WWII’s Forgotten Pearl Harbor Crisis: The Ni’ihau Incident

As bombs rained on Pearl Harbor, another crisis unfolded on Ni’ihau, a remote Hawaiian island thought to be uninhabited. A Japanese fighter pilot, forced down after the attack, landed there expecting rescue.

Instead, his arrival set off a standoff that tested loyalties, shattered trust, and ignited violence.

What began with Hawaiian hospitality spiraled into a deadly confrontation, leaving scars that would ripple into one of America’s darkest wartime policies.

The Unexpected Guest

When Shigenori Nishikaichi’s damaged Mitsubishi Zero struck Ni’ihau’s fence, he was already in dire straits. Earlier that morning, he had participated in the second wave of the Pearl Harbor attack, providing escort for bombers from the carrier Shokaku. (ref)

After sustaining damage that punctured his fuel tanks, Nishikaichi faced a critical decision. Unable to return to his carrier, the Hiryu, he diverted to what Japanese intelligence had incorrectly identified as an uninhabited island.

The U.S. Army had anticipated such a possibility and had deliberately furrowed the island’s terrain under the direction of owner Aylmer Robinson, leading to the Zero’s destruction upon landing.

From Luau to Lockdown

The island’s initial response to Nishikaichi reflected traditional Hawaiian hospitality. Howard Kaleohano, demonstrating foresight, confiscated the pilot’s documents and weapons before the community welcomed him with a luau.

The roughly 200 residents of Ni’ihau, living without electricity or telephones, remained unaware of the morning’s devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. This peaceful interlude was shattered when news of the attack reached the island through a battery-powered radio, transforming their guest from a stranded aviator into an enemy combatant.

The Turning Point

The situation deteriorated rapidly as cultural and national loyalties came into sharp focus. Yoshio Harada and his wife Irene, Japanese-Americans on the island, found themselves caught between their heritage and citizenship.

The pilot’s presence created an impossible dilemma, highlighting the complex pressures faced by Japanese-Americans during this period.

Ironically, pre-war discrimination and segregation had already strained their connection to American society, making some more susceptible to identifying with their ancestral homeland.

A Desperate Stand

The conflict reached its climax in a series of violent confrontations. Nishikaichi, aided by the Haradas, managed to recover weapons and began taking hostages in an attempt to retrieve his confidential papers.

The pilot even managed to return to his crashed plane and set it ablaze, following standing orders to destroy sensitive equipment and documents.

The situation reached its breaking point when Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele and his wife Ella confronted the increasingly desperate pilot. Despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, Kanahele successfully overpowered Nishikaichi in a struggle that ended in the pilot’s death.

Witnessing the failure of their plan, Yoshio Harada died by suicide.

Legacy of the Incident

The Ni’ihau Incident’s repercussions extended far beyond the island’s shores. Ben Kanahele recovered from his wounds and received both the Purple Heart and Medal for Merit for his bravery.

However, the incident’s darker legacy manifested in a January 26, 1942, Navy report that questioned Japanese-American loyalties.

Lieutenant C.B. Baldwin’s report specifically noted how quickly some Japanese residents had switched allegiances when Japanese victory seemed possible.

This perception contributed to the atmosphere of suspicion that ultimately led to the internment of thousands of Japanese-Americans on the mainland, though most Japanese residents in Hawaii were spared this fate.

This episode shows how a single incident can illuminate larger themes of loyalty, courage, and the complex nature of identity during wartime. The Ni’ihau Incident remains a testament to both the best and worst of human nature in times of crisis when ordinary people are forced to make extraordinary choices that echo through history.

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