Niihau Incident facts for kids
The Niʻihau incident occurred on December 7–13, 1941, when Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi (西開地 重徳, Nishikaichi Shigenori) crash-landed his Zero on the Hawaiian island of Niʻihau after participating in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Imperial Japanese Navy had mistakenly believed Niʻihau to be uninhabited and had designated it as an island for damaged aircraft to land and await rescue.
Native Hawaiians, unaware of the attack, treated Nishikaichi as a guest but took the precaution of removing his weapons. They brought a resident who had been born in Japan to translate. That night, the Hawaiians learned of the Pearl Harbor attack and apprehended the Japanese pilot. They allowed him to stay with the Haradas, the only two other residents of Japanese descent, but posted guards. The pilot then told the Haradas about the attack and the two agreed to help him. Nishikaichi and Yoshio Harada overcame a guard and escaped to destroy the plane and papers, then took Niihauans Benehakaka "Ben" Kanahele and his wife Kealoha "Ella" Kanahele prisoner. The Kanaheles later overcame the guard and eventually killed the pilot. Ben Kanahele was wounded in the process. He was decorated for his actions.
Composer R. Alex Anderson was inspired by the incident to compose "They Couldn't Take Niihau, Nohow!" It was played on August 15, 1945, when Kanahele was decorated for his actions in Honolulu.
A film entitled Enemy Within was released in theaters on April 19, 2019. Joe Naufahu stars as Ben Kanahele.
The 2006 novel East Wind, Rain by Caroline Paul also tells the story of the incident.
Images for kids
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A6M Zero in the markings of the aircraft flown by Nishikaichi on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum
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Remains of Nishikaichi's Zero on December 17, 1941
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Rusted parts of the Niihau Zero as displayed at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
See also
In Spanish: Incidente de Niihau para niños
