 During the 1930s , the Navy contracted a $ 1 @.@ 5 million dredging of Pearl Harbor to allow larger battleships and the fleet 's carriers to enter it . Work began in May 1940 resulting in 13 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 cubic yards ( 9 @,@ 900 @,@ 000 m3 ) of material dredged from the opening of Pearl Harbor to build a channel to Ford Island as well as to create a turning channel around the island . Material was also dredged to deepen the West Loch , East Loch , and Middle Loch for the mooring of battleships . With dredged material used as land fill , the island 's size was increased from 334 acres ( 135 ha ) to 441 acres ( 178 ha ) . 
