Fort De Russy: a quiet green space in Waikīkī

Fort De Russy is a military reservation with public parkland along the Waikīkī shoreline. The site was established in 1909 as part of the Headquarters Coast Defenses of O‘ahu, with the purpose of protecting Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.

The Waikīkī Historic Trail says the fort takes its name from Brigadier General René E. DeRussy, a 19th-century U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer. Its military past remains part of the setting, but the reservation also serves as a public outdoor space.

Fort De Russy’s parkland brings together open recreation areas and beachfront. The grounds include tennis courts, a volleyball court and a picnic area, so you can combine time outdoors with a stretch of shoreline.

If you’re planning a broader walk through the neighborhood, Fort De Russy can fit into a day spent around Waikīkī. A one-day Waikīkī route gives context for combining the area’s stops.

The United States Army Museum of Hawaiʻi is at 2131 Kalia Road, within Fort De Russy. It occupies Battery Randolph, a former coast-artillery fortification, and was established as a museum in 1976.

Battery Randolph once mounted two 14-inch disappearing rifled guns. The museum says the guns were never challenged or fired in anger. Its exhibits cover the U.S. Army in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, the islands’ military history, and the contributions of Hawaiʻi and its residents to national defense.

Subjects include the Hawaiian monarchy’s military organizations, Coast Artillery in Hawaiʻi, World War II, Korea and Vietnam, as well as the Go for Broke Nisei Soldiers and a Gallery of Heroes.

Admission is free. The museum’s regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; it is closed Sunday and Monday. Group tours for military and civilian visitors are by appointment. Its photo archive contains more than 20,000 images, and staff can assist with historical inquiries and research.

Check access requirements before you go, since entry rules for the military reservation matter as well as the museum’s opening schedule. U.S.

Army Garrison Hawaiʻi gives the main gate hours as 24 hours a day, seven days a week; the Waikīkī Outdoor Circle describes public reserve hours as 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The Army’s gate hours do not specify park-area hours.

The Army provides a one-day visitor pass for infrequent visitors, including museum visitors. The pass is valid until midnight on its issue date and requires valid REAL ID Act-compliant identification. Non-U.S. citizens must be sponsored by a DoD ID card holder aged 18 or older and escorted by that sponsor at all times.

The Pacific Regional Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday, Monday and all federal holidays. Parking is available at the corner of Saratoga and Kalia roads; guided tours for school and community groups are available by calling (808) 835-4268.

Before you go: Hours and access requirements can change, so check the official site before you go, including the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaiʻi and museum information. The museum also notes that when a federal holiday falls on a Monday, it closes the following Tuesday.

Is Fort De Russy open to the public?

Its parkland and beachfront are described as open to military and civilian use. Visitors should check current access requirements because the site is a U.S. Army military reservation.

Is the United States Army Museum of Hawaiʻi free?

Yes. The museum is free and its regular public hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What can you do at Fort De Russy?

You can spend time in the parkland, use its recreation facilities, visit the beachfront or explore the museum’s military-history exhibits.