Museums recall two world wars

A museum on the air war in World War II’s Pacific theater is to open at Pearl Harbor naval base near Honolulu on Thursday, the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack there.

The Pacific Aviation Museum displays vintage aircraft, including a Mitsubishi Zero, a Navy Wildcat fighter and an Aeronca 65TC flown by civilian pilots that was hit by Japanese fire the day of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Visitors start by viewing a 10-minute film with historic war footage, then tour the planes, shown with dioramas of key events.

At another attraction, they can wage simulated war in the skies above Guadalcanal.

The new displays, in Hangar 37 on Ford Island, form the first phase of a $90-million future museum complex, spokeswoman Jean Navarra said.

Adult admission is $14; free for military in uniform. The flight-simulation attraction is an extra $25 per person. (808) 690-0169, www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.

In another opening, the National World War I Museum was to have made its debut Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. It’s under the 217-foot-tall Liberty Memorial tower and houses more than 49,000 artifacts.

Adult admission is $8. (816) 784-1918, www.nww1.org.

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Hotel gets eco-friendly

A new San Francisco hotel is “green” from the ground up.

The 86-room Orchard Garden Hotel, which opened last month near Union Square, is nonsmoking, uses chemical-free cleaning products, incorporates wood from sustainable forests and has recycling bins in rooms.

Guests’ key cards turn on lights when they enter and turn them off when they leave, conserving energy.

Rooms come with LCD flat-panel televisions, DVD players, coffee makers, Egyptian cotton linens and more. The hotel is at 466 Bush St. Published rates start at $149; (415) 399-9807, www.theorchardhotels.com.

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Briefly

Ritz reborn: The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, which closed after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, is expected to reopen Monday after major renovations. Introductory rates, through Dec. 30, start at $169. (800) 241-3333, www.ritzcarlton.com.

Kennedy collection: A museum devoted to former President Kennedy and his family opened last month near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. It displays photos and memorabilia, such as the attache case Kennedy brought to Dallas on his final, fatal trip. 011-49-30-2065-3570, www.thekennedys.de.

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jane.engle@latimes .com