The Pearl Harbor Divert

The Naval Intelligence Professionals are proud to help channel the observations of our globe-trotting shipmate Jim Mueller. After sharing his trained professional observations of the air shows at Farnborough in the UK and at Oshkosh, WI, he has turned his attention (with his lovely bride Penny to keep him in line) to a return visit to the lovely islands that comprise the state of Hawaii.

Many of us share fond memories our our assignments at Pearl or port visits in the islands. This is a chance to look at the island of Kauai, home of the Pacific Missile Test Range, and whose coast was used to film the epic WWII drama “South Pacific.” Jim reports his trip like this:

“…. Hawaii Rte 50 runs west out of Lihue along the Kauai’s south coast, north of the hotels condos and time-shares of Poipu, past Hanapepe, the “Russian” Fort, and the road up to the Waimea lookout … eventually to the arid west coast.

We completed the island tour the other day and ended up at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility.

Not much seemingly going on there……. but there are some newer beach cottages there and an ocean-front restaurant.

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… with a dynamite view of the long open beaches and ….. Niihau…….

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and it was also clear enough to see nearby Lehua……

As you all know, Niihau has been privately owned for well over a century…. by the Robinson family and its’ population is listed as about 150……

You may also recall the island played a bit part in the Pearl Harbor attack of 07 Dec., 1941.

Niihau was evidently designated as a Japanese ‘divert field’ – they thought it was unoccupied – and in fact was used as such … by…..

Airman 1st Class Shigenori Nishikaichi,” who had just taken part in the second wave of the Pearl Harbor attack, crash-landed his bullet-damaged plane, an A6M2 Zero “B11-120″ from the carrier Hiryu, in a Niʻihau field”

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Shigenori Nishikaichi, the pilot who became the center of the Niʻihau Incident

In a somewhat bizarre event, he is at first helped and welcomed ….. locals were initially unaware of the Pearl Harbor attack… then detained, re-captured after his abetted escape and then killed !

Some say that the actions of some locals in assisting him also played a part in the decision to intern many Japanese-Americans during WW-II…… if so, not exactly a minor point….

http://www.historynet.com/the-niihau-incident.htm

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