If you have orders to one of the naval bases in Hawaii, odds are you are headed to Pearl Harbor on Oahu. That is where the Navy's biggest Hawaii commands, its submarines, and its shipyard all sit. A smaller group of Sailors heads to Kauai to work at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. This guide covers each Navy installation, what 2026 BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) looks like on each island, and what to know before you buy or rent.
For the full picture, including Army, Air Force and Marine Corps sites, start with our hub guide, What Military Bases Are in Hawaii?
Naval Bases in Hawaii, at a Glance
| Installation | Island and area | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam | Oahu, Pearl Harbor | U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters and submarines |
| Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard | Oahu, on JBPHH | Ship and submarine repair |
| Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands | Kauai, west shore | Testing and training range |
| NCTAMS PAC | Oahu, Wahiawa | Navy communications |
Hawaii's Navy installations at a glance. Sources: Commander, Navy Region Hawaii; NAVSEA; Naval Information Forces.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) formed on Oct. 1, 2010, when Naval Station Pearl Harbor joined with Hickam Air Force Base. It is the larger of Navy Region Hawaii's two installations, per the JBPHH About page. The same page says the joint base supports more than 107,000 people. That includes more than 36,000 active duty and reserve members, more than 17,000 Defense Department civilians, and more than 54,000 family members, retirees and contractors.
Big commands on the base include:
- Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
- Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
- Pacific Air Forces
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility
JBPHH is also home to 15 submarines. Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, which runs Navy shore support across the islands, has its headquarters at Pearl Harbor, per the Navy Region Hawaii About page.
For neighborhoods, commutes and schools, read our Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam 2026 PCS guide.
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is the largest industrial employer in Hawaii, per a NAVSEA shipyard fact sheet. It repairs and maintains surface ships and submarines for the Pacific Fleet. Many shipyard workers are civilians, so it also draws veteran job seekers.
What About Red Hill?
You may hear about the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, near Pearl Harbor. The Navy finished removing fuel from it in early 2024, per Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill. The task force is now working on the permanent closure of the tanks and pipelines. If water quality is on your mind, ask your sponsor and housing office for the latest updates.
Want help picking between Ewa, Kapolei, Aiea, Mililani and the Windward side? Talk with an Oahu agent who works with military families. There is no cost and no obligation.
Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands
The Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) sits on the western shore of Kauai. The base covers about 2,385 acres, per the PMRF installation guide. But its range is far bigger. PMRF calls itself the world's largest instrumented multi-domain range, with more than 1,100 square miles of underwater range and more than 42,000 square miles of controlled airspace, per the PMRF home page.
Kauai is quieter and more rural than Oahu. There are fewer homes for sale, so start your search early.
NCTAMS PAC in Wahiawa
The Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific (NCTAMS PAC) sits in Wahiawa, in central Oahu, about 20 miles north of Pearl Harbor, per its history page. Sailors here often look at homes in Wahiawa and Mililani. The Army's Schofield Barracks is next door. Our Schofield Barracks 2026 PCS guide covers that part of the island.
Navy Health Care and Housing on Oahu
Naval Health Clinic Hawaii runs five outpatient clinics across Oahu, per its About page. They include sites at Pearl Harbor, Makalapa, Kaneohe Bay, Camp Smith and Wahiawa.
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Navy family housing is run by a private partner, Hunt Companies and Ohana Military Communities. It has about 4,500 homes on Oahu and Kauai, per a Navy Region Hawaii housing spotlight. Wait lists can be long, so apply as soon as you have orders.
What BAH and COLA Cover in Hawaii
BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment to help cover off-base housing. It depends on your pay grade, your duty ZIP code, and whether you have dependents. Here are 2026 rates from the DTMO BAH rate lookup. Each cell shows with dependents first, then without.
| Rate area | E-5 | E-7 | O-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oahu: Honolulu County (HI408) | $3,663 / $2,856 | $4,098 / $3,348 | $4,428 / $3,819 |
| Kauai: Kauai County (HI414) | $3,798 / $3,162 | $4,410 / $3,597 | $4,662 / $4,095 |
2026 monthly BAH with dependents near Hawaii's Navy bases. Source: Defense Travel Management Office BAH rate lookup.
A few things to know:
- Every Navy site on Oahu shares one rate area, so JBPHH and Wahiawa pay the same BAH.
- Kauai BAH is a bit higher than Oahu BAH at every grade shown.
- Hawaii is OCONUS (outside the continental United States), so you may also get a cost-of-living allowance (COLA). COLA helps with the higher price of food and everyday goods. Look up your amount with the DTMO overseas COLA tool.
To turn your BAH into a home budget, read how much house you can afford on BAH.
Buying a Home Near Hawaii's Navy Bases
Use your VA loan. A VA loan is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Per the VA's purchase loan page, you can buy with no down payment as long as the price is not higher than the appraised value. Our guide to using your VA loan in Hawaii covers condo approvals and other tips for Oahu buyers. Still deciding? Read should active duty military buy a home in Hawaii?
Free First-Time Homebuyer Guide
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We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.Know the tax rules. If you are a resident of another state and in Hawaii on orders, you do not pay Hawaii income tax on your active duty pay, per Hawaii Tax Facts 97-2. Military spouses can often choose which state to use for taxes, too.
Check property tax help. In Honolulu, veterans who are totally disabled from injuries on active duty can be exempt from real property taxes, except the minimum tax, per the City and County of Honolulu. Each county sets its own rules. See our guide to Hawaii veteran property tax exemptions.
Bringing a pet? Hawaii has strict rabies rules. Start early with our PCS to Hawaii with pets guide.
If you are comparing branches, see our guides to Army bases in Hawaii, Air Force bases in Hawaii, and MCB Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, the Marine Corps base on the Windward side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Navy bases are in Hawaii?
Navy Region Hawaii has two installations: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu and the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard sits on JBPHH, and NCTAMS PAC is a Navy communications station in Wahiawa.
Is Pearl Harbor a Navy or Air Force base?
Both. Since 2010, Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base have been one joint base. Navy Region Hawaii runs it.
Do Sailors in Hawaii get BAH or OHA?
Sailors stationed in Hawaii get BAH, not OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance). You may also get COLA because Hawaii is outside the continental U.S.
Which island has the higher BAH?
Kauai. In 2026, an E-5 with dependents gets $3,798 a month on Kauai and $3,663 on Oahu.
Know a Sailor with Hawaii orders? Share this guide with your military network.
This post was researched by VeteranPCS using .mil, .gov and official installation sources.
This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.
