US Army Museum of Hawai‘i

Waikiki

LoginSave

At Fort DeRussy, this museum exhibits an almost mind-numbing array of military paraphernalia as it relates to Hawaii’s history, starting with shark-tooth clubs that Kamehameha the Great used to win control of the island more than two centuries ago. Old photographs and stories convey an understanding of the influence of the US military presence in Hawaii.

Extensive exhibits include displays on the 442nd, the Japanese American regiment that became the most decorated regiment in WWII, and on Kauaʻi-born Eric Shinseki, a retired four-star army general who spoke out against the US invasion of Iraq and who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The building was once the fortified Shore Battery Randolph, which housed large defense guns. It resisted demolition efforts 1969, so it was converted to today's museum.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Shangri La

    Shangri La

    2.94 MILES

    In the shadow of Diamond Head, the former mansion of billionaire tobacco heiress Doris Duke is a sight to behold for art-lovers and celebrity hounds…

  • The Stones of Life - four stones on Waikiki Beach that were placed there as tribute to four legendary mahu.

    Stones of Life of Kapaemahu and Kapuni

    0.59 MILES

    Near the police substation at Waikiki Beach Center, four ordinary-looking volcanic basalt boulders are actually sacred and legendary Hawaiian symbols…

  • There is a fisherman about to cast his line in the water over a tall cliff. Spitting Caves Hawaii is a hidden gem of East Oahu.

    Spitting Cave

    8.25 MILES

    This impressive, little-known viewpoint is at the end of Lumahai St in Portlock, makai (toward the sea) from the traffic lights at the Koko Marina Center…

  • Interior of Bishop Museum, main gallery with sperm whale hanging from ceiling.

    Bishop Museum

    4.44 MILES

    Hawaii’s version of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, the Bishop Museum showcases a remarkable array of cultural and natural history exhibits…

  • iolani palace honolulu hawaii usa

    ʻIolani Palace

    2.5 MILES

    No other place evokes a more poignant sense of Hawaii’s history. The palace was built under King David Kalakaua in 1882. At that time, the Hawaiian…

  • The Honolulu Museum of Art

    Honolulu Museum of Art

    1.97 MILES

    This exceptional fine-arts museum is among the best of its kind anywhere. The collection is effectively a 'best of' summary of major art movements…

  • The USS Arizona Memorial straddles the sunken hull of the battleship without touching it.

    USS Arizona Memorial

    9.54 MILES

    This somber memorial is one of the USA's most significant WWII sites, commemorating the Pearl Harbor attack and its fallen service members with an iconic…

  • The USS Arizona Memorial straddles the sunken hull of the battleship without touching it.

    Pearl Harbor National Memorial

    9.1 MILES

    One of the USA’s most significant WWII sites, this National Park Service (NPS) monument narrates the history of the Pearl Harbor attack and commemorates…

View more attractions

Nearby Waikiki attractions

1. Fort DeRussy Beach

0.1 MILES

Less crowded than adjoining beaches, this often-overlooked beauty extends along the shore of its namesake military facility. The water is usually calm and…

2. Gray's Beach

0.12 MILES

Nestled up against the Halekulani luxury resort, Gray’s Beach has suffered some of the Waikiki strip’s worst erosion. Because the seawall in front of the…

3. Storyteller Statue

0.3 MILES

This bronze statue just off Kalakaua Ave represents 'The Storytellers,' the keepers of Hawaiian culture. For centuries, women have been at the top of…

4. Royal Hawaiian Hotel

0.33 MILES

With its Moorish-style turrets and archways, this gorgeously restored 1927 art deco landmark, dubbed the ‘Pink Palace,’ is a throwback to the era when…

5. King David Kalakaua Statue

0.38 MILES

Born in 1836, King Kalakaua ruled Hawaii from 1874 until his death in 1891. With his wife, Queen Kapiʻolani, Kalakaua traveled the world extensively. This…

6. Kahanamoku Beach

0.38 MILES

Fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village, large Kahanamoku Beach is Waikiki’s westernmost beach. It takes its name from Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968), the…

7. Kahaloa & Ulukou Beaches

0.43 MILES

The narrow beach between the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider hotels is Waikiki’s busiest section of sand and surf, making it great for people-watching…

8. Moana Surfrider Hotel

0.48 MILES

Christened the Moana Hotel when it opened in 1901, this beaux-arts plantation-style inn was once the haunt of Hollywood movie stars, aristocrats and…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "usa/hawaii/waikiki/attractions/us-army-museum-of-hawai-i/a/poi-sig/1299557/1006022",
  "destination": "Waikiki",
  "continent": "North-America",
  "country": "USA",
  "region": "Hawaii",
  "city": "Waikiki",
  "position": "superzone"
}