Quarters K

Can you imagine the weight of command resting on your shoulders as the world erupts around you? Here at Quarters K, perched atop the remnants of Battery Adair on Ford Island, we unearth the story of a home that bore witness to both quiet family life and the tumultuous dawn of World War II. Quarters K, also known as Hale Loa, or Long House, stands as a silent sentinel, whispering tales of a bygone era. Built in 1936, this unassuming Craftsman-style home, with its board-and-batten siding and wide eaves, became the residence of the Commanding Officer, a significant upgrade from the original Quarters A. In 1937, Commander Robert Hickey became the first resident of Quarters K, even planting a tree that still stands today. But the true drama unfolded on December 7, 1941. As the Japanese planes roared overhead, families from the CPO Quarters and Nob Hill scrambled to Quarters K, seeking refuge under the roof of Admiral Patrick N.L. Bellinger, then commander of Patrol Wing 2 and Task Force 9. Can you picture the scene? Terrified families huddled together, the very air thick with fear and uncertainty, while outside, the world descended into chaos. Ironically, Quarters K sits on the foundation of Battery Adair, named after First Lt. Henry Adair, who died in Mexico in 1916. From a place built to defend, Quarters K transformed into a sanctuary, a testament to the unpredictable turns of history. Today, as we stand before this restored home, part of the Nob Hill neighborhood revitalization project, we’re reminded that history isn’t confined to textbooks. It lives and breathes in the very structures that surround us. Quarters K stands as a poignant reminder of a moment that changed the world forever, a place where the echoes of the past still resonate.