Pearl Harbor museum auctions adventures

The museum has occupied the battle-scarred hangars on Ford Island since the 1990s, when the local community and the U.S. Navy collaborated to create a world-class aviation museum. The island, which was surrounded by battleships when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, is a National Historic Landmark; the museum’s collection of more than 50 aircraft includes examples of warplanes of the period, along with examples of the general aviation aircraft that were caught up in the attack.

Recently rebranded with a name change and a sharper focus on telling the story of that Day of Infamy, the museum is in the midst of executing long-term plans to preserve artifacts and enhance one of Honolulu’s most-visited historical sites with an eye on telling the story for generations to come. The museum’s 2018 “For Love of Country” Gala and Auction on Dec. 8 will include both live and silent auctions, and those unable join the festivities in Hangar 79 can bid online for a range of items including adventures across the country and around the world.

The lots include a whale-watching trip to Alaska and six nights for six in California’s Napa Valley. From a pilot’s perspective, upset recovery training in aerobatic jets with instruction provided by members of Flight Research’s roster of veteran military pilots and NASA astronauts (valued at $18,000) might be tempting, along with a cross-country helicopter journey from Seattle to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, including lodging, flight instruction, and a VIP experience at the world’s largest airshow.

There are many other items on offer, including dinner in the historical control tower on Ford Island, and proceeds benefit the museum’s educational programs. World War II veterans including triple ace Col. Bud Anderson are expected to participate in the gala, joined by hundreds of others to celebrate and pay tribute to those who fought, and help propel the museum’s mission into the future.