Hawaii Army Museum Society Verified listing

The Hawaii Army Museum Society (HAMS), established in 1976 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3), supports the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, which is housed within historic Battery Randolph at Fort DeRussy in Waikīkī, Honolulu. Though not a federal entity, HAMS works alongside the U.S. Army Center of Military History to develop and preserve the museum’s galleries and educational programs, helping share the story of the U.S. Army's role in Hawaii and the broader Pacific. Founded by local veterans and historians, its mission is to foster understanding of military heritage through community outreach and interpretation.

The museum itself—set inside a coastal artillery battery built in 1911—features exhibits spanning pre‑European Hawaiian warfare to modern U.S. Army operations in the Pacific, with major emphasis on World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and Hawaii’s unique military history. Display highlights include a captured Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go light tank, a U.S. M24 Chaffee tank, an AH-1 Cobra helicopter, and a variety of small arms and artifacts that trace the island’s strategic importance over time. The Gallery of Heroes honors Hawaiʻi-born or Hawaiʻi-resident recipients of the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross, underscoring local contributions to national service and valor.

Visiting the museum is free and open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Sundays, Mondays, and federal holidays (with Tuesdays following Monday holidays also closed). It’s conveniently located at 2131 Kalia Road, adjacent to the Hale Koa Hotel with validated parking nearby. HAMS also coordinates educational tours, outreach to schools and JROTC groups, member events, and annual community programs—such as the Herbert E. Wolff Memorial Golf Tournament and Army Community Day—to engage both locals and visitors in exploring Hawaii’s military legacy.