The Unexpected Landing
On December 7, 1941, a significant event unfolded on the Hawaiian island of Niʻihau, often referred to as the “Niihau Incident.” Japanese pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi, who had participated in the infamous attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, crash-landed his Zero aircraft on the island. The Japanese navy had previously identified Niʻihau, mistakenly believed to be uninhabited, as a suitable location for pilots needing rescue.
Initial Hospitality and Revelation
The island’s original inhabitants initially extended their hospitality to Nishikaichi, unaware of the attack that had just taken place. Fortunately, there was a resident of Japanese descent who could interpret for them. Upon learning about the assault on Pearl Harbor through the pilot’s revelations, the islanders detained Nishikaichi. The pilot, with the help of the Japanese-speaking residents, managed to escape, overpower a guard, and destroy his plane along with all the documentation it contained.
The Escalation and Resolution
Nishikaichi and his accomplices captured two villagers, Ben and Ella. However, Ella managed to overpower the guard and kill the Japanese pilot. Ben sustained injuries, and the Japanese interpreter who had assisted the pilot committed suicide. Ben received accolades for his bravery, but Ella, who was instrumental in neutralizing the pilot, was overlooked.
Niʻihau: The Forbidden Island
Niʻihau, the westernmost and second smallest of the primary Hawaiian Islands, has been privately owned by the Robinsons, a white kamaʻaina family, since 1864. At the time of the Niihau Incident, the island had 136 inhabitants, most of whom were native Hawaiians with Hawaiian as their first language.
In 1941, Aylmer Robinson, a Harvard University graduate and fluent Hawaiian speaker, owned the island. He resided on the nearby island of Kauai and visited Niʻihau weekly by boat. The island was off-limits to outsiders without permission from the Robinsons, with permits typically granted only to friends and family of the indigenous islanders. Among the residents were three individuals of Japanese descent, including Yoshio Harada, who later assisted the Japanese pilot.
The Pilot’s Mission and Aftermath
Injured pilots or those needing to land were instructed that Niʻihau, thought to be uninhabited, would serve as a refuge until a submarine could retrieve them. Shigenori Nishikaichi was part of the second wave of the Pearl Harbor attack. Unaware of the earlier attack that day, but cognizant of the tensions between the United States and Japan, the islanders cared for the pilot and even hosted a party in his honor. The language barrier was initially a challenge, but the presence of three fluent Japanese speakers on the island facilitated communication.