Harbor Defenses of Oahu, HAwaii

Fort Kamehameha
March 2014

It is by accident I am able to do this report.  I had not planned to visit any sites on this trip to Hawaii.  My only Coast Defense thing I planned for, was doing some research at the Army Museum in Honolulu.  Being retired Air Force, I have access to military installations.  One day, some relatives and I drove around Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field.  It was then, we came across Battery Hawkins.  So naturally, I had to check it out.  Afterwards, we found Battery Selfridge, but it is fenced in.  The day came for me to do my research at the Army Museum.  While talking with the curator, she asked if I could get pictures of the ammunition hoist at Battery Selfridge.  On a whim, I returned to Hickam in the afternoon of my last day and found a person who escorted me to Battery Selfridge to photograph the battery and the hoist.  He also took me to Battery Jackson.  Afterwards, I found Battery Hasbrouck, and photographed it.  What a decent afternoon.

CDSG REPRESENTATIVE SITE REPORT

Biffton Parks

Fort Name:  Fort Kamehameha, Hawaii

Date of Visit:  Feb. 27, 2013

Current Site Name: Hickam AFB

Site Use:  See individual batteries

Is the Site open to the Public?  No.  Members with access to military installations and a car can access Batteries Hawkins and Hasbrouck.  Batteries Jackson, Selfridge, and Closson are fenced in, and are restricted.  For those who can access these batteries, care must be taken not to photograph the Hickam flight line or other sensitive areas.

What is the overall condition of the Site?  Good

What is the condition of the Individual Elements?
Batteries: Fair to Good
Buildings: Fair
Other Elements: Fair

What is the protective status of the Site?  Batteries Hasbrouck, Hawkins, Jackson, and Selfridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Current Site Owner: Hawaii Air National Guard
Current Site Supervisor: 154th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES)
Mailing Address: 360 Harbor Dr., Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, HI 96818
Phone: 808-448-7110

Is the Site or a responsible individual at the site?  Yes

What information can the CDSG provide to the management of the site?   Unknown

Are there any projects at the Site that would benefit from CDSG funding?  Possibly use funds for upkeep of Officer Housing and Batteries Hawkins and Hasbrouck.

Is there anyone at the Site that would submit materials for the CDSG Journal?  Unknown

Any Special Situations at the Site; (Damage, Imminent Destruction, Etc,): Officer Housing, Batteries Hawkins and Hasbrouck are vulnerable to vandalism and graffiti (yes, even on a military base).  Some of the houses in the Officer Housing have been vandalized.

If individual batteries, base-end stations, buildings, etc. are significant in some way, please indicate:

1.  Battery Chandler (3 inch Pedestal Mount): No longer exists

2.  Battery Closson (12 inch Barbette Casement): I did not visit this battery.  Reports indicate casement is filled in and the battery is in use as storage.

3.  Battery Hasbrouck (12 inch Mortar): Battery is not currently in use.  It has been used for offices and storage.  Some of the indicator mechanism is still in place.  There is a Buda-Lanova 30kw Model 6-DTG-317 in the power room.  The basic engine and generator are there without the power box.  It could be that the power box is still there but at a different location.  When this generator was put in place isn’t known.  Pit A becoming overgrown with trees.  Its remote location on base makes it prone to vandalism.  In all, it is in fair shape and is accessible.  It is next to the water treatment plant.

4.  Battery Hawkins (3 inch Pedestal Mount): The battery is currently being used as a storage facility.  Battery 2 is becoming overgrown with some damage.  Overall, it is in fair shape.

5.  Battery Jackson (6 inch Disappearing Mount): This battery is in good shape, and is currently in use as a storage facility.  One can climb the parapet and have access to the top of the battery.  Care must be taken to avoid photographing the flight line.  Access is restricted and limited.  The battery condition is good.

6.  Battery Selfridge (12 inch Disappearing Mount).  Access to this Battery is restricted.  It is used as classrooms by the military.   Parts of the ammunition hoist are still intact.  Still present are the blast doors, delivery tray, upper hoist axle, and chain sprocket.  The condition for this battery is good.

7.  Officer Housing: The houses are in fair shape and deteriorating.  There is some vandalism present.

8.  A bunker is located next to Battery Hawkins.  It is probably a command bunker for Battery Hawkins.  Its condition is fair, and is accessible.