Aerial view of Niihau Island.
Acquiring Ni’ihau to raise sheep cost her $10,000, which she paid directly to the Hawaiian monarchy.
Sinclair ruled over the island for twenty-eight years until her death in 1892.
But on the way they came across nine American Curtiss P-36A fighters and an aerial battle ensued.
But, in the fight, Nishikaichi’s Zero was hit and the aircraft began to lose fuel.
Unable to keep up with the others, Nishikaichi realized that he would have to make an emergency landing.
The wreckage of Nishikaichi’s Zero BII-120.
Nishikaichi was treated well and they even had a party in his honor that afternoon.
But since they did not understand him, they called the beekeeper Ishimatsu Shintani, to translate.
Unbeknownst to them, the Navy had curtailed maritime traffic following the attack.
Several days passed and when Robinson did not appear, the islanders grew increasingly restless.
Nishikaichi was confined to Harada’s home with four guards.
Light signals were made to Kaua’i with bonfires and searchlights, without apparent success.
Everyone was waiting to see what would happen.
Attack on Peral Harbor.
Photo:Wikimedia Commons
What happened was a conspiracy.
Kaleohano alerted the residents of the nearby village, warning them to evacuate.
Meanwhile, the captive guard escaped and reached the village, where he corroborated the story.
Photo: Getty Images
But Nishikaichi had no interest in them.
The rusted remains of Nishikaichi’s airplane at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island.
Kanahele then lunged at him and cut his throat with a knife.
The stupefied Harada did not know how to react and ended up committing suicide with the shotgun.
After rowing for ten hours, Kaleohano had managed to reach the other island and alert the authorities.
Ishimatsu Shintani and Irene, Yoshio Harada’s wife, were arrested.
Irene insisted that she had only helped the pilot out of pity.
Exclusion Order posted at First and Front Streets directing removal of Japanese people.
Relocating them would have wrecked havoc on the local economy.
This article was originally published inLa Brujula Verde.
It has been translated from Spanish and republished with permission.
