Fort Shafter’s Building 317. Can these walls whisper tales of Hawaii’s military history? Building 317 stands as a testament to the strategic importance of Fort Shafter. Fort Shafter is the oldest military base on Oahu. It celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007. Construction began in 1905. The land was part of the ahupua’a of Kahauiki. These former Hawaiian crown lands were ceded to the United States.
Building 317 and Fort Shafter have been home to the senior Army headquarters in Hawaii for a century. Fort Shafter was named for Major General William Rufus Shafter. He led the United States expedition to Cuba in 1898.
Imagine the year is 1941. War came to Fort Shafter on December 7th. Lieutenant General Walter C. Short was stationed here. He was the Hawaiian Department commander. He occupied Quarters 5. One soldier, Corporal Arthur A. Favreau, was killed on post. He was part of the 64th Coast Artillery. He died from an errant Navy shell.
Fort Shafter quickly transformed into a bustling headquarters. Barracks on Palm Circle became offices. The major headquarters was renamed several times. It was known as U.S. Army Forces, Central Pacific Area, then U.S. Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas. Finally, it was named U.S. Army Forces, Middle Pacific.
In 1944, the Army Corps of Engineers erected the “Pineapple Pentagon”. This included buildings T-100, T-101, and T-102. They were built in just 49 days. Two large fishponds were filled in to form Shafter Flats.
Since World War II, Fort Shafter has remained a key Army headquarters. In 1947, it was renamed U.S. Army, Pacific. The post adapted to meet the Army’s evolving needs.
In the early 1960s, the new Moanalua Freeway split the post in two. In 1974, Fort Shafter became home to U.S. Army Support Command, Hawaii. It also housed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division. They relocated from Fort Armstrong.
In 1979, the Army established U.S. Army Western Command. This was renamed U.S. Army, Pacific in 1990. In 1983, the Army conveyed 750 acres of undeveloped land. It was on the northern end of the post to the State of Hawaii.
Today, Fort Shafter remains a focal point. It provides command, control, and support. It supports Army forces in the Asia-Pacific region. It even includes an underground command center beneath Palm Circle.
Building 317 is a reminder of Fort Shafter’s enduring legacy. It represents its vital role in the defense of the Pacific. Fort Shafter has evolved over the years. Yet, its mission remains the same. It serves as a critical hub for military operations in the Asia-Pacific region.