12-Year-Old Harrison Johnson Unveils Pearl Harbour VR Experience
Pacific Historic Parks (PHP) marked the public launch of Harrison’s Heroes: Pearl Harbour Virtual Reality Experience at the Pearl Harbour National Memorial on Friday, 16 January 2026. The initiative is tied to the work of Harrison Johnson, a North Carolina native who began planning the project at the age of eight and has since become known for combining youth-led fundraising with historical education. The new virtual reality programme was designed to offer students a modern way to engage with the history of Pearl Harbour and the events of the Second World War.
Johnson set out with a target of raising $100,000 to build an educational tool that could help young learners understand what happened at Pearl Harbour, why it mattered, and how its impact shaped later history. Over time, the fundraising effort surpassed the original goal, enabling a broader scope for development than first expected. Now aged 12, Johnson has spent the last year collaborating with engineers and working alongside Pacific Historic Parks to bring the virtual reality experience to life as an interactive learning resource.
The unveiling took place at 8:06 a.m., selected specifically to reflect the moment the first bomb struck the USS Arizona on 7 December 1941. By aligning the launch time with a defining point in the Pearl Harbour attack, organisers aimed to anchor the new digital programme in the historic timeline it seeks to teach. The timing was intended to reinforce remembrance while also demonstrating how technology can be used to support education and historical preservation.
A formal programme accompanied the launch, including a tribute cheque ceremony as part of the project’s fundraising milestone. A special message from Governor Josh Green was delivered through Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, reflecting official recognition of the initiative and its educational intentions. The event also featured a flag ceremony and a moment of silence, creating a solemn space for remembrance while highlighting the setting’s importance as a national memorial site. A guided student visit followed, allowing learners to take part directly and experience the new programme in the context it was created for.
To commemorate the achievement, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued a proclamation naming the day “Harrison Johnson Day”. The decision was presented as a civic acknowledgement of the project’s scope and the effort involved in bringing it to completion. It also positioned the launch as more than a technology demonstration, framing it instead as a youth-led contribution to public history and community education.
Pacific Historic Parks leadership described the project as an example of how enthusiasm, commitment, and new tools can combine to strengthen historical learning. The organisation highlighted Johnson’s role in driving the idea forward, from a personal goal set in childhood to a public-facing educational programme now accessible through the Pearl Harbour National Memorial. PHP also emphasised the value of digital learning formats for today’s students, noting that younger audiences often respond better to interactive and immersive methods than to traditional materials alone.
Following the unveiling, Johnson spoke with local students and discussed the purpose of the programme, focusing on the importance of understanding the history of Pearl Harbour and recognising its relevance beyond the memorial itself. He engaged with students to underline how virtual reality can support learning and help younger generations connect emotionally with the lessons of the past. The outreach element was included to ensure the new tool was not only introduced as a product but also explained as a learning experience shaped around student engagement.
During the event, Johnson also met 97-year-old Second World War veteran Melvin Herold, who was visiting Hawaii for the first time. The meeting was treated as a meaningful moment linking the education-focused initiative to lived experience. Organisers viewed the interaction as a reminder that the history being presented in virtual reality is also the history remembered by those who served during the war.
Pacific Historic Parks continues to support the Pearl Harbour National Memorial through its partnership with the National Park Service. It provides the only complimentary, day-of, in-person Navy-operated shuttle boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial. As the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner of the memorial, PHP plays a central role in preserving Pearl Harbour’s story through education, interpretive programming, research, and preservation work, including restoration initiatives. Each year, on the anniversary of 7 December 1941, the organisation works closely with the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy to honour the legacy of Second World War veterans and recognise the sacrifices associated with one of the most pivotal events in American history.
