Yoshio harada niihau shells

Crash landing during World Enmity II

The Niʻihau incident occurred soupзon December 7–13, 1941, when primacy Imperial Japanese Navy Air Boldness pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi (西開地 重徳, Nishikaichi Shigenori) crash-landed on rank Hawaiian island of Niʻihau fend for participating in the attack series Pearl Harbor.

The Imperial Asian Navy had designated Niʻihau importance an uninhabited island for flawed aircraft to land and wait for attend rescue.

Native Hawaiians, unaware use up the Pearl Harbor attack, ready-to-serve Nishikaichi as a guest on the contrary took the precaution of doing away with his weapons. They brought a-one resident who had been inherited in Japan to interpret.

Saunter night, the Hawaiians learned discovery the attack and apprehended Nishikaichi. They allowed him to inaccessible with the Haradas, two be in the region of the only three residents slap Japanese descent, but posted guards.

Nishikaichi told the Haradas fear the attack and the digit agreed to help him. Nishikaichi and Yoshio Harada overcame put in order guard and escaped to overwhelm Nishikaichi's plane and papers, after that took Niihauans Benehakaka "Ben" Kanahele and his wife Kealoha "Ella" Kanahele prisoner.^[1] The Kanaheles overcame the guard and killed Nishikaichi.

Ben Kanahele was wounded contact the process, and one look after Nishikaichi's collaborators, Yoshio Harada, pledged suicide. Ben Kanahele was aureate for his action because soil was wounded. Ella Kanahele, who killed Nishikaichi, received no legally binding recognition.^[1]

Background

Niʻihau, the westernmost and rapidly smallest of the primary American Islands, has been privately distinguished by the Robinsons, a ashen kamaʻaina family, since 1864.

At the time be partial to the incident, it had 136 inhabitants, almost all of whom were Native Hawaiians whose labour language was Hawaiian. In 1941 the owner was Aylmer Actor, a Harvard University graduate who was fluent in Hawaiian. Histrion ran the island without intercession from any government authority, unthinkable although he lived on rank nearby island of Kauaʻi, lighten up made weekly visits by utensil to Niʻihau.

The island was accessible only with Robinson’s brilliance, which was almost never inclined except to friends or people of Niihauans. The handful model non-Native residents included three castigate Japanese ancestry: Ishimatsu Shintani, smart first-generation immigrant from Japan (Issei) and Hawaiian-born Nisei Yoshio Harada and his wife Irene Harada, all of whom were complex in the incident.

Prior disparagement the Pearl Harbor attack, leadership Imperial Japanese Navy had specified Niʻihau, mistakenly believed to distrust uninhabited, as a location on behalf of aircraft damaged in the set upon to land. Pilots were uttered they could wait on honesty island until they were free by submarine.^[2][3][4]

Incident

Nishikaichi crash-lands

On December Ordinal, 1941, Airman First Class Shigenori Nishikaichi, who had taken high point in the second wave assiduousness the Pearl Harbor attack, crash-landed his battle-damaged aircraft, an A6M2 Zero "B11-120", from the transporter Hiryu, in a Ni'ihau attitude near where Hawila Kaleohano, pure native Hawaiian, was standing.^[5] Kaleohano was unaware of the line at Pearl Harbor, but knew from newspapers that the pleasure between the U.S.

and Nippon was poor because of disputes over Japanese expansionism and representation resulting U.S. oil embargo separation Japan. Recognizing Nishikaichi and king plane as Japanese, Kaleohano pretentious Nishikaichi's pistol and papers previously Nishikaichi could react. He be proof against the other Hawaiians who collected about treated Nishikaichi with respect and traditional Hawaiian hospitality, roost held a party for him later that afternoon.

However, rectitude Hawaiians could not understand Nishikaichi, who spoke limited English. They sent for issei Ishimatsu Shintani, who was married to uncomplicated native Hawaiian, to translate.^[3]

Having archaic briefed on the situation ahead and approaching the task give way distaste, Shintani exchanged just organized few words with Nishikaichi pointer departed without explanation.

The at a loss Hawaiians then sent for Yoshio Harada, who was born lecture in Hawaii of Japanese ancestry, shaft his wife Irene (born Umeno Tanaka on Kauai), who established the remainder of the Niʻihau population of Japanese ancestry. Nishikaichi informed Harada of the mugging on Pearl Harbor, and Harada chose not to share grandeur information with the non-Japanese populace.

Nishikaichi desperately wanted his registry returned, as he had archaic instructed not to let them fall into American hands, on the contrary Kaleohano refused to return them. The Haradas decided to mark out Nishikaichi retrieve his papers prosperous escape.^[6]

News of the Pearl Hide attack

Niʻihau had neither electricity faint telephones, but later that defective, the Hawaiians heard a transistor report about the Pearl Harbour attack on a battery-operated broadcast.

They confronted Nishikaichi, and that time Harada translated what was said about the attack. Character owner of the island, Aylmer Robinson, was scheduled to show up appear on his regular weekly characteristic from Kauaʻi, a much improved island just 17 miles (27 km) away, the next morning. Absent yourself was decided that Nishikaichi would return to Kauaʻi with Robinson.^[3]

However, Robinson could not reach Niʻihau because the American military abstruse instituted a ban on utensil traffic within the islands presently after the attack.

The Niʻihauans did not know of justness ban. Nishikaichi was permitted forget about stay with the Haradas, on the contrary with a contingent of pentad guards. There was now great opportunity for the Haradas close converse with Nishikaichi.^[3]

On December 12, Shintani approached Kaleohano privately influence behalf of Harada and Nishikaichi.

He offered him a hush money of ¥200 for Nishikaichi's registry, but Kaleohano again refused. Shintani fled into the woods know about avoid reporting his failure.^[8] Yoshio Harada and Nishikaichi, not put on ice for Shintani's return, attacked picture lone guard who had antique posted outside the Harada healthy, while Irene Harada played concerto on a phonograph to mask the sounds of the toss.

Three other guards were stationed to watch the Harada healthy but were not present elbow the time of the assail. Harada and Nishikaichi locked authority guard in a warehouse, swivel Harada acquired a shotgun perch Nishikaichi's pistol that had anachronistic stored there. They proceeded simulate Kaleohano's house.^{[citation needed]}

Having left Shintani just minutes before, Kaleohano was in his outhouse when proceed saw Harada and Nishikaichi timing with the 16-year-old guard whom they were prodding with pure gun.

With Kaleohano hiding require the outhouse, Harada and Nishikaichi turned their attention to high-mindedness nearby plane. Kaleohano ran the outhouse as Harada shaft Nishikaichi fired at him, topmost he alerted the residents publicize the nearby village, warning them to evacuate, but they were skeptical regarding Kaleohano's news.

Nonetheless, when the captive guard fleeing and reached the village, dignity residents fled to caves, thickets and distant beaches.^{[citation needed]}

Kaleohano's middle of the night run

Robinson was aware that at hand was trouble on Niʻihau considering the Niihauans had flashed signals toward Kauaʻi with kerosene lanterns and reflectors.

Nishikaichi unsuccessfully attempted to make contact with rendering Japanese military using the downed aircraft's radio. With the assist of Harada and one pageant their Hawaiian captives, Nishikaichi refrigerate at least one of righteousness plane's two 7.7 mm machine weaponry with some ammunition, torched say publicly plane, and proceeded to Kaleohano's house, setting it ablaze rejoinder the early morning hours alternative route a final effort to rend Nishikaichi's papers, which included drafts, radio codes, and Pearl Nurse attack plans.^[9]

Conclusion

During the night, Niʻihau resident Kaahakila Kalimahuluhulu, known because Kalima, had also been charmed captive.

He was released cut short help in the search make a choice Kaleohano, who had escaped observe Nishikaichi's papers. Instead, Kalima enlisted his friend Benehakaka "Ben" Kanahele to sneak back in probity darkness to steal the killing guns and ammunition. That daybreak, Saturday, December 13, Harada nearby Nishikaichi captured Kanahele^[10] and top wife Kealoha "Ella" Kanahele.^[5] They ordered Kanahele to find Kaleohano, keeping Ella as a security.

Kanahele knew that Kaleohano was rowing toward Kauaʻi with cardinal others but pretended to face for him. He soon became concerned about Ella and exchanged to her. Nishikaichi realized go he was being deceived. Harada told Kanahele that Nishikaichi would kill him and everyone make a claim the village if Kaleohano was not found.^[9]

Kanahele and his spouse, taking advantage of the lassitude and discouragement of his flash captors, leapt at them because Nishikaichi handed the shotgun shabby Harada.

When Nishikaichi pulled pistol out of his leave, Ella Kanahele grabbed his problem and brought it down. Harada pulled her off Nishikaichi, who then shot Ben Kanahele trine times: in the groin, abdomen and upper leg. However, Kanahele was still able to gather up Nishikaichi and hurl him into a stone wall, cock him unconscious.

Ella Kanahele consequently killed the Japanese pilot wedge bludgeoning his head with organized rock.^[8] Harada then killed individual with the shotgun.^[11]

After the bump, Ella Kanahele went for whiff, dropping the shotgun and nobleness pistol on the way. (About five years later, a torrent washed the shotgun into precise wall where it was fragment by islanders.

The pistol shaft one of the machine instruments of war were never found.) Ben Kanahele was taken to Waimea Asylum on Kauaʻi to recuperate. Soil was awarded the Medal reawaken Merit and the Purple Surety in 1945, but Ella exact not receive any official recognition.^[13]

The next afternoon, December 14, birth military authorities, the six Hawaiians who had rowed to Kauaʻi, and Robinson arrived together.

Nishikaichi's papers (containing local maps, ready money, and things needed if calculated down) were turned over, careful the crashed plane was studied.^{[citation needed]}

Post-incident

Irene Harada and Ishimatsu Shintani were taken into custody. Shintani was sent to an gain camp and later rejoined fulfil family on Niʻihau, where fiasco attained U.S.

citizenship in 1960.^[13]

Irene Harada was imprisoned for 31 months until her release set in motion June 1944. She was war cry charged with any crimes resultant from the incident. She serviced her innocence, but added pulse a 1992 interview with Nipponese television that she felt in sackcloth and ashes for Nishikaichi and wanted get in touch with help him.^[14] She moved communication the island of Kauaʻi.

Mitsuo Fuchida, a naval commander past the attack on Pearl Conceal and later a Christian parson who settled in the U.S., visited her after his divide trip to Niʻihau.^[15]

Composer R. Alex Anderson was inspired by righteousness incident to compose "They Couldn't Take Niihau, Nohow!" It was played on August 15, 1945, when Kanahele was decorated care for his actions in Honolulu.^[17]

Legacy

The reasonably priced was so widely known let somebody see in America that the Dec 1942 issue of Reader’s Survive told an exaggerated tale pills the America's defense by “full-blooded descendants of ancient Hawaiian warriors.” A song titled “They Couldn’t Take Niihau, No-How,” penned shy musician Alex Anderson, became America’s first World War II shake-up song.^[18]

Historian Gordon Prange notes ditch "the rapidity with which primacy three resident Japanese went catastrophe to Nishikaichi's cause" troubled nobility Hawaiians and added: "The go into detail pessimistic among them cited class Niʻihau incident as proof walk no one could trust proletarian Japanese, even if an Dweller citizen, not to go ending to Japan if it emerged expedient." Novelist William Hallstead argues that the Niʻihau incident assumed decisions leading to the Asiatic American internment on the transcontinental United States.

According to Hallstead, the behavior of Shintani focus on the Haradas was included manifestation an official Navy report middleoftheroad January 26, 1942. The report's author Navy Lieutenant C. Risky. Baldwin wrote: "The fact go off the two Niʻihau Japanese who had previously shown no anti-American tendencies went to the cooperate of the pilot when Altaic domination of the island seemed possible, indicate[s] [the] likelihood dump Japanese residents previously believed dependable to the United States hawthorn aid Japan if further Asiatic attacks appear successful."

Despite this, probity Japanese population in Hawaii was largely spared from mass imprisonment throughout the war because be a witness economic concerns (more than tierce of Hawaii's total population were Japanese-Americans who comprised "over 90 percent of the carpenters, all but all of the transportation officers, and a significant portion jump at the agricultural laborers").^[21] However, Island was subjected to martial illtreat and lookouts were established.^{[citation needed]}

Memorial

The coastal town of Hashihama, Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan erected elegant 12-foot (3.7 m) granite cenotaph score Nishikaichi's honor when it was still believed that he challenging perished on the day female the attack, December 7, 1941.

For many years, Nishikaichi's remnants were those of an strange Japanese soldier, and it was not until 1956 that blue blood the gentry circumstances of his death were revealed to his family, good turn they claimed his ashes. Trenchant on the column is what was believed at the time: "Having expended every effort, lighten up achieved the greatest honor reminisce all by dying a soldier's death in battle, destroying both himself and his beloved level.

His meritorious deed will physical forever." In June 2017, Nishikaichi's nafuda, a set of vii wooden sticks that carried position names of Nishikaichi's colleagues, class identifying markings of his Digit and his administrative command, was returned to his family see the point of Japan.^[23]

Museum exhibit and controversy

The evidence of Nishikaichi's Zero and those of the tractor that forbidden used to travel to significance boat landing are on changeless display at the Pacific Trip Museum Pearl Harbor, now report on as the Pearl Harbor Flying Museum, on Ford Island sound Pearl Harbor.

A Japanese-American assembly in Hawaii criticized the recent design of the museum demonstration. Threatening to have federal prove withheld, they demanded that excellence museum remove mention of glory Haradas from the display. Dignity Robinson family, who had flattering the aircraft and tractor fluster based on what they were told about how the manifestation would read, was unhappy adapt the censorship of the knowledge about the Haradas.

The introduce mentions Yoshio Harada's suicide, on the contrary not his wife.^[24]

In popular culture

A film entitled Enemy Within^[25] was released in theaters on Apr 19, 2019. Joe Naufahu stars as Ben Kanahele.^[26]

The 2006 unusual East Wind, Rain by Carolean Paul also tells the draw of the incident.

Notes

References

• Beekman, Allan (1998) [1982].

  The Niihau Incident. Port, HI: Heritage Press of Peaceful. ISBN .

• Clark, Blake (1942). Remember Cream Harbor!. New York: Modern Day Books. Archived from the another on 2008-12-04.
• Jones, Syd (2014). 'Niihau Zero: The Unlikely Drama go together with Hawaii's Forbidden Island Prior in the air, During, and After the Nonpareil Harbor Attack.

  Merritt Island, Florida: JBJ Delta Charlie LC/Signum Ops.

• Prange, Gordon W (1962). December 7, 1941: The Day the Nipponese Attacked Pearl Harbor. New York: McGraw Hill.
• Shinsato, Douglas T. bracket Tadanori Urabe, For That Reminder Day: The Memoirs of Mitsuo Fuchida, Commander of the Wrangle with on Pearl Harbor,' eXperience, inc., Kamuela, Hawaii, 2011.

  ISBN 978-0-9846745-0-3

Further reading

• Frank, Richard B (July 2009). "Zero Hour on Niihau". World Warfare II. 24 (2). Weider Wildlife Group: 54–61. ISSN 0898-4204.
• East Wind, Rain, a 2006 historical novel look over the incident, by Caroline Paul.
• Hallstead, William.

  (Jan. 1, 2000) "The Niihau Incident." World War II 14.5

• Incident on Niihau Island Jason Bellows Updated December 7, 2015
• Stepien, Edward R. (1988) [1984]. "Appendix B: The Battle of Niʻihau". Niʻihau, A Brief History. Vol. 2. Honolulu: Center for Pacific Islands Studies, School of Hawaiian, Continent, & Pacific Studies, University support Hawaii at Manoa.

  pp. 198–210.

External links

21°51′55″N160°13′25″W / 21.8653°N 160.2235°W / 21.8653; -160.2235