Military Facilities & Navy Bases in Hawaii

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Navy bases in Hawaii? If so, you’re not alone. Hawaii is home to over 300,000 military personnel, from all branches of the military. This article answers frequent questions about military bases in Hawaii.

The state of Hawaii’s department of business estimates that about 3.6% of the population is active-duty military.

You may also be wondering what you can do with your old military uniform when you visit a Hawaii military base.

Marine Corps and Navy Bases in Hawaii

The U.S. Marine Corps is located on the island of Oahu on the Mokapu peninsula in Honolulu. The base was originally known as Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. Upon the end of World War II, the base was moved to its current location and became known as Marine Corps Base Hawaii. During the 1990s, MCBH was merged with other Marine Corps bases to form Marine Corps Air Station Kona. The new base is home to more than 25,000 Marines.

Naval Station Pearl Harbor

The building of a naval base in Hawaii was a significant event in the early twentieth century, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Pacific Fleet to move to the port in 1940. Growing tensions between the United States and Japan meant that it was important for the United States to improve its capabilities and facilities at Pearl Harbor. During the early part of the century, newspapers began to recognize the importance of Pearl Harbor to international strategy and diplomacy. In August 1912, an editorial in the San Francisco Call noted the increasing importance of the Hawaiian Islands to U.S. power.

Kaneohe Naval Air Station

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 2 September 1945, wiping out thousands of military personnel. Several Navy bases in Hawaii, including Kaneohe Naval Air Station, were impacted. The Japanese destroyed 33 PBYs on the base, leaving three damaged, but still serviceable aircraft. During the attack, a Sailor named John Finn shot down the first Japanese plane. He later became the first person to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

Schofield Barracks

The US Army and Navy both maintain bases on the island of Oahu. One of these bases is Schofield Barracks, which covers 17,725 acres on Central Oahu. It was established in 1908 to provide mobile defense of Pearl Harbor and the entire island. The 25th Infantry Division and Tropic Lightning division are based here, as is the United States Army Hawaii. At the 2020 census, the population of Schofield Barracks was estimated to be 14,904 people.

Kunia Field Station

One of the most unique aspects of the Navy bases in Hawaii is that they’re built on an underground tunnel complex. The construction of Kunia Field Station began after the December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack. Fear of another attack led the military to plan for an underground facility to help with airplane assembly at the nearby Wheeler Field. Eventually, the base became a cryptologic and intelligence activity complex. Various military units including the US Naval Security Group Activity Hawaii and the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade conducted their operations at Kunia.

CarMark Hawaii buys used cars. If you are stationed at one of the Navy bases in Hawaii, or any military base in Oahu, and want to sell your car or truck for any reason, call or complete our easy online appraisal form. We will respond quickly and offer you a fair price for your vehicle, 10 years old, or newer.

We at CarMark Hawaii are proud of our experience in the automotive industry.  We have been helping military families and other residents of Oahu sell their vehicles quickly and hassle-free for nearly 30 years. We are a local family-owned and operated business located in Aiea Hawaii since 1993.