The Case:
History Detectives’ first ever Hawaii story takes us to the island of Ni’ihau, the backdrop for a fascinating tale often overshadowed by the enormity of the raid on Pearl Harbor.
This investigation hinges on two engine parts. Our contributor got the parts from his father who served as an army mechanic in Hawaii during World War II. His father said the parts came from a Japanese fighter plane that crash-landed on Ni’ihau during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The pilot survived, but held island residents hostage, setting the stage for a drama of terror and heroism.
History Detectives gains unprecedented access to the “Forbidden Island” to conduct this extraordinary investigation.
More Information
Pacific Aviation Museum
319 Lexington Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96818-5004
(808) 441-1000
Ni'ihua Naval Report
Read an excerpt of the Naval report from 1942 that describes the crash of the Japanese plane on the island of Ni'ihua and subsequent events.
Related Links
Explore
-
Related Investigation
Connecticut Farmhouse
Why did this Connecticut farmhouse have so many owners in such a short space of time?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Chinese Poems
Who were the authors of the poems describing bitterness and misery on the Angel Island detention center walls?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Internment Artwork
What is the story behind these watercolor paintings of a prison camp?
-
Also in Depression and WWII: 1929-1945
Lou Gehrig Autograph
Did Lou Gehrig autograph this ticket on the day he announced his retirement?
-
Related Investigation
Universal Friends
What can this 200-year-old document reveal about the first American-born woman to lead a religious movement?
-
Also in Season 9
Baker's Gold
What role did these unusual drawings play in one of the largest mass migrations in American history?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.