The Truth Behind ‘Enemy Within’: The Niʻihau Incident during Pearl Harbor

Movies based on true stories tend to exaggerate details, making them less accurate. However, there is still a significant amount of truth to be found in these films. While many historical movies have been made about Pearl Harbor from the perspective of the American military, the impact on Hawaiians has not received as much attention. Enemy Within is based on the true story of the Niʻihau incident during Pearl Harbor.

The Niʻihau incident occurred on December 7th, 1941, when a Japanese pilot crash-landed on the Niʻihau island after attacking Pearl Harbor. The Imperial Japanese Navy believed that Niʻihau was uninhabited and had designated it as a place to land in case of emergency. However, Niʻihau was not uninhabited and was home to Native Hawaiians.

The Hawaiians were unaware of the attack on Pearl Harbor and greeted the pilot warmly. However, tensions escalated when news of the war between Japan and America broke out, ultimately leading to violence. While the movie is not 100% accurate, the real story and the movie remain largely similar. In this blog post, we outline the true events that occurred in Niʻihau during Pearl Harbor.

Credit: Wikipedia

What is Niʻihau?

Niʻihau is the second smallest main island in Hawaii. Elizabeth Sinclair bought Niʻihau in 1864. and in 1915, Sinclair’s grandson, Aubrey, prohibited anyone from visiting the island without his permission. Alymer Robinson, Aubrey’s son, inherited the ownership of the island after Aubrey’s death in 1939 and was the owner during the Pearl Harbor attack. Alymer did not live on Ni’ihau but lived nearby on the island of Kauaʻi. He made weekly visits by boat to Niʻihau to deliver supplies.

The Timeline of Events For the Niʻihau Incident

In 1941, Niʻihau was only accessible with permission from Alymer. The island had a total of 136 inhabitants, including a small number of non-native residents. Among these residents were three Japanese Americans: one issei (a first-generation Japanese) and two nisei (second-generation Japanese born in Hawaii) who were also a married couple.

Airman Shigenori Nishikaichi

Airman Shigenori Nishikaichi was participating in the second wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor when his plane was damaged by bullets. Under the assumption that Niʻihau was uninhabited, Shigenori crash-landed on the island. In the movie, the plane crashes into the ocean near the island, but the plane actually crashed in a field 19 feet away from Hawila Kaleohano.

Hawila was a native Hawaiian who recognized the plane and its pilot as Japanese. He knew Japan and America had a poor relationship so he took the pilot’s pistol and papers as he was dazed. More island inhabitants arrived at the crash site and treated Shigenori with traditional Hawaiian hospitality. They even threw him a party.

Shigenori’s Crashsite on Ni’ihau December 7th, 1941

Shigenori could barely speak English so they sent Ishimatsu Shintani on the island (an issei) to translate. Shintani exchanged a few words with the pilot before he froze and left. The Hawaiians were left confused and sent for a nisei, Yoshido Harada.

Shigenori told Harada about Pearl Harbor and the nisei decided to only share that information with other Japanese Hawaiians. The pilot also expressed that he wanted his papers back because he was instructed to never let them fall into American hands. Kaleohano refused to give them back.

That night, the Hawaiians heard about the Pearl Harbor attack on a battery-operated radio. They confronted the pilot and Harada translated what he said about the attack. The Hawaiians planned to send Shigenori with Alymer when he made his next weekly visit.

Alymer did not arrive in the next couple of days. Unbeknownst to the locals, the US military implemented a ban on boat traffic after the attack. The Harada couple requested that the pilot could stay with them, which the locals agreed to, but with the condition that five guards would be stationed right outside. However, this gave them the perfect opportunity to converse freely.

On December 12th, Shintani approached Kaleohano with $200 in cash to attempt to buy the papers. Shintani expressed that it was a matter of life and death but Kaleohano still refused.

Around the same time, only one guard was stationed in front of the Harada residence in a momentary lapse. Yoshio and Shigenori took advantage of this opportunity and overpowered him. Irene turned on some music on a phonograph to drown out the struggle. They locked the guard in a warehouse where they also got a shotgun and the pilot’s pistol. They then went to Kaleohano’s house.

Leaving his conversation with Shintani, Kaleohano was in his outhouse when he saw Yoshio and Shigenori approaching his house. Kaleohano stayed hidden in the outhouse and the two couldn’t find him. The conspirators eventually turned their attention to Shigenori’s plane nearby. While they were distracted, Kaleohano flew out of the outhouse. He heard someone yell “Stop!” and a gunshot as he sprinted into the woods.

Kaleohano warned the nearby village and many could not believe that Harada could do the things they were hearing. The villagers evacuated with women and children hiding in caves, thickets, and distant beaches.

Kaleohano gave the papers to a relative and then set out with five other Hawaiians to paddle in a lifeboat to alert Alymer to what was happening. The trip to Kauaʻi takes ten hours but they felt it necessary.

Yoshio and Shigenori went to the plane to make contact with the Japanese military, but they were unable to get the radio to work. They then torched the plane along with Kaleohano’s house.

Kealoha “Ella” Kanahele and Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele

The next morning, the two captured Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele and his wife, Kealoha “Ella” Kanahele, natives of the island. They commanded Ben to find Kaleohano while keeping his wife hostage. However, Ben knew that Kaleohano had left but pretended to look for him to buy time. After a while, Ben returned to Ella because he was concerned for her. Shigenori realized what was happening and Yoshio warned Ben that Shigenori will kill everyone in the village if Kaleohano was not brought to him.

As the pilot handed Yoshio the shotgun, Ben and his wife launched themselves at him. Shigenori pulled his pistol out of his boot but Ella stopped his arm from moving. Yoshio pulled Ella off of Shigenori and then he shot Ben three times in the upper leg, groin, and stomach.

Three gunshots did not stop Ben. With pure brute strength, he picked the pilot up and hurled him into the wall. Ella bashed the pilot’s head in with a rock and then Ben slit his throat with a hunting knife. Yoshio then turned the shotgun on himself and took his own life.

Kaleohano reached Kauaʻi after 15 hours, paddling on a row boat. Him and five others tracked down Alymer and they all rushed back to Ni’ihau by boat. Alymer brought twelve armed soldiers with him to the island and got back just in time to find Ben wounded from gunshots.

Ben was taken to the Waimea Hospital where he made a full recovery. He was awarded the Medal for Merit and the Purple Heart, but his wife did not receive any official recognition.

Irene Harada was sent to the Honouliuli internment camp on Oahu. She returned to Kauaʻi 33 months later. Shintani was sent to an internment camp in the continental states and he returned to live on Niihau again.

Watch Enemy Within To Experience The Story of These Unsung Heroes

Enemy Within explores the impact of the Pearl Harbor attack on the Hawaiian locals, who were caught in the crossfire of the escalating tensions between Japan and the United States. While the cinematography, acting, and storytelling are all expertly crafted to create a captivating viewing experience, it is important to remember the real heroes and the true story behind the film.

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