Pearl Harbor Area

Last Update: 12/OCTOBER/2014

Compiled by Pete Payette - ฉ2014 American Forts Network

O'ahu Island - Southwestern Shore

Camp Langfitt
(1898), Pearl City
A Spanish-American War camp of Army Engineers. Located at Remond Grove, near the present-day Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

คค HARBOR DEFENSES of PEARL HARBOR
(includes the western shore)
Harbor Defenses of Pearl Harbor - FORT WIKI

คค Ahua Point Military Reservation
(1911 - 1956), Ahua Point
Located here on the eastern edge of the Fort Kamehameha Military Reservation was a four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery (AA Battery #12) (1928 - 1937) (only two guns mounted), Battery Ahua (1942 - 1944) three 5-inch naval guns (one gun removed in 1943), and Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 5 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns. Four fire-control stations/towers were located here in 1912. Searchlights were emplaced in 1913, as well as a later AA warning station (AAIS 10) (1940). A mobile four-gun 3-inch AA battery (AA Battery #15) was placed here after the attack on Pearl Harbor, replaced by four mobile 90mm AA guns by the end of 1943. No remains of any military structures. Ahua Point was included in the multi-parcel Federal-Territorial land swap agreement in 1956 for future expansion of Honolulu International Airport, and since 1969-70 this area has been incorporated into and buried by the southwestern extension of the 9000-foot Runway 4R-22L. The adjacent 12,500-foot "Reef Runway" (8R-26L) was constructed between 1972 to 1977. The Honolulu Airport was formerly known as Rogers Field from 1927 to 1947, and was also known as Honolulu Naval Air Station during WWII (1942 - 1946).

คค Fort Kamehameha (2) (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1907 - 1949/1992/present), Pearl Harbor
Located on Queen Emma Point, between Hickam Air Force Base and the Honolulu International Airport at the east-side of the entrance to Pearl Harbor. Originally known as the Queen Emma Point Military Reservation until 1909 when it was officially named Fort Upton, but was soon changed due to local public request. First garrisoned by troops in 1913. Batteries are Battery Selfridge (1913 - 1945) (two 12-inch DC), Battery Closson (1924 - 1948) (two 12-inch barbette, casemated 1942), Battery Hasbrouck (1914 - 1943) (eight 12-inch mortars), the combined Battery Jackson (1913 - 1943) (two 6-inch DC) and Battery Hawkins (1914 - 1943) (two 3-inch), Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery #2 (1943 - 1946) (two 90mm), and Battery Kam (1934 ? - 1943) four mobile 155mm guns. A training firing point for the 155mm guns was established on the beach in 1921. The two 4.7-inch Armstrong guns at Battery Barri had originally been located at Battery Griffin, Fort Hamilton, New York. The two 3-inch guns at Battery Chandler were originally assigned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but never delivered. An Army Air Service Observation Balloon Company depot and encampment was located here from 1920 to 1922, to test the concept of seacoast artillery fire-control from aloft. Railway artillery was also used here beginning in 1922 (used as a "dummy" battery in WWII). A four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery, in two sections, was built here in 1917, not armed until 1920, disarmed in 1928. Section #1 was located just southeast of Battery Hasbrouck, and Section #2 (not armed) was located behind Batteries Jackson and Selfridge, just north of the row of barracks. A second four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery was built in 1937 (only two guns mounted) west of Battery Closson. Fire-control station "G" (pre-WWII) was once located here (one tower, gone). A concrete machine-gun pillbox was built in 1934 along the shore. Many more were added during WWII. Searchlights were emplaced on Queen Emma Point. The former Army reservation was transferred to Hickam Air Force Base in 1992. The eastern portion of the post became Mamala Bay Golf Course. The Air Force in 2009 recommended demolition of many of the former Army buildings (see also Historic Hawai'i Foundation).
See also War Ruins of South Oahu from SakurasakuJapan.com

คค Bishop Point Military Reservation
(1914 - 1941/present), Bishop Point
Located here was the combined Battery Barri (1915 - 1924) (two 4.7-inch Armstrongs, casemated) and Battery Chandler (1915 - 1935) (two 3-inch, casemated). Both batteries were intended for the western land defense of Fort Kamehameha, covering the approach from the Ewa Plains. Bishop Point was originally within the Pearl Harbor Naval Reservation, until acquired by the Army in 1914. The two 3-inch guns were held as spares after removal, until scrapped in 1943. The reservation was returned to the Navy in 1941 for the expansion of the Pearl Harbor Naval Base (Bishop Point Naval Section Base). The two abandoned batteries were demolished in early 1942. The approximate site is now covered by the Hickam Field Memorial on the grounds of Aloha Aina Patriotism Park, behind the Hickam Officers' Club.

คค Battery at Hickam Field
(Hickam Air Force Base)
(1935 - unknown/present), Hickam Village
Located here was Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 1 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns from the USS California. No remains, site located at the Hickam Village housing complex. The 305th Coast Artillery Battalion (Barrage Balloon) operated at Hickam Field from July 1942 to mid 1943, with 32 tethered barrage balloons. This was the only use of anti-aircraft barrage balloons in Hawai'i. Historical info by NPS

คค Pearl Harbor (Ford Island) Military Reservation
(Pearl Harbor Naval Base)
(1917 - 1939/present), Ford Island
Under the command of Fort Kamehameha, Battery Adair (1917 - 1925) (two 6-inch Armstrongs, casemated) and Battery Boyd (1917 - 1925) (two 6-inch Armstrongs, casemated) were located here as land defense for the naval base at Pearl Harbor, covering the East and Middle Lochs to the north. Three of the Armstrong guns originally came from Battery Bankhead, Fort Adams, Rhode Island; the fourth gun originally came from Battery Hobart, Fort Williams, Maine. Battery Adair, located on Nob Hill, was sealed up and converted to the basement of the base admiral's quarters (Quarters K) in 1936. It was used as an air-raid shelter during the Japanese attack in 1941. Battery Boyd, located between San Jacinto Street and Ranger Loop, is currently used for storage by the U.S. Navy. Also located here was a four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery (1917/1920 - 1925 ?) (only two guns mounted) at the north end of the island behind Battery Adair. Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 7 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns was also located here. Ford Island became the site of the Army Air Corps' Luke Field (1919 - 1939) until transferred to the Navy as Ford Island Naval Air Station (1939 - 1962).

คค Aliamanu Military Reservation
(1910 - 1948/present), Aliamanu Crater, near Foster Village
Located here was Battery Salt Lake / Burgess (1942 - 1948, renamed 1946) two twin 8-inch naval turret mounts from the USS Saratoga (CV-3). The gun mounts were later destroyed/buried, the magazine tunnels probably still exist. Also here were three 4-inch naval guns (1941 - 1943), and Battery Aliamanu (1942 - 1944) four 155mm on Panama mounts. Fire-control station "C" (three structures, 1910, 1924, 1934) was located on the north rim of the crater, and also here were the Army Hawaiian Department Command Post, and the Joint Army-Navy Command Post (both WWII) (both bunkers still exist). Most of the crater floor is presently used for military housing. In 1946 a three-gun turret (16-inch naval) from the incomplete USS Illinois (BB-65) was proposed to be located on the forward slope of Aliamanu Crater, but was never acted on. Over 150 WWII era ammunition bunkers and other storage bunkers are still located here. No public access to underground tunnels. 1998 PHOTOS from RC Archive.com

คค Red Hill Military Reservation
(Red Hill Naval Reservation)
(1914 - 1930 ?/present), Red Hill
Located on the summit was Red Hill Redoubt (1916 - 1925 ?), built as part of a "last stand" line of fortifications from Diamond Head, against an enemy invasion from the north. It consisted of a concrete-lined trench 274 feet long, with five earth-covered bombproof rooms to the rear, and additional storerooms and latrines. The site was later destroyed before WWII, replaced by the Pacific Fleet Naval Fuel Storage Depot (1943), with 20 massive 300,000 barrel-capacity fuel storage tanks built into the mountain.

คค Aiea Heights Military Reservation
(Napuanani Neighborhood Park)
(1941 - unknown), Aiea Heights
Battery Aiea (1941 - 1944) two 240mm howitzers was built here to support the Kunia and Kalihi batteries. Also here was a mobile four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery (1942), Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 8 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns, and the Hawaiian Anti-Aircraft Command command post (1942 - 1944) (concrete bunker still exists). Site now a county park in a residential neighborhood at the 1100 block of Aiea Heights Drive.

คค Pearl City Naval Reservation
(Pearl Harbor Naval Base)
(unknown - present), Pearl City Peninsula
Located on the Pearl City Peninsula was a mobile four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery (1942).

A four-gun battery of mobile 90mm AA was located here from 1956 to 1959, manned by the 297th AAA Battalion, Hawaii National Guard.

คค Waipio Naval Reservation
(Pearl Harbor Naval Base)
(unknown - present), Waipio Peninsula
Located on the point about halfway on the east-side of the Waipio Peninsula along the shore of Middle Loch was Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 6 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns, and a mobile four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery (1942). Two concrete gun emplacements, the power generator house, and fire-control switchboard room still existed in 1995. Public access restricted.

คค Waipahu Battery
(1942 - 1945), Waipahu
Located in a sugarcane field somewhere in the West Loch vicinity was Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 2 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns from the USS West Virginia. A 120mm mobile AA battery position (1944 - 1945) was located near the Waipahu High School.

คค Fort Weaver
(Puuloa Naval Reservation - Pearl Harbor Naval Base)
(1899 - 1948/present), near Ewa Beach
Originally named Iroquois Point Military Reservation until 1922. Located here was Battery Williston (1924 - 1948) (two 16-inch barbette, shielded 1942 (no casemates)) destroyed, Battery Weaver (1934 ? - 1944) four 155mm on Panama mounts at Keahi Point, and Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery #1 (1943 - 1945) (two 90mm). A four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery was built in 1927, east of Battery Williston. Fire-control station "F" (1923 - 1932) was once located here (one tower, gone). A replacement FC station was built nearby in 1932 (one tower, gone). Located towards Ewa Beach was Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 3 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns from the USS California, probably located adjacent to the Navy's Fleet Machine Gun Training School. Marines here manned three batteries of .50-cal AA machine guns when the Japanese attacked in 1941. This area was developed for housing in the 1950's, adjacent to the present-day USMC Puuloa Rifle Range.

Located nearby at Ewa Beach was Ewa Beach Battery (1937 - 1944) four 155mm on Panama mounts. Searchlights were emplaced here.

คค Oneula Military Reservation
(1924 - unknown), Oneula Beach
Located here was Battery Oneula (1942 - 1944) three 5-inch naval guns (one removed in 1942), and Battery X-Ray (1942 - 1944) four 155mm on Panama mounts and one 5-inch naval gun installed in 1943 (from Battery Ahua - Ft. Kamehameha). Both sites destroyed. Fire-control station "X" (1924) (one tower, gone) was between Oneula Beach and Ewa Beach. A concrete machine-gun pillbox was built along the shore in 1934. Many more were added during WWII. Searchlights were emplaced here.

คค Ewa Marine Corps Air Station
(1942 - 1952), Ewa
Located here at the Navy's abandoned Ewa Mooring Mast (1920's) was Naval Antiaircraft Shore Battery No. 4 (1942 - 1944) four 5-inch naval guns from the USS Shaw and USS Downes. No remains, site developed.

คค Fort Barrette
(Kapolei Regional Park)
(1931 - 1948/1956/1971), Kapolei
Originally named Kapolei Military Reservation until 1934. Located on Pu'u Kapolei was Battery Hatch (1934 - 1948) (two 16-inch barbette, casemated 1942). A four-gun 3-inch AA gun battery was built in 1937 north of Battery Hatch. A four-gun battery of mobile 90mm AA was located here from 1955 to 1959, manned by the 158th AAA Battalion, Hawaii National Guard. Became a NIKE-HERCULES missile battalion garrison and support post in 1961 to 1970 (control and launch sites (Ewa OA-63) located off post in the Palehua area), operated by the 2nd Battalion, 298th Air Defense Artillery Group, HI NG. WWII era fire-control stations "A'" (1934, one structure) and "Makakilo" (1942) were located north on the summit of Pu'u Makakilo. PHOTOS from Punynari's Island Adventures
See also War Ruins of South Oahu from SakurasakuJapan.com

คค Barbers Point Military Reservation
(1921 - unknown), Barbers Point (Kalaeloa)
Located at Barbers Point Beach was Battery Barbers Point (1937 - 1942) two sets of two 155mm guns on Panama mounts separated by a lighthouse. This site was an early training firing point for 155mm guns. Site now destroyed. Searchlights were emplaced here, and also an AA warning station (AAIS 9) (1940). Several concrete WWII machine-gun pillboxes are still located here along Nimitz Beach.

คค Camp Malakole
(1939 - unknown), Barbers Point (Kalaeloa)
An anti-aircraft artillery training firing point and cantonment area located just south of Barbers Point (Kalaeloa) Harbor. An SCR-268 radar was also here after 1942. Searchlights were emplaced here. Originally named Honouliuli Military Reservation until 1941. No remains, site now zoned for light industrial in relation to the nearby deep draft harbor. A concrete WWII machine-gun pillbox is still located on the shore just south of the former camp, on the grounds of the Chevron Oil refinery.

คค Palailai Military Reservation
(1929 - unknown), near Kapolei
Battery Palailai (1942 - 1944) (four 155mm gun Panama mounts) was located just north of the railroad west of Kapolei. Site destroyed for modern road construction (Kalaeloa Blvd. at Kapolei Parkway) in the early 1990's. Fire-control station "B" (1929, one four-level tiered structure) was located just north on the summit of Pu'u Palailai.

คค Gilbert Military Reservation
(1922 - 1944), Gilbert
A railway battery firing position (four spurs) located east of Barbers Point Harbor.

คค Brown's Camp Military Reservation
(1937 - unknown), near Kahe Point
Battery Brown's Camp (1937 - 1944) was a railway battery firing position (four 8-inch railway guns). Also here were the four 155mm gun Panama mounts of Battery Awanui (1942 - 1945) (two 155mm field guns 1940 - 1942) destroyed 1980. The area is now developed.

คค Kahe Point Military Reservation
(1939 - 1948), Kahe Point
Located on a ridge about 320 feet above and 900 feet behind Kahe Point Beach was Battery Arizona (1945) with a salvaged three-gun turret (14-inch naval) from the USS Arizona, but was never fully completed before the war ended. Also here were the four 155mm gun Panama mounts of Battery Kahe (1942 - 1944). Searchlights were emplaced on the shore. Public access is restricted. PHOTOS from Waianae CRider.com

Fire-control station "A" (1939) was located north at Pu'u Manawahua (four structures still exist) (private property). Also here was an SCR-270 mobile radar (1941) and an AA warning station (AAIS 12) (1940). PHOTOS from Punynari's Island Adventures

คค Nanakuli Military Reservation
(1921 ? - unknown), Nanakuli Beach
Battery Nanakuli (1941 - 1943), with two 5-inch naval guns and one 3-inch naval gun (removed in 1942), was initially manned by the U.S. Marines until 1942 to protect the Lualualei Naval Ammunition Depot and Radio Station. Four 155mm gun Panama mounts were added later in 1942 (guns removed in 1943). This site was used as an early training firing point for 155mm guns before WWII. Site recently destroyed for a new school.

คค Puu O Hulu Military Reservation
(1923 - 1946/present), Ma'ili
Battery Hulu (1942 - 1945) two 7-inch casemated naval guns, with plotting room, BC station, radar and searchlight stations; and Battery 303 (1944) (two 6-inch) tunnel complex not completed. Fire-control station "U" (1924) was located on Pu'u O Hulu Kai. Additional fire-control stations were built in 1929 (?) (two), 1934 and 1940 (all five still exist). Also here was an AA warning station (AAIS 8) (1940). A concrete machine-gun pillbox was built along the shore in 1934. Several more were added during WWII. Site now used by the Honolulu Civil Defense Agency. Restricted public access. PHOTOS from Punynari's Island Adventures

คค Maili Military Reservation
(1929), Ma'ili
A proposed firing position for railway artillery, never built. A fire-control switchboard room was built here in 1929 for the proposed battery. Searchlights were emplaced on the shore near Pu'u Ma'ili'ili'i.

คค Waianae Military Reservation
(1942 - unknown), Waianae
Battery Waianae (1942 - 1944) was a "dummy" railway battery firing position.

A four-gun battery of mobile 90mm AA was located here from 1955 to 1959, manned by the 158th AAA Battalion, Hawaii National Guard.

คค Schofield Barracks (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1909 - present), Wahiawa FORT WIKI
The largest U.S. Army post in Hawaii, garrison headquarters of the 25th Infantry (Tropic Lightning) Division. Located at Kolekole Pass at the western edge of the reservation (northeast of Pu'u Kumakali'i) was Battery Kole Kole (1941 - 1944) two 240mm howitzers (manned by Field Artillery units). Site destroyed in early 1990's. A two-gun 3-inch AA battery was built here in 1917, a second two-gun section was added in 1927, located north of the main cantonment area. During WWII several groups of additional 3-inch AA guns were located in the central part of the reservation along the Leilehua Plateau. Of interest on post is the Tropic Lightning Museum.

From 1956 to 1959 there were two firing batteries (A and B) of the 297th AAA Battalion, HI NG located here (eight mobile 90mm AA).

Located off of the reservation to the south on Mt. Mauna'una was an AA warning station (AAIS 11) (1940). Located to the west of the reservation on Mt. Ka'ala was an SCR-270 mobile radar station (1941).

คค Kunia Military Reservation
(1941 - 1970), near Kunia Camp
Located southwest of Wheeler Army Airfield, on the west-side of Kunia Road south of Ekahanui Gulch, was Battery Kunia (1941 - 1944) two 240mm howitzers. Manned by Field Artillery units. Site destroyed in early 1990's.

Located at the former WWII era Aviation Repair Facility (1942), a massive three-story protected underground facility, was the headquarters command post of the 298th Air Defense Artillery Group, Hawaii National Guard, which oversaw the NIKE-HERCULES missile operations on O'ahu (four battery sites) from 1961 to 1970.

คค Kepuhi Military Reservation
(1923 - unknown), Kepuhi Point
Fire-control station "S'" (1923, 1934) was located nearby on Pu'u Kea'au (two structures remain), north of Makaha. A third FC station was planned here in 1944 for Battery Arizona, but never built. Searchlights were emplaced at the shore. PHOTOS from Punynari's Island Adventures

คค Keaau Military Reservation
(1942 - unknown), near Ohikilolo Beach
Battery Homestead (1942 - 1944) initially three 5-inch naval guns, later four 155mm gun Panama mounts added, located at Keaau Homesteads (0.75 miles inland). One of the 5-inch gun mounts still exists, as well as the BC station, plotting room, and six magazines. The other two 5-inch gun mounts are buried or destroyed. The Panama mounts are buried or destroyed. Private property.

NOTES: The Island of O'ahu was ringed by hundreds of mass-produced concrete machine-gun pillboxes in 1942. Many still exist. There were numerous AA batteries (3-inch, 20mm, 40mm, 90mm, 120mm) emplaced around the island 1942 - 1945. They are not yet listed on this website. Not all of the 155mm and 240mm battery sites had guns emplaced at all times. Many were alternate, or "fall back" pre-built positions. The guns were moved where needed.

Thanks to William Gaines of the Coast Defense Study Group for detailed information on Oahu's WWII 155mm batteries, railway batteries, and other historical information, and also to the late William Dorrance of the CDSG for additional historical information.
Special thanks to John Bennett of the CDSG for Oahu fire-control station data, and info on the current conditions of various surviving structures.

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