Location
Lat 21.71 North, Long 157.97 West. Located at the northern tip of Ohau near Kahuku Point. Also known as "Kahuku Point Airfield" or "Kahuku Field".

Construction
Built as a grass runway in late 1941. with a large target (bombing target?). The runway was paved with asphalt and concrete during later 1941 or early 1942. By 1943, the airfield was expanded with two overlapping runways. A small rail line allowed bombs and ammunition from hill storage bunkers to be transported to the airfield. By April 1945, this airfield was listed as an emergency airfield with a 6,500' hard surfaced runway. Postwar, this airfield was closed.

Wartime History
Used by fighters at the start of the war and was a heavy bomber for the rest of the war.

Units based at Kahuku
18th FG, 6th FS (P-40) Wheeler August 30, 1942 - ?
307th BG, 372nd BS (B-24) from USA November 2, 1942 - ?
11th BG, 50th BS (B-17)
30th BG, ? BS (B-24) US October 20, 1943 - ?
30th BG, 38th BS (B-24) Hickam ? - November 12, 1943 Nanumea

Postwar
During the early 1950s, the former runway was used as a drag racing track, and continued into the 1960s. An antenna array for short wave radio transmitters was located at the northern portion of the airfield and a National Guard summer camp ground.

In 1954-1977 a portion of the airfield was opened as the private "Kuilima Air Park" using 2,700; of the former runway. Today, the southern end of the former airfield is now a wildlife refuge.

References
Abandoned & Little Known Airfields: Kahuku Airfield / Kuilima Air Park

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
November 13, 2009