs. Direct functional peer in military aviation museums with restoration shops and education pipelines.
• The National WWII Museum: New Orleans-based WWII history museum and 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Closest direct peer: comparable scale, mission-driven WWII narrative, multi-revenue model (admission, membership, events, retail, education, endowment), and award-winning visitor experience.
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: New York City museum aboard USS Intrepid featuring aircraft, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, and military exhibits. Comparable in combining military history, authentic aircraft collection, immersive simulators, and event rentals at a major tourism hub.
• USS Midway Museum: San Diego aircraft carrier museum operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Comparable model using a historic naval aviation asset to deliver paid admissions, membership, youth programs (Overnight Adventures), and event rentals.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Smithsonian flagship aviation/space museum in Washington, DC. Largest broad incumbent in the aviation museum category; sets national benchmarks for exhibits, educational reach, and Smithsonian Affiliate program referenced by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PearlHarborAvi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PacificAviation
• Facebookfacebook.com/PearlHarborAviationMuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/pearlharboraviationmuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum