Fort DeRussy (Honolulu, Waikiki, Hawaii)
Honolulu, Waikiki · Hawaii
History & Significance
Fort DeRussy is a United States military reservation in the Waikiki area of Honolulu, Hawaii, under the jurisdiction of the United States Army, unfenced and largely open to public traffic with mainly landscaped greenspace. The property was purchased by the Army Corps of Engineers from Chinese millionaire Chun Afong in 1904 for $28,000, and the Army constructed Batteries Randolph and Dudley.
In July 1911, the strategic vision encompassed encircling Oahu with a "ring of steel," with big guns at Waikiki and Pearl Harbor alongside other fortifications. Battery Randolph was constructed in 1911 to defend Honolulu Harbor from attack and was equipped with two 14-inch guns on disappearing carriages with a range of about 40,000 yards.
The first test firing occurred in November 1914 under Major Blakely's command, causing minor damage despite warnings to the local populace. The guns were fired only once after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
During the Vietnam War, Battery Randolph served as a rest and recuperation site for servicemen on Waikiki Beach. Fort DeRussy is named for General René Edward De Russy (1789–1865), who supervised military fort construction and served as Superintendent of West Point. The U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi is now housed inside Battery Randolph.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Historic Battery Randolph with U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi exhibits
- Landscaped grounds in central Waikiki with public beach access
- 1911-era coastal artillery fortifications overlooking Honolulu Harbor
- Active military installation with cultural and recreational facilities
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_DeRussy_Military_Reservation
- https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/fort-derussy/
- https://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org/articles/the-decades-of-derussy-1910-1920
- https://militarybases.com/hawaii/fort-derussy/
- https://grokipedia.com/page/Fort_DeRussy_Military_Reservation
- https://home.army.mil/hawaii/army-museum
- https://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/history/kmr/