Other Hawaiian Islands

Last Update: 13/OCTOBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Hawai'i Island

Fort Mailekini
(Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site)
(1810 ?), Kawaihae
An ancient heiau that was fortified by John Young, a former British sailor, for King Kamehameha I. Located adjacent to Pu'ukohola Heiau.

Fort Kamakahonu
(1819 - 1855 ?), Kailua-Kona
This was once a place of worship (heiau) that had been fortified with an 18-gun battery. The guns came from the wreck of the Lark. This fort never saw action and all that remains is a mass of rocks on the shore. Also known as Fort at Kailua.

Camp Waiakea
(1898), Waiakea
A temporary camp established by American troops, located across the river from downtown Hilo.

Hilo Defenses
(1941 - 1945), near Hilo
A mobile battery of 155mm guns was set up in 1941 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Four 4-inch naval guns were emplaced in 1942. Exact location undetermined.

Maui Island

Fort at Lahaina
(1832 - 1854), Lahaina
A Hawaiian 30-gun fort built to protect against foreign intrusions, constructed similarly to the Honolulu Fort, but smaller. It was about 275 feet square, with 15-foot high walls built from coral blocks. It was also used as a prison, and was the center of civil authority. It was later demolished, and the coral blocks were used to construct the nearby Hale Paahao prison. The guns were sold in Honolulu for scrap in 1857.

Kahului Defenses
(1940's), Kahului and Kihei
A mobile 75mm gun battery was emplaced late 1941. Four 4-inch naval guns were emplaced in 1942. Numerous concrete machine-gun pillboxes were constructed on the beaches from Kahului to Lower Paia, and from Kihei to Kamaole Beach. Many still exist.

Lana'i Island

Ho'oki'o Fortifications
(1778), near Lana'i City
Hawaiian ruins at Ho'oki'o (Hookie) Battleground, located on the Munro Trail east of town.

Moloka'i Island

Pakuhiwa Battleground
(unknown dates), near Kawela
A Hawaiian battleground located on the south shore east of town, just west of Waiakuilani Gulch.

Kaua'i Island

Fort Elizabeth (State Historical Park)
(1815 - 1860), Waimea
Also called Fort at Waimea, or Fort Hipo by the Hawaiians, it was originally a Russian-American Fur Co. seven-gun fort. There were a powder magazine and armory, barracks, Officers' quarters, and the trading house. The Russians came here after being forced from Honolulu. In 1817 they were forced to leave from this location as well. The fort was garrisoned by King Kamehameha III's troops until 1853, but a captain and a few soldiers continued to live here until 1860. The Hawaiians mounted up to 40 guns of various calibers, but the fort itself was probably not well-maintained. This was the only Hawaiian fort to fire its guns in anger, during the "Battle of Wahiawa" in 1824, the last major battle of Hawaiian unification. It was reported to have 22 guns at that time. The government dismantled the fort in 1864 and had the 38 remaining guns shipped to California for sale. Two guns were lost in the bay during transport. The five-pointed star-shaped lava rock ruins of the outer walls still exist.

Port Allen / Hanapepe Bay Defenses
(1941 - 1945), near Port Allen
In 1941 there was one 75mm field gun near Port Allen, moved from Ahukini. Camp Kauai (1941 - 1942) was built at Salt Pond, near Burns Field (Port Allen Airport), with four field-emplaced 155mm guns. Two were later moved to Ahukini. Replaced by Battery Monument (1942 - 1945) two casemated 7-inch naval guns located near the Baldwin Monument (1938) at Numilla. Also emplaced in the area were two 4-inch naval guns in 1942. A combined BC station-plotting room, and magazines were also built. Only one magazine still exists (?) A fire-control station southwest of Numilla still existed (ruins) in the early 1980's. A few ammunition storage bunkers still exist along the Hanapepe River north of Port Allen. An SCR-271 radar station was built north at Kokee in 1940, operational in 1942, at the former Kokee CCC camp.

Lihu'e Defenses
(1941 - 1945), Lihu'e
In 1941 there were two 75mm field guns, one moved to Port Allen, and two 155mm guns in field emplacements, moved from Port Allen. Replaced by Battery Ahukini (1942 - 1945) two casemated 7-inch naval guns to protect both Ahukini and Nawiliwili Bays. Located near Lihue Airport, between the runway and the ocean-side cliffs. A BC station tower, plotting room, and magazines were also built (still exist ?). Also emplaced in the area were two 4-inch naval guns in 1942, probably at Ninini Point (?). An SCR-271 radar was built north at Crater Hill, near Kilauea Point, in 1940, operational in 1942. The radar station was tunneled into the crater rim. There were about 150 concrete machine-gun pillboxes located on the beaches throughout the island. There may be information at the Kaua'i Veterans' Center Military Museum in Lihu'e (admission fee).

A U.S. Marine AA battalion established a supply depot and camp at Kapaa in 1944. AA guns may have been emplaced here.

Special thanks to John Bennett of the CDSG for information on Kaua'i's WWII defenses.

Princeville Forts
(1816 - 1817), Princeville
Two small Russian earthwork forts were built here, named Redoubt Alexander and Redoubt Barclay. No remains.

Northwestern Islands

Tern Island
(Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge)
(1942 - 1946), Tern Island
Part of the French Frigate Shoals island group. The U.S. Navy constructed an airstrip to prevent Japanese submarines from using the vicinity as a refueling stop for Marshall Islands-based seaplane bombers. Anti-aircraft defenses were probably located here. The airstrip almost completely envelopes the entire island. Abandoned after the war, it was cleared and refurbished in the 1980's for use as the supply base and headquarters for the resident Refuge personnel. The Hawaiian Islands NWR encompases all islands and reefs from Nihoa Island to Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
(some info courtesy of John Bennett of the CDSG)

Midway Islands
(Midway Islands National Wildlife Refuge)
(1904 - 1908, 1940 - 1946/1996), Midway Islands
Claimed by the U.S. in 1859, and first occupied by the U.S. Navy in 1867 as a coaling station. The atoll (composed primarily of Sand Islet and Eastern Islet within a six-mile circular reef) was originally known as Brooks Island, and has a total land area of only two square miles. A commercial cable station was established on Sand Islet in 1903. Sand Islet was first garrisoned by Marines in 1904 to protect the cable station and to guard against poachers. Two "quick-fire" guns were emplaced but were withdrawn after a magazine explosion. The commercial seaplane base was built in 1935, also on Sand Islet. The Naval Air Station was established on Eastern Islet in August 1941. A Marine Defense Battalion defended the atoll beginning in September 1940. The initial Sand Islet defenses were Battery A (two 5-inch naval), Battery C (two 5-inch naval), Battery D (four 3-inch AA), a two-gun AMTB battery (3-inch naval) adjacent to the cable station, and a radar station. The initial Eastern Islet defenses were Battery B (two 5-inch naval), Battery E (four 3-inch AA), Battery F (four 3-inch AA), and a two-gun AMTB battery (3-inch naval). Divided between both islets were thirty .50-cal. AA MG, thirty .30-cal. AA MG, and several searchlights. The Japanese bombarded the island defenses in December 1941, but made no attempt to land. The island was heavily reinforced after the fall of Wake Island, which included four 7-inch naval guns (two each on both islets), four additional 3-inch naval guns on Eastern Islet (New Battery E), and eight additional 3-inch naval guns on Sand Islet (New Battery D and New Battery F). In May 1942 were added 18 dual 20mm AA guns and eight 37mm AA guns (four on each islet). Infantry defenses included 81mm and 60mm mortars and 37mm anti-tank guns. The Japanese attacked in force in June 1942, but were repulsed. The defenses were deactivated in 1946. The four 7-inch guns were removed and relocated to O'ahu. A few of the 5-inch guns still remain in place as abandoned ruins. Access to the island had been previously restricted before the Naval Air Station closed in 1996, and the entire island is now a National Wildlife Refuge (separate from the Hawaiian Islands NWR). Tours are conducted during the non-nesting season only.
Battle of Midway history

Kure Island
(1942 - 1946/present), Kure Island
The western-most island in the Hawaiian Island chain, also known as Ocean Island. The U.S. Navy constructed an airstrip in 1942. Anti-aircraft defenses were probably located here. Now the site of a Coast Guard LORAN station. Public access restricted.
(info courtesy of John Bennett of the CDSG)

Thanks to Neil Dukas for providing info and material on the military sites of the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

Honolulu Area - page 1 | Pearl Harbor Area - page 2 | North Shore O'ahu - page 3