Parents looking for meaningful family activities on Oʻahu often face a common challenge: Finding options that are both educational and fun for kids of all ages. The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (PFSM) at Pearl Harbor strikes that balance.
Located next door to the USS Arizona Memorial, the submarine museum is celebrating its 45th anniversary since opening in 1981. It’s also one of the few places in Hawaiʻi where children can step inside a fully-restored World War II-era submarine, engage with modern exhibits, and learn about an important chapter in U.S. history.
As PFSM Executive Director Andrew “Homer” Ring explains: “Our goal is to create an experience where families can learn, explore history hands-on, and leave inspired by the stories of the submariners who served our nation.”
PFSM includes three main components: the outdoor memorial and grounds, the museum’s galleries, and the historic USS Bowfin submarine. The USS Bowfin is the museum’s centerpiece and often the highlight for visitors. Commissioned in 1942, the Bowfin served in nine wartime patrols and is now preserved to give visitors an up-close look at submarine life during World War II.
The Bowfin was donated to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association in 1979 and opened to the public in April 1981. Nicknamed “The Pearl Harbor Avenger,” the submarine can be explored in about an hour without feeling rushed. “Stepping inside the Bowfin is a journey back in time,” Ring notes. “It allows both kids and adults to understand what life was really like on a wartime submarine.”
Keeping an 80-plus year-old submarine in functional condition and suitable for public display requires regular maintenance and care. In 2022, the Bowfin – 80 years old at the time – was taken from its mooring at Pearl Harbor and towed to a shipyard at Honolulu Harbor for the scheduled maintenance and repair work.
“Conducting this periodic maintenance work allows the Bowfin to tell her story far into the future,” said Ring, who added that bringing the submarine out of the water allowed detailed inspections, make any necessary repairs and repaint her hull.
Following the tour of the Bowfin submarine, the museum’s indoor galleries provide an interactive learning environment. In 2021, the museum was expanded, and the interior was completely redesigned to include three galleries that showcase the history of the United States Navy’s Submarine Force during World War II, the Cold War, present day, and the future.
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is committed to supporting educators, families, and community groups by partnering with organizations of all kinds to develop engaging, age-appropriate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning experiences. Whether working with Scout troops, homeschool families, school groups, or enrichment programs, the museum collaborates closely with leaders to create customized programs that use submarines, naval technology, and real-world problem solving to teach a variety of topics. From understanding buoyancy and propulsion to exploring navigation, communications, and teamwork, these hands-on experiences are designed to inspire curiosity and learning for kids of any age.
After families finish exploring the submarine and museum galleries, stepping outside to visit the Waterfront Memorial provides an important opportunity for reflection. The memorial honors the U.S. 52 submarines and over 3,500 crew members lost during World War II. For families, it helps connect the museum’s exhibits to the real people whose stories shape history. “The memorial is our way of making history personal. Kids often ask questions about the sailors, and that curiosity leads to meaningful conversations about service and sacrifice.”
In addition to the memorial, the museum’s exterior grounds feature torpedoes, anchors, and mechanical parts displayed outdoors. These larger pieces often attract children who prefer visual, hands-on examples over indoor exhibits. The open areas, benches, and Jake’s, our on-site food truck, also offer spots for quick breaks, meals, and regrouping—especially helpful during longer family outings.
After a quick break, families can take time to visit the gift shop, which offers a wide selection of submarine- and Pearl Harbor-themed souvenirs, including Bowfin-branded apparel, books, hats, clothing, stuffed animals, and puzzles suitable for kids. As Ring notes, “A trip to the Bowfin isn’t complete without stopping by the gift shop. It gives kids a fun memento to remember a day filled with learning. Parents often value that it turns the visit into a keepsake experience, and younger children who may not be able to tour the submarine can still take home a meaningful souvenir.”
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum offers families a rare opportunity to step inside history and experience life beneath the waves together. Ring concludes, “The museum brings World War II history to life in a way that is engaging and accessible for children of all ages – whether they are wide-eyed explorers climbing through the submarine’s tight passageways or teens discovering the real stories of courage, teamwork, and innovation.” Interactive exhibits, hands-on displays, and powerful personal narratives spark curiosity while encouraging meaningful conversations between parents and kids. More than a museum visit, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is an unforgettable shared adventure that blends learning, imagination, and inspiration, making it a must-see destination for families.
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is located at 11 Arizona Memorial Drive at Pearl Harbor and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Tickets are available online at www.bowfin.org or at the museum entrance, with discounted tickets for military personnel and Hawaii residents and their family members. Reservations are not required.
To mark the anniversary of the commissioning of the USS Bowfin submarine each May 1, the submarine museum each year holds a Kama‘aina Sunday event in April that allows military personnel, kama‘aina and their family members to visit the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at no charge that day. Check the museum’s website at www.bowfin.org that month for updates on the free ticket promotion.
