Shot up strafing Bellows Field in the second wave of the Pearl Harbor attack, Hiryu pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi’s Zero was leaking fuel. He crashed landed on Ni’ihau, 15 miles west of Kauai in the Hawaiian island chain. Believed by the Japanese to be uninhabited, Ni’ihau was to be a rendezvous point for downed pilots and a rescue submarine.

But the island was inhabited by a small community of farmers. Ranch hand Hawila “Howard” Kaleohano rescued a dazed Nishikaichi and secured his documents and pistol. Unaware of the start of the war, the island residents hosted a luau for their guest.

Nishikaichi wanted his documents and weapon back. Helped by three villagers of Japanese descent, Nishikaichi returned to the Zero, recovered a 7.7mm machine gun and burned the wreck. They searched the island for Kaleohano, who avoided them and paddled to Kauai with the documents. In his search, Nishikaichi took Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele and his wife, Kealoha, hostage. Ben soon rushed Nishigaichi and was shot three times. Still, he overpowered Nishigaichi, while Kealoha bludgeoned him with a rock.The next day, Kaleohano returned with US military personnel, who recovered the Zero and the body of its pilot.

Today, the remains of Nishigachi’s Zero, tail code B11-120, are displayed at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Parked nearby is a second Zero Type 21 (itself a combat veteran from Rabaul) restored in the markings of Nishigaichi’s aircraft.