Celebrate famed flier’s birthday at aviation museum

On March 20, 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart, taking off in a heavily loaded Lockheed Electra from Ford Island on an around-the-world flight, ground-looped her aircraft on the island runway. Within an hour, Earhart had boarded a Matson ship bound for the Mainland. It was the last time the flier was in Hawaii.

As it turns out, Ford Island’s Pacific Aviation Museum lies exactly alongside the spot Earhart cracked up. And from 2 to 4 p.m. July 24 — Earhart’s 114th birthday — the museum will dedicate a new photo exhibit covering Earhart’s visits to the islands, courtesy recently discovered images in the Matson Navigation Co. archives. There will be a champagne reception for museum members, and all visitors can enter an "Amelia for a Day" look-alike contest for prizes. For information, call 441-1004 or email SpecialEvents@PacificAviationMuseum.org.