Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam combines the historic Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard with Hickam Air Force Base. Both facilities used asbestos extensively in ships, aircraft hangars, buildings, and industrial systems, exposing generations of military and civilian personnel.
Last verified: 2026-03-09Pearl Harbor has been a major naval installation since the early 1900s, and Hickam Field (later Hickam AFB) was established in the 1930s. Both expanded massively during World War II. The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard repaired and maintained thousands of ships containing asbestos. Hickam's hangars, administrative buildings, and housing units were built with asbestos-containing materials. The two installations merged as a joint base in 2010.
Shipyard workers at Pearl Harbor repaired and overhauled vessels with asbestos insulation throughout their mechanical and structural systems. Aircraft maintenance personnel at Hickam encountered asbestos in brake linings, heat shields, and gaskets. Buildings across both installations contained asbestos in floor tiles, ceiling materials, pipe insulation, and roofing.
The following job categories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
Personnel stationed at Pearl Harbor-Hickam have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Shipyard workers faced particularly intense exposure during the confined-space work of ship repair. The tropical climate's heat accelerated deterioration of asbestos-containing materials in buildings.
Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.
Find Out If You QualifyWorkers who were employed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam between 1940s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.
Yes. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard used asbestos extensively in ship repair and maintenance. Hickam Air Force Base buildings, hangars, and housing contained asbestos materials. Both installations were significant sources of occupational asbestos exposure.
Many World War II and Cold War-era buildings at the joint base still contain asbestos materials managed in place. The Department of Defense has conducted ongoing abatement programs, but given the installation's age and size, legacy asbestos remains present.
Yes. Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases from service at Pearl Harbor-Hickam should file a VA disability claim. Both Navy and Air Force veterans who served at the joint base installations may qualify for service-connected compensation.
If you or a loved one worked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
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