Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

Battle of Niihau


Subdeacon Joe

Recommended Posts

#OTD 1941, a Japanese pilot who had crash landed on a remote Hawaiian island during the the attack on Pearl Harbor was killed in the "Battle of Niihau". Pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi had recruited locals of Japanese descent and then terrorized the islanders before a Hawaiian couple managed to overpower him. Nishikaichi shot Benehakaka Kanahele three times but the big Hawaiian was able to pick up the pilot and hurl him into a stone wall. Ella     

Kanahele then bashed Nishkaichi with a rock until Benehakaka ended the pilot's reign of terror by stabbing him with a knife. The incident gave rise to the local saying, "never shoot a Hawaiian three times, you may make him angry"

 

..

FB_IMG_1670990332084.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"He was a Paniolo.  Great big Hawaiian cowboy used to throwing around sheep and goats and things.  And, apparently, the Japanese pilot shot him, which made him mad and he grabbed the pilot by the neck and belt and picked him up over his head.  And the pilot shot again and the round went uncomfortably close to his private parts.  Probably made Benny even madder.  He threw the pilot down.  Now Ella, Benny’s wife, picked up a rock and brained the pilot.  And Benny took a knife and cut the pilot’s throat. "

 

San Diego County where I was raised has a fair number of Pacific Islanders that fit the "great big" description.  For a lot of the young men a good time was to go out drinking, beat the snot out of each other, then the next day get together and laugh and talk about what a great time it was.  One on the beach in Carlsbad offered me a Fosters (never mind that I was only about 14 at the time), which he opened by biting it.  Good times.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It only took a couple incidents like this to justify the Japanese internment camps for the west coast.  There were numerous spies at Pearl Harbor before the attack flying around and photographing battleship row.  There was also a large Japanese population in southern California.  While the internment camps are distasteful viewed through today's eyes, they were probably necessary at the time and probably saved American lives.  We will never know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/14/2022 at 4:11 PM, Subdeacon Joe said:

"He was a Paniolo.  Great big Hawaiian cowboy used to throwing around sheep and goats and things.  And, apparently, the Japanese pilot shot him, which made him mad and he grabbed the pilot by the neck and belt and picked him up over his head.  And the pilot shot again and the round went uncomfortably close to his private parts.  Probably made Benny even madder.  He threw the pilot down.  Now Ella, Benny’s wife, picked up a rock and brained the pilot.  And Benny took a knife and cut the pilot’s throat. "

 

San Diego County where I was raised has a fair number of Pacific Islanders that fit the "great big" description.  For a lot of the young men a good time was to go out drinking, beat the snot out of each other, then the next day get together and laugh and talk about what a great time it was.  One on the beach in Carlsbad offered me a Fosters (never mind that I was only about 14 at the time), which he opened by biting it.  Good times.

This is why God invented rugby. Specifically to stop large Pacific Islanders from ruling the world.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said:

It only took a couple incidents like this to justify the Japanese internment camps for the west coast.  There were numerous spies at Pearl Harbor before the attack flying around and photographing battleship row.  There was also a large Japanese population in southern California.  While the internment camps are distasteful viewed through today's eyes, they were probably necessary at the time and probably saved American lives.  We will never know.

It will forever be a black mark on the history of the United States. Fear, ignorance and racism fueled the decision to violate the rights of thousands of Americans. 
viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=wvu

 

 

 


 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i agree , from what i heard from relatives alive at the time the german POWs in idaho were treated better than these american citizens , my father faught in the pacific yet he condemned it all his life 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.