admiral barge tour hawaii

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Pearl Harbor National Memorial, a unit of the National Park Service, offers visitors a place to connect with national, international, and personal histories of World War II in the Pacific, ranging from events leading to the December 7, 1941, attack on O’ahu, to continued peace and reconciliation. The memorial is a “place of remembrance and contemplation of the nature of war and the sacrifices of those who lost their lives during the Pacific War.” Pearl Harbor National Memorial is adjacent to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and includes the mostly open-air Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, two-world class museums, is home to the USS Arizona Memorial, along with the USS Utah, and the USS Oklahoma Memorials (located on Ford Island), the shipwrecks; submerged resources; mooring quays F6 North and South, F7 North and South, and F8 North and South; the six Chief Petty Officer Bungalows; and other historic and archeological sites that are tangible features of Battleship Row and the Pearl Harbor environs.

Park Information

Free admission to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, which includes two museums and the park grounds is open to the public, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week (closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). 

No purses, handbags, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, or other items that offer concealment are allowed in the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Allowable items include wallets, cameras, cellular phones, and bottled water. Medicine can be brought into the park in a clear bag. Baby carriages and wheelchairs are permitted. Bag storage is available outside the main gate for a fee of $6.00 per bag and $10 per luggage. Parking fee is $7/day.

Pearl Harbor Narrated Multimedia Tours

Multimedia Tours. Narrated by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, real WWII Veterans, Pearl Harbor Survivors, and National Park Service historians. Customize your tour to your schedule. Our basic Chief’s Tour has 15 stops while the Commander’s Tour has 23 and the Captain’s Tour has all 28 stops so you can select the indepthness of the experience you want and have time for…. To save more and increase your fun checkout the Deluxe Combo and or the Admiral’s VIP Tours

Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Theater 

The Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Theater via virtual reality technology has four (4) exciting VR adventures that include “Skies Over Pearl”, “Air Raid Pearl Harbor”, “Walking the Deck of the USS Arizona Before the Attack," and “Experience the USS Arizona Memorial". All equipment is provided, with VR staff available to assist you. 

Visit Our Book Store

For that special souvenir, hat, book, or the perfect gift for family and friends, don’t forget to visit the bookstore and gift shop just inside the entrance. The staff are very warm and helpful, and the proceeds for sales go towards our educational programs, remembrance ceremonies and preservation efforts of the park. So when you make any purchase you are helping us preserve this very important history for future generations.

Visit the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials

If you want to see the USS Oklahom a and USS Utah Memorials on Ford Island and do not have an Active-Duty Military ID, you must reserve seat/s for the Ford Island Bus Tour, as these sites are located on Ford Island, an active-duty military base. This program is fully guided and escorted by National Park Service Rangers in careful coordination with the United States Navy. Reservations are required for this time and capacity dependent program. Plan your visit by reviewing our Ford Island Bus Tour page. This program departs from and returns to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. National Park Service facilitated Ford Island Bus Tours are running (weather and safety permitting) as of May 4, 2022. However, base security concerns may necessitate the cancellation of programs, every effort will be made to notify the public in a timely manner although they may still occur on short notice.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR (Hawaii) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Compacflt Boat Tour

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Pearl Harbor, HI 96860

You Might Also Consider

Hawaii Ocean Charters

6.8 miles away from Compacflt Boat Tour

Trev B. said "I went on the snorkel and cruise tour last weekend with Hawaii Ocean Charters. It was the highlight to my vacation! The captain, Nacho, put us right in the mix with the dolphins and an abundance of sea life. If you're looking to go…" read more

in Boat Tours, Whale Watching Tours, Snorkeling

Ocean Therapy Charters

We offer both Private and Group Snorkel / SCUBA Dive adventures. We limit our excursions to six guests so you can enjoy the ultimate intimate family and friend time aboard Ocean Therapy. All snorkel gear is provided and our… read more

in Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching Tours

Living Ocean Tours

6.9 miles away from Compacflt Boat Tour

Jess L. said "My boyfriend and I were initially geared to dive with another company, but because they had boat issues, we had to scramble last minute to find another place that could accommodate two people for first time diving at the last…" read more

in Boat Tours, Snorkeling

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Compacflt Boat Tour .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

I worked at this boat house when I was stationed in the navy from 1988-1990, I miss those days.

I felt very fortunate to have been invited on this private tour of Pearl Harbor. It is different from the regular free tour that is open to the public because: 1. we boarded a smaller boat and therefore, it was less crowded and we had more attention 2. we traveled to the other memorials - not only to the USS Arizona 3. we toured the Admiral's Boathouse This free tour includes the same movie that is seen on the regular tour. Participants also get to disembark from their boats, walk around on the Arizona Memorial and take photos. Visiting the other memorials was the highlight for me. Besides pointing out the brig (the Naval jail), the Mighty Mo (The USS Missouri), and the Ford island Bridge, our narrator showed us the USS Utah, aka The Forgotten Memorial, which houses the ashes of a baby girl that one of the sailors had in his possession. The other interesting site was the USS Nevada who had run aground after attempting to block the channel as a preventative measure in an attempt to stop the enemy from entering the harbor. This two-hour tour is a worthwhile investment of your time if you get an invitation! Highly recommended! We learned a lot about the worst Military disaster in the history of the USA. It was a solemn, but educational experience!

See all photos from Nadine C. for Compacflt Boat Tour

Did you know that Hawai'i's 3rd most popular tourist attraction is Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona? Many residents don't even take advantage of visiting Pearl Harbor to see and feel the reminders of the start and end of World War II. The National Parks Service also offers ferry tours of the USS Arizona Memorial and their visitors' center. However, today, we, along with several others were treated to a private tour through COMPACFLT. This nearly 2 hour FREE and private tour is available to the following eligibility statuses and reservations can be made through the Admiral's Boat House. - ACTIVE DUTY - RESERVIST - RETIRED MILITARY (w/FULL BENEFITS) -DOD CIVILIANS The tour includes a short film and history of the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared "December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy" upon hearing about the deliberate and sudden attacks by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The guides, who are active duty Navy sailors, will shuttle you on either CINCPAC or DEPCINCPAC barge into Pearl Harbor and around Ford Island to see the devastation to the US Navy battleships caused by the attacks. You will sense of the horror and impact that this attack took on the Territory of Hawai'i which led to the Declaration of War. Your tour ends with a solemn visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. Nearly side by side, you can also see the USS Missouri battleship museum. It's befitting to have both memorials together in Pearl Harbor as the USS Arizona represents the beginning of World War II and the USS Missouri represents the end of the war. If you are eligible to take this in-depth tour or have been fortunate to have been invited to this tour, I urge you to take it! I promise you that you'll see and learn about parts of Pearl Harbor that few ever see or know about. There's so much history that can be told by the sunken ships and the lost souls from the day of this attack. The sailors who maintain the barges, manage the tours and Admiral's Boat House do it with Pride and Honor.

See all photos from Lyla D. for Compacflt Boat Tour

#23 of 2017 I've visited the Arizona Memorial many times. I enjoy it. I've stepped aboard Mighty Mo but have never seen the whole ship in one day. I've gone below the Avenger, USS Bowfin marveling at its power. Visiting the Aviation Museum on Ford Island is another marvel. I thought my Tour of Duty was over until I heard about the Admiral's Boat. How does one get on the tour? Military; active, retired or reserved are qualified along with DOD personnel and their families with CAC cards. This is a rare treat. If you have the privilege or opportunity to go I would not hesitate. It's a little tricky to get to the boat house. You go past the Arizona Memorial, past Restaurant 604, past the en-fenced dry dock on your right and past the MWR Community Services on your left. There you will find the Admiral's Boat House. You can park there. I, however, had secured a nice shady parking spot under a tree by Restaurant 604 I was not giving up. Our plans were to hit Happy Hour there anyway after our Tour of Duty. There are 2 boats tied up. We got ourselves checked in. Guest passes were handed out to be placed somewhere on our clothing. Place is pristine and spotless. All the chrome were shiny as can be. Same as the brass too. It was time to board. We circled Ford island guided by a young sailor noting points of interest. The cushioned seats were a welcome to the hard seats used on the regular tour. The brig was pointed out as a 3 star hotel. Our guide informed us the driver of the boat just got released from there this morning. How ominous. We circled Ford Island counter clockwise. Now our tour really began. We saw the Moth Ball fleet where ships, decommissioned and stripped, sit waiting for another chance to serve. Where the first wave of attack came from targeting battleship row. The 2nd wave targeting Wheeler and Hickam planes plus anything left in the harbor. The channel the USS Nevada used in an attempt to escape to open water. Badly damaged her captain smart enough to beach her keeping the channel open. The USS Utah whose side still visible where she lay after getting hit by 2 torpedoes. She took on water quickly, rolled over and sank. The area where USS California sank to the bottom. Badly damaged from torpedoes and bombs having no other recourse. Continuing on we cruised by USS Missouri, nick named Might Mo. On her port side you could see the patched hole where a kamikaze pilot crashed. Mighty Mo's captain made the decision to bury the enemy pilot with his country's flag ordering crewmen to dig up references and make the Japanese flag. It caused quite a stir on board but the captain stuck to his belief we were not at a war with the man but his country. He served his country well to his death and should be honored in death. On this visit to the USS Arizona, I found it to be more somber than other visits. We were the only ones there. It felt empty enhancing the solitude of the men buried below the waters. It was nice to get clean pictures, with no one in them, to capture the moment. Finally got a clean shot of the wall of remembrance with all the names. 7 windows on each side and above, symbolizing the 21 gun salute allows the cool breeze in. It adds no comfort but hope for the winds of change for a better world. The tour, for us, continued back in the boat house. We were brought to a small room with many pictures of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. There were good accurate models of the Arizona, Missouri and Bowfin. Much better than the Rexell models I built in my youth. Here, we were given additional interesting information. One picture does stand out. Arizona Senator (R) John McCain III's grandfather, 4 star Admiral John S. McCain Sr., standing as part of the entourage at the signing of Japan's surrender. He had asked not to attend the ceremony because he was very sick but was denied due to the significance of the event. He died 4 days later. I love hearing the stories. Being there, seeing where it took place, standing, touching brings all the stories closer to believable because it is unbelievable. It is unbelievable what transpired. It is unbelievable of the heroics carried out that day. It is unbelievable Japan delivered the most devastating blow to the U.S. Naval forces in the history of the United States. Special thanks to Jan and Russ for putting this together. I am honored to have been part of this grand tour and would gladly go again. Hint. Hint. Hint.

See all photos from Mel B. for Compacflt Boat Tour

Great tour. Staff is friendly and professional. EN1 Muniak was very knowledgeable. Without a script EN1 briefed 2+hours of history concerning Pearl Harbor. Excellent!!!

This place os hidden away ay the end of the at the Arizona pearl harbor, sounds like a good place to eat? And go on a tour?

Majestic by Atlantis Cruises

5.9 miles away from Compacflt Boat Tour

Dave R. said "We never actually went on the cruise due to poor weather but felt they deserved a great review as they allowed us to cancel only a couple of hours beforehand (the cruise was still going ahead) and still honored a full refund even…" read more

MANA Cruises & Charters

Ola S. said "I can not say better things about the morning snorkeling cruise we took with Mana yesterday. It was one of the most fun and best experiences we have done. First time ever snorkeling- a tad bit intimidating, the crew was fabulous in…" read more

in Boat Charters, Sailing, Boat Tours

People Also Viewed

Ko Olina Ocean Adventures

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Ocean Joy Cruises

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Pearl Harbor

Banzai Adventures

Kualoa Ranch

Atlantis Submarines Waikiki

Bob Marlin Charters

Best of Pearl Harbor

Things to do in Pearl Harbor

Other Boat Tours Nearby

Find more Boat Tours near Compacflt Boat Tour

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Fishing Charter

Boat Tours Near Me

People found Compacflt Boat Tour by searching for…

Free Activities Pearl Harbor

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR (Hawaii) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

USPACFLT REMEMBRANCE BARGE TOUR - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Subscribe Now (Opens in new window)
• Air Force Times (Opens in new window)
• Army Times (Opens in new window)
• Marine Corps Times (Opens in new window)
• Pentagon & Congress
• Defense News (Opens in new window)
• Flashpoints
• Benefits Guide (Opens in new window)
• Military Pay Center
• Military Retirement
• Military Benefits
• VA Loan Center (Opens in new window)
• Discount Depot
• GearScout (Opens in new window)
• Military Culture
• Military Fitness
• Military Movies & Video Games
• Military Sports
• Transition Guide (Opens in new window)
• Pay It Forward (Opens in new window)
• Military History
• Black Military History (Opens in new window)
• Congressional Veterans Caucus (Opens in new window)
• Military Appreciation Month (Opens in new window)
• Vietnam Vets & Rolling Thunder (Opens in new window)
• Hall of Valor (Opens in new window)
• Service Members of the Year (Opens in new window)
• Create an Obituary (Opens in new window)
• Medals & Misfires
• Installation Guide (Opens in new window)
• Battle Bracket
• CFC Givers Guide
• Task Force Violent
• Newsletters (Opens in new window)
• Early Bird Brief
• Photo Galleries
• Long-Term Care Partners
• Navy Federal
• Digital Edition (Opens in new window)

U.S. Pacific Fleet admiral’s barge went to the scrapyard following 2019 fire

While authorities have been unable to determine precisely what caused a fire to break out on the U.S. Pacific Fleet admiral’s barge in May 2019, sending the vessel to the scrapyard, investigators have concluded that the fire likely started in the vessel’s electrical system near the pilot house, command officials confirmed this week.

The fire broke out early on May 19, 2019, while the vessel was moored at the Pacific Fleet boathouse.

According to PACFLEET spokesman Cmdr. Myers Vasquez, the fire is believed to have started around electrical panel connectors and the starboard battery charging conductors.

The damage to the barge, which was once a so-called “crash boat” refashioned into a vessel for high-level visits and command ceremonies, was deemed unrepairable.

The 63-foot-barge was built in 1957 and repurposed from a crash boat to the admiral’s barge in 1965, according to USCrashBoats.org , a site that chronicles the history of crash boats in the U.S. military.

Aging survivors return to Pearl Harbor to recall 1941 attack

The ceremony comes on the heels of two deadly shootings at navy bases this week, one at the pearl harbor naval shipyard and another at naval air station pensacola in florida..

The higher-ups it has hosted in recent years include former President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who climbed aboard to visit Pearl Harbor’s USS Arizona Memorial in 2017, according to the site.

According to the site, the admiral’s barge was the last boat of its class still in Navy service.

Two other barges in the boathouse at the time of the fire, the deputy commander’s and the remembrance barge, suffered some hull and superstructure damage but were repaired for a total cost of more than $1 million and have since returned to service, Vasquez said.

While existing Navy inventory did not have a suitable vessel to replace the burned-out barge, a 78-foot-long replacement was procured and arrived in Pearl Harbor in January, Vasquez said.

Then-President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ride in the stern of the Pacific Fleet admiral's barge during a 2016 visit to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Such barges have strict draft and height requirements and must be able to pass under the Ford Island bridge at Pearl Harbor, he said.

That new barge is nearly identical to one used at the U.S. Naval Academy and cost the Navy’s $550,000, which was the lowest price available based on the sea service’s requirements, Vasquez said.

Geoff is the editor of Navy Times, but he still loves writing stories. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at [email protected].

In Other News

USS Gunston Hall is back home after a four-month deployment

Gunston hall returned to the states after taking part in nato's biggest exercise in decades..

Will the Supreme Court’s GI Bill ruling mean more money for vets?

A major veterans education benefits ruling by the supreme court this week could have far-reaching effects for millions of students..

A child thought he’d found a rock — it was actually a Marine’s jawbone

A human jawbone discovered in the arizona desert was recently discovered to belong to a u.s. marine corps captain..

Internet subsidy used by millions of vets, troops set to expire in May

A federal program that helps troops and veterans pay for home internet access will run out of funding next month without congressional action..

Navy continues to struggle in recruiting as other services near goal

The navy is performing better than it did last year, but is projected to miss its recruiting goal by roughly 6,700 sailors this fiscal year..

Historical Admiral’s Barge

Welcome to the Admiral’s Barge!

Folks refer to me as Capt Ron since I was a Combat Engineer in Iraq in 2005. Currently a Sea Capt of this Historical Barge. In 2022 I retired from the military after serving 30+ years in uniform. In 2022 I acquired this historic Admiral’s Barge. My vision is to restore the Admiral’s Barge to its glory days.  Perhaps a museum, an organization, or business will take interest of this fine historic vessel and put it on display. Aloha for any contribution of simple pocket change to help preserve and restore this cool Admiral’s Barge.  

Picture on the left is CPL Ron as a young Marine in 1986 while serving with the Active Duty Marines while on a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter. Deployed three times throught my military service. 2005 deployed as a 1LT with Hawaii Army National Guard, 29th Brigade Combat Team as the HHC XO, Balad, Iraq, Second, 2019 deployed as a MAJ, again to Iraq to serve as a case manager with the Office of Security Cooperation in Baghdad. Third and last, deployed in 2021 as a LTC to Qatar to serve as a Detachment Chief with CENTCOM’s Vendor Threat Mitigation Team. 

Acquired the Admiral’s Barge in 2022 while Serving in the Middle East.

At the time I did not know the full history this barge. I did not know it had hosted three Presidents. The first being President George H. Bush and First Lady Barbra Bush on Dec 07, 1991, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. ADM Charles R. Larson, commander in chief, U. S. Pacific Command hosted Presidential Mr. and Mrs. George H. Bush. Then in 1993, the Admiral’s Barge hosted President Bill Clinton and finally in 2003 it hosted President George W. Bush. Support this worthy cause. Your aloha helps restore, refurbish, and maintain the Admiral’s Barge.

Blog at WordPress.com.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

• Honolulu Tourism
• Honolulu Holiday Rentals
• Honolulu Photo
• Honolulu Map
• All Honolulu Hotels
• Honolulu Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Honolulu
• Honolulu Hostels
• Family Hotels in Honolulu
• Honolulu Resorts
• Honolulu Green Hotels
• Business Hotels Honolulu
• Honolulu Beach Hotels
• Romantic Hotels in Honolulu
• Luxury Hotels in Honolulu
• Spa Resorts in Honolulu
• 5-stars Hotels in Honolulu
• 4-stars Hotels in Honolulu
• 3-stars Hotels in Honolulu
• Sheraton (Marriott Bonvoy) Hotels in Honolulu
• Hilton Grand Holidays Hotels in Honolulu
• Outrigger Hotels in Honolulu
• Wyndham Hotels in Honolulu
• Marriott Hotels in Honolulu
• Preferred Hotels & Resorts in Honolulu
• Aqua Hotels in Honolulu
• Club Wyndham Hotels in Honolulu
• Hyatt Hotels in Honolulu
• Hilton Hotels in Honolulu
• Honolulu Hotels with a Pool
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Honolulu
• Honolulu Hotels with Parking
• Waikiki Hotels
• Cruise Port Hotels in Honolulu
• Hotels with Balconies in Honolulu
• Hotels With Adjoining Rooms in Honolulu
• Hotels with Kitchenette in Honolulu
• Cool & Unique Hotels Honolulu
• Honolulu Hotels with Villas
• Clean Hotels in Honolulu
• Honeymoon Resorts Honolulu
• Luxury Spa Resorts Honolulu
• Diving Resorts Honolulu
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Admiral's Barge Tour Of Pearl Harbor - Just saw...

• United States    
• Hawaii (HI)    
• Oahu    
• Honolulu    
• Honolulu Speciality Lodging    
• Villas in Honolulu    
• Hale Koa Hotel

Hale Koa Hotel Questions & Answers

Admiral's Barge Tour Of Pearl Harbor - Just saw this mentioned in the Q&A section. Someone mentioned that it was free of charge. I cannot find any info. about it through Google. Does it go by another name?

The tour is open to both Active duty & RETIRED.

Compacflt Remembrance Barge Tour. Call 808-471-9988 for info.

Available to retired as we took it. Book they Pearl Harbor Protocall office.

It is not just for Active Duty Only. It is available to Reservists, Guardsmen, and Retirees. I have been on it several times myself. My sister is a O-8 Guardsman and she gets on this with no issues. I am retired and have no issues getting on the Admiral's Barge.

Between 1974 and 1976 I worked for Admirals Paddock and Wentworth on there admirals barge. Very beautiful boat. They were the Commanding Officers of the 14th Naval District. I was the Engineman , boat driver, and also gave a 2 hour history tour of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Once I left they no longer did that. We only did this for Congressman, movie stars like Glenn Ford, Elvis Presley and many foreign dignitaries.

Don't know anything about it. I didn't spend enough time at Pearl.

Know nothing about it. Never heard of it as well

It is available to ACTIVE military personnel only and they book it through their command

Browse nearby

Ask a question.

Get an answer from Hale Koa Hotel staff and past guests.

• Print Replica
• Election 2024
• Russia Attacks Ukraine
• Red Hill Water Crisis
• Crime in Hawaii
• America in Turmoil
• Traffic Map
• Photo Galleries
• Homeless in Hawaii
• Volcanic Ash
• Latest Sports News
• TV & Radio
• Sports Blogs
• Hawaii Prep World
• Hawaii Warrior World
• Letters to the Editor
• Submit a Letter to the Editor
• Arts & Entertainment
• State Legals
• Political Cartoons
• Classifieds
• Star Channels
• Hawaii Renovation
• Email Newsletters
• Corrections
• Special Sections
• Partner Content
• Partner Videos
• Web Push Notifications
• Mobile Apps
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Activate Digital Account
• Forgot Password
• Customer Service

• Thursday, April 18, 2024
• Today's Paper

Hawaii News

Pacific fleet admiral’s barge a total loss from 2019 fire.

• By William Cole [email protected]
• July 19, 2021

The Navy purchased for $550,000 a 78-foot boat, built in 1981, as a replacement for the “admiral’s barge” that was destroyed in a 2019 fire in a Quonset hut boathouse in Pearl Harbor.

ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2016

Then-President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rode in the Pacific Fleet “admiral’s barge” in 2016 as part of Abe’s visit to the USS Arizona Memorial following the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

A 2019 fire that started in an electrical power area of the stately old 63-foot U.S. Pacific Fleet boat known as the admiral’s barge resulted in its total loss, damaged two other VIP boats and cost nearly $1.7 million in repair and replacement costs, the Navy said. Read more

Mahalo for reading the Honolulu Star-Advertiser!

You're reading a premium story. Read the full story with our Print & Digital Subscription.

Already a subscriber? Log in now to continue reading this story.

Print subscriber but without online access? Activate your Digital Account now.

A 2019 fire that started in an electrical power area of the stately old 63-foot U.S. Pacific Fleet boat known as the admiral’s barge resulted in its total loss, damaged two other VIP boats and cost nearly $1.7 million in repair and replacement costs, the Navy said.

Former President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rode in the mahogany-hulled boat that bore the name “CINC­PACFLT” (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet) in December 2016 as part of Abe’s visit to the USS Arizona Memorial following the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Constructed in 1957, the admiral’s barge also was the last air sea rescue — or “crash” — boat in military service, although modified for dignitary rides as opposed to performing its intended role as a rescue boat for aviators who went down at sea, said Carlos Ruth, who has researched the vessels extensively and runs the website uscrashboats.org.

Officials said the blue-and-white CINCPACFLT, hull number C-3007, which was kept in Pearl Harbor, was a total loss and scrapped.

“I’m sad to see the last one go out of (military) service, but it was modified beyond all recognition as a crash boat,” Ruth said. “The interior was beautiful.”

The hull and cabin were correct for a crash boat, but the Navy added a superstructure on top. “It looked nice, but it wasn’t a crash boat (anymore),” Ruth said. “They made it into an excellent tour boat.”

During World War II the boats were commonly referred to as air sea rescue boats or emergency rescue boats, and those operated by U.S. Army Air Forces personnel were organized into emergency rescue boat squadrons, Ruth said on his website. The 13th ERBS was located in Hawaii.

American crash boats “were a vital part of U.S. military aviation for about 20 years” and were used into the Korean War, he said. “The helicopter finally rendered them obsolete when it developed the lifting capacity and reliability for the job.”

CINCPACFLT was built for the Navy in 1957 by Knutson Shipbuilding of Halesite, N.Y., and spent time in Rota, Spain. By 1960 it was excess in Norfolk, Va., and “stored for five years before being shipped to Hawaii in July of 1965 where she was converted to the CINCPACFLT admiral’s barge,” Ruth said on his website.

In 1984 the boat underwent $142,000 in repairs and upgrades, he said.

Early on A Sunday morning in May 2019, the CINCPACFLT caught fire in the Quonset hut boathouse that’s at the end of the access road to the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center. Two other VIP boats were damaged.

“Early speculation was that the cause was arson,” Ruth said on his website.

Pacific Forensics and Consulting was hired to investigate, and the results, obtained by Ruth through a federal Freedom of Information Act request, found that the CINCPACFLT broke free of its moorings during the fire and floated out of the boathouse. With fire crews continuing to fight the fire, the boat sank and was subsequently salvaged and refloated.

“Although the exact cause of the fire could not be determined due to the heavy fire damage to the fleet admiral’s barge, investigators concluded that the general area of fire origin was within the crawlspace fronting the pilothouse,” said Cmdr. J. Myers Vasquez, a Pacific Fleet spokesman. “Specifically, two locations were identified: the electrical power inlet/ connectors to the electrical panel and the starboard battery charging conductors from the battery trickle charger to the starboard battery space.”

The Navy determined that the boat was a total loss, he said. Two other barges housed in the boathouse, the deputy commander’s barge and the remembrance barge, received external hull and topside superstructure damage.

Vasquez said the cost to repair the deputy commander’s barge was approximately $495,000, with the boat returned to fully operational status in April 2020.

The cost to repair the remembrance barge was approximately $642,000. That boat was returned to service in December 2019, he said.

“The Navy searched its inventory of existing barges and boats that could be converted to a flag barge but did not find any that met the requirements,” including specific draft and height limits to pass under the Ford Island bridge.

Naval Sea Systems Command evaluated proposals and purchased for $550,000 a 78-foot replacement built in 1981 that can accommodate 30 passengers and four crew, Vasquez said, adding it is nearly identical to a boat used to support the U.S. Naval Academy.

“Authorized uses for flag barges include hosting community leaders and foreign dignitaries, or military ceremonies,” Vasquez said. “Barges are not used for recreational activities or purely social events, nor are they provided for personal use. Other commands that have flag barges include the chief of naval operations and Navy Region Hawaii.

“The remembrance barge is used for official tours of Pearl Harbor that offer a unique opportunity to share Hawaii’s significant history and to highlight the United States’ resolve, resilience and determination in times of adversity and peace,” Vasquez said. “These tours reinforce the strategic importance of our military installations and supporting commands based in Hawaii.”

At the end of World War II, a slew of Navy crash boats also met a fiery end.

“The Navy pulled their crash boats and their PT boats into Samar Bay in the Philippines,” he said. “They stripped off the military hardware and just burned the things. I think I read that fires were going for six weeks.”

Hawaii Real Estate Sales: June 7-11, 2021

Honolulu police continue wahiawa murder investigation as suspect remains at large.

1 dead, several injured in Honolulu after shuttle bus crashes outside cruise terminal

One person has died and multiple people were injured in a shuttle bus crash in Honolulu , Hawaii on Friday.

"Nine Carnival Miracle guests were hit by a shuttle bus in the transportation area outside the Honolulu cruise terminal on Friday morning," Matt Lupoli, senior manager of the Carnival Cruise Line , told USA TODAY. "Sadly, one guest has died from her injuries. She was traveling with her husband, who was also injured and is expected to recover."

The shuttle bus crashed into pedestrians and two concrete barriers at the terminal. The shuttle bus driver mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break when they attempted to stop the bus from moving, Hawaii News Now reported.

All of the victims were taken to local hospitals and are being treated for their injuries. The victims are in different conditions ranging from serious to stable, the news outlet said.

"Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones," Lupoli said.

USA TODAY has reached out to the  Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services for comment.

1 dead, 13 injured: After man crashes truck into Texas Department of Public Safety building

Eyewitnesses share their experience after the Honolulu shuttle bus crash, reports state

Eyewitness told KITV Island News that the relaxing Friday morning turned deadly after the shuttle bus crash.

"We heard the tire of a vehicle screeching," Lillian Le, a visitor from Denver told the broadcast station. "We looked and it was a bus running over people and hit against a wall."

An employee at the complex said he has never experienced this before.

"We saw the first responders coming, it was substantial, probably about 10 a.m., four or five ambulances, two fire trucks, ten cop cars, looked pretty bad - it's really distressing," Mark Elwell, an employee at the complex wher the accident occurred. "I've worked here 21 years, I've never seen anything to this magnitude, really sad to see, obviously people were hurt pretty bad to be taken away by ambulance."

Jessica Lani Rich, a visitor at the Aloha Society of Hawaii told KITV Island News that the woman who died was celebrating her 46th wedding anniversary with her husband.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at  [email protected] . Follow her on  Instagram ,  Threads  and  X @forbesfineest.