The historic naval base Pearl Harbor dates back to the turn of the 20th century and played a significant role during WWII and after. Hickam Field was activated in 1938 and occupied the adjacent land between Pearl Harbor and Honolulu. In 2010, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission decided to combine the two Pacific powerhouses, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) was formed. Major Air Force units that call JBPHH home are the 15th Wing, 647th Air Base Group, and the Joint MIA/POW Accounting Command. It’s host to several major Navy commands including the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

If you’ve received orders for JBPHH – congratulations! Pack away your winter clothes and stock up on beachwear because paradise awaits. The island can be intimidating, but the good news is that it’s HAWAII and incredible places to live are plentiful. On post housing is in high demand and it’s not uncommon to be on a waiting list for anywhere from a few weeks to several months. There is typically a healthy supply of short term and vacation rentals available for this very reason. There’s also consistent property appreciation on the island so it’s not a terrible idea to go ahead and invest in a home. If you’ll be here a few years, plan to rent it out when you PCS again, or think you may return in retirement, it’s a good idea to look into purchasing a home.