View source for Marine Corps Base Hawaii

{{Short description|US Marine Corps base near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox military installation
 | name                 = Marine Corps Base Hawaii
 | location             = Mokapu Peninsula, [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]]
 | image                = MCB Hawaii.jpg
 | image_size           = 225px
 | caption              = Marine Corps Base Hawaii insignia
 | image2               = Mokapu Peninsula and Kaneohe Bay.jpg
 | image2_size          = 225px
 | caption2             = Aerial photograph of Marine Corps Base Hawaii
 | pushpin_map          = Hawaii
 | pushpin_mapsize      = 200
 | coordinates          = {{coord|21.443611|-157.748889|type:landmark|display=inline}}
 | type                 = Military base
 | controlledby         = [[United States Marine Corps]]
 | built                = 1919
 | builder              = [[United States Army]] <br /> [[United States Navy]]
 | used                 = {{Hlist | 1918–49 | 1952–{{Smaller|present}} }}
 | battles              = [[Pacific War]]
*[[Attack on Pearl Harbor]]
 | events               = [[Winter White House]]
 | past_commanders      = [[Colonel (United States)|Col.]] Raul Lianez<ref>[http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/Command/cmdcg.htm Commanding Officer's biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305131455/http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/Command/cmdcg.htm |date=2012-03-05 }} on MCB Hawaii website</ref>
 | garrison             = [[3rd Marine Regiment (United States)|3rd Marine Regiment]]<br/>[[Marine Aircraft Group 24]]<br/>[[CLB-3|Combat Logistics Battalion 3]]<br/>[[Radio Battalion|3rd Radio Battalion]]<br/>Commander, [[Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2]] (US Navy)
}}

'''Marine Corps Base Hawaii''' ('''MCBH'''), formerly [[Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay]] and originally Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, is a [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] facility and air station located on the Mokapu Peninsula of windward [[Oahu|O'ahu]] in the [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|City & County of Honolulu]]. Marine Corps Base Hawaii is home to Marines, Sailors, their family members, and civilian employees. The United States Marine Corps operates a {{convert|7800|ft|m|adj=on}} [[runway]] at the base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/PHNG|title=PHNG Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station (Marion E Carl Field)|date=21 May 2020|website=Airnav.com|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref>

MCBH is home for the [[3rd Marine Littoral Regiment]], [[Marine Aircraft Group 24]], Combat Logistics Company 33 (CLC-33), [[Radio Battalion|3rd Radio Battalion]], and the Navy's [[Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2]].{{not verified in body|date=June 2022}}

The base lies between the two largest windward O'ahu communities of [[Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii|Kailua]] and [[Kaneohe, Hawaii|Kāne'ohe]], and the main gate is reached at the eastern end of [[Interstate H-3]]. The main access to the base is by either H-3 or Mokapu Road. MCB Hawaii is located on the windward side of Oahu, approximately {{convert|12|mi|km}} northeast of [[Honolulu]]. Marine Corps Base Hawaii occupies the entire Mokapu Peninsula, an area of {{convert|2951|acre|ha km2}}. Two areas of the base are classified as conservation land, including the [[Ulupaʻu Crater]] area (northeast peninsula) and the Nu'upia Pond area (at the Mokapu Road).{{not verified in body|date=June 2022}}

==History==
{{stack|[[File:Mcas kaneohe-bay insig.jpg|thumb|150px|Old MCAS Kaneohe Bay insignia.]]}}

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson designated {{convert|322|acre|ha km2}} of land on Mokapu Peninsula as the U.S. Army's Kuwaaohe Military Reservation. In December 1940, Fort Kuwaahoe was renamed Fort Hase, in honor of Major General [[William Frederick Hase]], who served as Chief of Staff for the Army's [[United States Army Pacific|Hawaiian Department]] from April 1934 to January 1935.<ref name=Mōkapu>{{cite book |title=Mōkapu: A Paradise on the Peninsula, Stories From Not So Long Ago |publisher=Marine Corps Base, Hawaii |location=Hawaii |pages=44-46 |url=https://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/Portals/114/WebDocuments/IEL/Environmental/MCBH_ethno_reduced.pdf |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref> 

In 1927 the Army began building coastal artillery batteries. In September 1939, the Navy began constructing a seaplane base, filling in part of Kaneohe Bay to add 280 acres to the station and building runways, hangers and other buildings. [[Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay]] was officially commissioned on February 15, 1941, with a flag raising and formal commissioning ceremony<ref name=Mōkapu/> and it's role was expanded to include the administration of the Kaneohe Bay Naval Defense Sea Area.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

===Attack on Pearl Harbor===
[[File:Naval Air Station Kanoehe Bay during the Pearl Harbor Raid.jpg| thumb|left| Aerial photograph of Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay two days after the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]].]]

On 7 December 1941, Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay was attacked approximately 9 minutes before the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. The gunners there shot down 3 airplanes, two went into [[Kāneʻohe Bay|Kaneohe Bay]] while another one crashed into the base of [[Radar Hill.]] The crash site has a memorial to the pilot who died. {{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

===Post World War II===
{{stack|[[File:Kaneohe ROK and Canadian P-3s.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] and [[Republic of Korea Navy|Korean]] Navy P-3s on the flightline at the base.]]}}

In 1951, the Marines assumed control of the air station activities when naval aviation moved to [[Kalaeloa Airport|Barbers Point Naval Air Station]]. On 15 January 1952, [[Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay|Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay]] was commissioned. On 15 April 1994, the Marine Corps consolidated all of its installations in Hawaii. MCAS Kaneohe Bay, [[Camp H. M. Smith]], Molokai Training Support Facility, Manana Family Housing Area, Puuloa Range, and the Pearl City Warehouse Annex combined to form a new command, the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, headquartered at MCBH Kaneohe Bay.{{citation needed paragraph|date=June 2022}}

All U.S. military units located in Hawaii fall under the command of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command ([[United States Indo-Pacific Command|USINDOPACOM]]) which is headquartered at [[Camp H. M. Smith]] on Oahu. The Commanding General of [[United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific|Marine Forces Pacific]] (MARFORPAC) also commands 12 Marine Corps bases and stations in [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Hawaii]], and [[Japan]], operational forces in Hawaii and [[Okinawa Prefecture]], and units deployed to [[Southeast Asia|Southeast]]/[[Southwest Asia|west Asia]].{{citation needed paragraph|date=June 2022}}

In 2010, parts of the movie ''[[Battleship (film)|Battleship]]'' were filmed aboard MCBH.<ref>{{Cite press release | title = Marines, sailors man their 'battle' stations for upcoming movie | publisher = Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay | date = 15 October 2010 | url = http://www.dvidshub.net/news/58205/marines-sailors-man-their-battle-stations-upcoming-movie#.T77fOlJKU_A | access-date =24 May 2012}}</ref>

===Incidents===
On 20 November 2023, a [[P-8A]] Poseidon of the [[US Navy]] approached to land on Runway 22 in rain and reduced visibility. It was unable to stop and overshot the runway, ending in [[Kāneʻohe Bay]]. The crew of 9 was rescued by [[US Coast Guard]] boats. The plane was from [[Patrol Squadron 4 (United States Navy)|Patrol Squadron 4]] ("Skinny Dragons") based at [[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island]] in Washington state.<ref name="2023-11-21_AP-M">[https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/11/21/navy-plane-overshoots-runway-and-ends-ocean-all-9-aboard-escape-unharmed.html Navy Plane Overshoots Runway and Ends Up in Ocean, but All 9 Aboard Escape Unharmed], Audrey McAvoy and Beatrice Dupuy, [[Associated Press]]/[[Military.com]], 2023-11-21</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Mokapu Peninsula 2022 (cropped) (rotated).jpg|thumb|Marine Corps Base Hawaii seen from the [[International Space Station]], 2022]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the base has a total area of {{convert|5.8|mi2|km2}}, of which {{convert|4.4|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.4|mi2|km2}}, or 24.74%, is water. {{citation needed paragraph|date=June 2022}}It is dominated by two large volcanic formations, Radar Hill and Ulapau Crater. Radar  Hill stands 646&nbsp;ft tall and is home to Kansas Tower which is a former Radar Station hence the name Radar Hill. On the other side of the base lays Ulapau Crater. It stands 659&nbsp;ft tall and looms over the base.

{{Panorama|image = File:Panoramic View of MCBH.jpg|height = 245|caption = A panoramic view of Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Kaneohe Bay, taken from the top of K-T.}}

==Demographics==
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Kāneʻohe Base CDP
 | official_name            = 
 | settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
 | image_skyline            = Kaneohe Base CDP (2020).jpg
 | imagesize                = 500px
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<!-- Maps -->
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 | pushpin_map              = Georgia#USA
 | pushpin_label            = 
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<!-- Location -->
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Hawaii]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Georgia|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|Honolulu]]
 | government_footnotes     = 
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<!-- Population -->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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 | population_density_km2   = auto
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 | utc_offset               = &minus;6
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 | utc_offset_DST           = &minus;5
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=GNIS/>
 | elevation_m              = 
 | elevation_ft             = 7
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 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
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 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 2414064<ref name=GNIS>{{Cite gnis|2414064|Kaneohe Base Census Designated Place}}</ref>
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}}

For census purposes, the area is demarcated as the Kāneʻohe Base [[census-designated place]] (CDP), with a population at the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]] of 9,483.<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kaneohe Base CDP, Hawaii|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US13336722,1528287,1528400&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The CDP was formerly known as Kāneʻohe Station.<ref name=2010CensusP2/>

{{US Census population
|2000=11827
|2010= 9517
|2020= 9483
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/><br> listed as Kaneohe Station in 2010
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Kāneʻohe Base CDP, Hawaii - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br><small>''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''</small>
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kaneohe Station CDP, Hawaii|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US13336722,1528287,1528400&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|6,008
|5,587
|63.13%
|58.92%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|628
|621
|6.60%
|6.55%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|80
|22
|0.84%
|0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|347
|293
|3.65%
|3.09%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|66
|89
|0.69%
|0.94%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|21
|98
|0.22%
|1.03%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|477
|389
|5.01%
|4.10%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,890
|2,384
|19.86%
|25.14%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''9,517'''
|'''9,483'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

===2000 Census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 11,827 people, 2,332 households, and 2,283 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,696.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 2,388 housing units at an average density of {{convert|544.4|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the base was 66.6% White, 12.1% [[African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 5.3% [[Asia]]n, 1.2% Pacific Islander, 7.6% from other races, and 6.1% from two or more races. 14.6% of the population were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race. For every 100 women, there were 202.6 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 258.8 men. The median income for a household on the base was $34,757.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

==Education==
The [[Hawaii Department of Education]] operates Mokapu Elementary School on the MCBH property which goes from kindergarten to 6th grade. {{As of|2020}} its enrollment was about 900.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mokapu.k12.hi.us/|title=Home|publisher=Mokapu Elementary School|access-date=2020-10-08|quote=Mokapu Elementary [...] is the only school aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii.[...]}}</ref>

==Renewable energy and "green" initiatives==
Since 2004, MCBH has partnered with [[Ocean Power Technologies]] to test the [[wave power|generation of electric power from ocean waves]] using a "[[PowerBuoy]]" wave energy converter, one of the first wave power projects in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/projects.htm |title=Ocean Power Technologies projects: Oahu |access-date=2008-02-13 |archive-date=2008-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216132622/http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/projects.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Azura wave power device]] is currently being tested in a 30-meter site at the base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://azurawave.com/projects/hawaii/|title = Hawaii Demonstration Project &#124; Azura Wave}}</ref>

Marine Corps Base Hawaii, under commanding officer Col. Robert Rice, installed solar water heaters on all base housing units, and on 8 December 2010, was scheduled to debut a "Net Zero" sustainable energy home, which uses solar power. The base fleet of government vehicles is also being changed over to hybrid and electric vehicles and most other "FlexFuel" vehicles now operate on E85 ethanol-based fuel. MCB Hawaii installed the first E85 pump in the state of Hawaii in November 2010, the first U.S. military installation in the world to do so.{{citation needed paragraph|date=June 2022}}

==See also==
* [[16th Coast Artillery (United States)]]
* [[List of United States Marine Corps installations]]
* [[U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps]]

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|1=http://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/}}

{{HIMilitary}}
{{Honolulu County, Hawaii}}
{{Airports in Hawaii}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Honolulu County, Hawaii]]
[[Category:Military facilities in Hawaii]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps bases|Hawaii]]
[[Category:Forts in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Populated places on Oahu]]
[[Category:1918 establishments in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 1918]]