Places on Oahu: Bellows Air Force Station

Basic Information

• Name: Bellows Air Force Station
• Where: Waimanalo, Hawaii
• Founded: 1917
• Reservations: Link
• More Information: Bellows AFS

Directions

Getting to Bellows Air Force Station from Honolulu requires a very scenic drive to Windward Oahu.  I recommend taking the Kalaniana’ole Highway (Highway 72) east towards Hawaii Kai.  Continue to follow the highway through Hawaii Kai and around the southeastern tip of the island.  The highway will then begin traveling north around Koko Crater until it reaches the village of Waimanalo where the turn off to Bellows Air Force Station (AFS) can be seen.

Narrative

Oahu is littered with many great tourist locations, but the one place that is my favorite is Bellows Air Force Station (AFS).  The main mission for Bellows AFS is to provide a recreation area for members and retirees of the US military.  However, before it became a recreation site Bellows was once an operating air base.  The base was first founded in 1917 and was called the Waimanalo Military Reservation.  The airfield was renamed to Bellows Field in 1933 in memory of World War I hero Second Lieutenant Franklin Barney Bellows.

Ominously in July 1941 the military reservation was renamed Bellows Field.  The change in status may be why during the December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor bombing, Bellows Field was one of the military targets of the Japanese attack.  Just outside of the visitor center there is a marker in memory of the attack:

There is also another marker in memory of Lieutenants Hans Christenson and George Whiteman from the 44th Pursuit Squadron who were killed in action by the Japanese aircraft:

Inside of the visitor center some more memorabilia from the attack can be seen:

One of the memorabilia on display is a Silver Star awarded to Sergeant Raymond McBriarty for his actions defending the airbase during the attack:

Something else of interest from this attack is that Bellows Beach is where a Japanese midget submarine ran aground and its captain was captured.  A marker outside the visitor center commemorates this event:

Inside the visitor center a picture of the captured midget submarine can be seen:

The captured captain was Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki who had the inglorious honor of being the first Prisoner of War of World War II:

As interesting as Bellows’ World War II history is, the base is now more famous for its recreation and lodging opportunities.  Bellows has a number of camping areas and a variety of lodgings that people can rent.  One of the fun things at Bellows that my kids really enjoy is playing at the miniature golf course:

Adjacent to the miniature golf course there is also a driving range:

The driving range is backdropped by the beautiful Ko’olau Range:

Bellows also has a number of volleyball courts and other game sites that can be used:

All the lodgings and recreation opportunities can be reserved at the Turtle Cove visitor center:

The real star though of Bellows AFS is its stunning beach:

Just like other beaches on Oahu, Bellows Beach has rules that are strictly enforced by the lifeguards:

The beach can be busy on weekends, but no where near as crazy as other beaches on Oahu:

Bellows Beach has nice waves that are usually very safe for kids to play in:

My kids learned how to bodyboard on the waves at Bellows Beach:

To the north of Bellows the Mokulua Islands can be seen.  It is actually possible to paddle from Bellows Beach over to the Mokulua Islands.  The visitor center has kayak for visitors to rent out:

Besides the beautiful waves Bellows Beach also has great sand to play in and make castles:

My favorite thing about the beach though is how on a weekday it is possible to feel like you have the entire beach to yourself, which is a rarity found on Oahu:

Conclusion

There is so much to like about Bellows Air Force Station.  The lodgings, the beach, activities, and affordability make this an incredible location for US military members to take advantage of.  For those who do not have base access, the adjacent Waimanalo Beach Park has a beautiful beach as well, but without the accommodations and facilities that Bellows has.  I love Bellows and I think the majority of other people who have visited here would agree with me.