PEARL HARBOR — One hundred years of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard history were fully on display yesterday in the form of the past: Building 1, the first shipyard headquarters, which opened in 1926.

And the present: Nearly 4,800 shipyard workers, who now mostly work on nuclear submarines.

In between was a continuum of history linking past and present, and Hawai'i's sons and daughters, with the shipyard. The "birthday bash" for the state's largest industrial employer was part of a week of centennial events.

Larry Hoe, 53, was there with the Hawai'i Historic Arms Association dressed as a 1941 Army Air Corps pilot, right down to leather helmet and goggles, parachute and "Mae West" life vest.

Hoe said he was really there for his father, Theodore, who worked for 30 years in the shipyard. The elder Hoe saw the aftermath of the Japanese bombs that fell on Dec. 7, 1941, decimating the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, and launching the U.S. into World War II.

"He said it was a pretty bad mess," Hoe said. "Afterwards, he joined the Army and participated in the China campaign."

Many of of the buildings from the shipyard's early days remain, including the shop that Theodore Hoe worked in, a faded green paint metal-sided structure next to Building 1.

A shipyard ball was held Saturday, a history symposium took place on Monday, a graduation ceremony for 110 apprentices will be held today, and a shipyard tour for families of workers will be offered this Saturday — the first since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks heightened security.

"Many of you had parents, aunties, uncles that have made this yard proud in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific," retired Adm. James Beebe, a Leilehua High School graduate, told thousands of shipyard workers and special guests yesterday.

There have been many ups and downs in the shipyard since a coal depot was established at Pearl Harbor, and Congress on May 13, 1908, authorized the construction of shops and supply houses for the Navy yard, marking its birth.

The workforce has spiked during past wars and dropped during times of military downsizing. But even as the shipyard continues to struggle with efficiency problems, the workforce is expected to grow from 4,200 civilian workers to 4,350 over the next seven years as more U.S. forces are shifted to the Pacific to counter potentially growing threats.

"Most of what you are seeing today and hearing is talk about the past, and we need to pay our respects for what has gone before, but I'd like to talk about your future," Vice Adm. Paul Sullivan, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, told those assembled.

Sullivan told the shipyard workers that "coming your way" are new Virginia-class submarines, the new DDG-1000 destroyer, aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, and a new class of cruisers.

"With that change in (Pacific basing policy), I foresee an increase in the maintenance schedules and voyage repairs for ships transiting from the West Coast into the western Pacific," Sullivan said. "With all these increases, it's imperative that this shipyard has the right people, the right facilities and the right capability to be the no ka 'oi shipyard."

For the birthday bash, a centennial torch was lit, multicolored pigeons were released and hula performers swirled. A time capsule from 1983 buried outside Building 1 was opened.

Among the items inside the relatively small capsule were photos from the 75th anniversary. Inside a new capsule to be opened in 2108 went a Dell laptop, hard hat with "C. Nishida" on it, a cell phone, union contract, five Hawai'i state quarters and other items.

Tracen Endo, 26, who is part of the centennial graduating apprentice class, yesterday said the shipyard "is a good place to work. Good people. And the money is good."

"I'm just thankful I have an opportunity to work here and help the Navy out, get the boats out there so they can do their job. Their job is to protect our nation. We're the people who maintain (the ships). We have to get them out on time so they can do their jobs."

On the other end of the employment spectrum, Norman Bring, 63, who teaches radiological control, has worked in the shipyard 37 years. Bring said the shipyard has weathered previous storms, and he believes the way ahead looks positive.

"One of the first rumors I heard was there was going to be a big (workforce reduction) and they were going to close the shipyard. That was 1971, and we're still here, right?" he said.

"I think there's a future here. They are looking at new facilities, what we've got to do to go on," Bring said. "I think the future is good."