HONOLULU (KHON2) — While several national parks and museums across the country have been forced to close or reduce operations during the ongoing federal government shutdown, Pearl Harbor’s historic sites remain open, thanks to local commitment, nonprofit support, and private funding.
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, located next to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, is one of several organizations helping fund continued public access. The museum, along with the USS Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and the Pacific Historic Parks, has collectively donated more than $320,000 to keep the memorial open.
“We are in day 40 of the shutdown, which means collectively between ourselves, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, USS Missouri, and the Pacific Heritage Parks, we’ve donated over $320,000 to keep the national memorial open at Pearl Harbor,” said Andrew “Homer” Ring, Executive Director of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum.
Ring said the museum alone has contributed about $80,000 from its own operating funds to ensure both visitors and local students can continue to experience the site’s history.
“We’re going to do what we can to keep the facility open — not just for tourists, but for locals,” Ring said. “During the shutdown, we’ve had almost a thousand grade school students come through for tours.”
Despite the shutdown, the museum is also preparing to celebrate Veterans Day weekend by offering free admission to Hawai‘i residents, active-duty service members, dependents, and veterans. Six hundred complimentary tickets will be available each day from Saturday, Nov. 8, through Tuesday, Nov. 11, with pre-registration required.
“We offered 600 free tickets on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday — and there are still tickets available,” Ring said.
The museum says it will continue to use its own funds, and those of its nonprofit partner, to keep Pearl Harbor’s historic sites accessible for as long as the government shutdown lasts.
“Keeping it open helps our economy, our jobs, and preserves the remembrance of the history we all cherish here,” Ring said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
To reserve free Veterans Day weekend tickets, visit the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum website.