The Hawaiian island of Niihau was selected by the Japanese Navy as an emergency diversion point for their aviators during the attack of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Niihau was chosen as it was only a 30 minute flight from Pearl Harbor. Japanese strategical command advised their pilots to bail out or crash land on the tiny island. A submarine was tasked to rescue any downed aircrews from there. However, Japanese intelligence made a crucial miscalculation, as the island wasn't uninhabited. Niihau, also called 'forbidden island' is off-limits to the public. In 1864, King Kamehameha V had sold Niihau to the Robinson family, in whose hands it has since remained. The predominantly native Hawaiian inhabitants live from fishing, farming and preserve native Hawaiian culture and tradition. Niʻihau has no telephone services, paved roads, plumbing or running water. Horses are the main form of transportation. On December 7, 1941, 22-year-old Airman 1st Class Shigenori Nishikaichi from the aircraft carrier Hiryu piloted a Mitsubishi A6M2 'Zero' fighter. During the attack his plane received hits. Nishikaichi's fuel tank and engine had been damaged. Nishikaichi decided to land his crippled plane on Niihau. The engine run rough and his fuel level made reaching the aircraft carrier impossible. Together with another Zero which was trailing smoke they circled the island of Niihau. The pilot of the other stricken Zero, Airman 2nd Class Saburo Ishii, however, was observed to climb steeply and then inexplicably dive straight into the sea. Watching the Japanese fighter executing a belly landing was native Hawaiian Howard Kaleohano. He pulled the dazed pilot clear of the wreckage and removed the pilot's sidearm and identification papers. Kaleohano took the pilot to his house, where his wife served him breakfast. When it became evident that Nishikaichi's limited English was of little use, Japanese-born Ishimatsu Shintani, a beekeeper who lived on the island for 41 years, was summoned to help. Little is known about their brief conversation but after Nishikaichi spoke, Shintani reportedly turned pale and left the house. Yoshio Harada, 38, had been born to Japanese parents on Kauai. He was from the other one of only two families able to speak Japanese on the island. Nishikaichi informed Haradas of the attack on Oahu. He also demanded his pistol and documents be returned. Harada decided not to translate the conversation to the islanders. Therefore, the people of Niihau were unaware that the United States was now at war with Japan. They even treated the pilot to a Luau. Unknown to Nishikaichi, the rescue submarine standing-by off the coast was sent away to intercept American relief ships near Oahu. By nightfall, word of the attack on Pearl Harbor had reached Niihau by radio. Only then Yoshio Harada revealed that the bombing was part of the conversation with the pilot. Aylmer Robinson, Niihau's absentee landlord, lived on nearby Kauai and made weekly visits to Niihau. He was expected to arrive on December 8. He did not. Newly imposed wartime restrictions had precluded boat traffic across the 17-mile channel between the island and Kauai. During the waiting time the pilot had sensed Harada's ambivalent loyalties over Japan, and Nishikaichi gradually won Harada's trust. Four days later, Harada had stolen a shotgun and a pistol from the Robinsons' ranch house. The pilot and Harada made a quick trip to the nearby downed plane. They tried to burn the aircraft, but the fire they set in the cockpit did not spread. When Kaleohano appeared, Harada shot at him but missed. Kaleohano run to the village and alerted the residents. A bonfire had already been set on Niihau's highest point. Robinson saw the signal fire and begged the U.S. Navy for permission to sail to Niihau, which was denied. However, he received a phone call from Kaleohano who, in turn, had sailed with five other men to Kauai. Now briefed by Kaleohano on the situation, Robinson finally received approval. Ben Kanahele, a tall sheep rancher and his wife were captured by Nishikaichi and Harada. Kanahele and his wife lunged at Nishikaichi who was carrying both weapons. He shot Ben in the chest, hip and groin. His wife battered the pilot with a rock, allowing her wounded husband to draw a knife and kill Nishikaichi. Harada claimed the shotgun and committed suicide. Ben Kanahele recovered from his wounds. In August 1945 he was awarded the Medal of Merit and the Purple Heart. His wife did not receive any recognition. The part of the few Japanese in what is today called "Niihau incident", might have been directly responsible for the 120’000 Japanese-Americans interned on camps on U.S. soil during the war. A U.S. Navy report from January 1942 indicated 'likelihood that residents with Japanese background previously believed loyal to the United States may aid Japan.' In Hashihama, Japan, the hometown of Airman Nishikaichi, a stone column was erected in his honor. Chiseled in granite are the symbols indicating that he died in battle. .