Page 4 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Jan 26, 2022

4 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK JANUARY 26, 2022
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Now that the fundraising campaign “Raise the Roof” is off and soaring, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and its staffers can eagerly look forward to the day when Hangar 79 is restored to its former glory.
angar 79 on the grounds of Pearl Harbor Aviation Mu- seum has stood the test of
erally lives within the walls of Han- gar 79, and those who take a closer look at some of the concrete walls and wooden posts might notice sail- ors’ notations on when repairs were made, local numbers for ambulances and emergency personnel, and more.
says executive director Elissa Lines. “You can understand why from a his- toric perspective we need to take care of it. It’s a part of our history.”
time. Once a WWII maintenance and engine repair facility, it continues to rehabilitate planes as home to the The Shealy Restoration Shop, which re- furbishes authentic aircraft from past wars, including the legendary B-17E Swamp Ghost (see story on page 13).
“It’s an interesting structure and historically significant as an artifact because it’s pretty much intact and still functioning,” Bengston adds.
The nonprofit museum was award- ed a $1 million challenge grant from an anonymous donor, who offered a dollar-for-dollar match. Total costs will be upward of $4 million for the entirety of the roof, with $2 million allotted to address the most pressing issue: keep the elements out, thus pro- tecting both the planes and the people who walk through the 86,000-square- foot hangar.
“The hangar is one of the still-stand- ing structures that was here on Dec. 7, 1941,” explains Rodney Bengston, director of exhibits, restoration and curatorial services.
But functionality doesn’t equate to being in tip-top shape, so Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is currently running a fundraising campaign to “Raise the Roof” for Hangar 79, which is in need of repairs.
The two large hangar doors are still functioning and run the length of the building, and the interior crane system remains operational, too. History lit-
“Just standing in front of Hangar 79 and its immensity is overwhelming,”
“There are other things we want to do for this hangar to make it usable, and that will allow us to open the facil-
(Top) Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum executive director Elissa Lines and Rodney Bengston, director of exhibits, restoration and curatorial services, stand within the Hangar 79 facility.
(Above) Restored aircrafts of all kinds can be found within and outside of Hangar 79.
SEE PAGE 5