Across the Kaulakahi channel from Kauai is Niihau, a place of immense beauty. Often referred to as Hawaii’s forbidden isle, Niihau is Hawaii’s seventh largest island at just 70 square miles, and is a magical place where time has stood still.
The small island was purchased from the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1864 by Elizabeth Sinclair, and private ownership has been passed down to her descendants, the Robinson family. Niihau’s 200 or so residents speak Hawaiian as a primary language, and many of Hawaii’s traditional ways of life have been preserved on this small island.
The island is off-limits to all but relatives of the island’s owners, government officials, U.S. Navy personnel, and invited guests. Only a select number of tours are allowed to operate on or near Niihau, so we encourage you to explore the waters off Niihau, as well as the famous Lehua Rock, through this beautiful footage shot by Na Pali Riders Raft Tours.
It Is said that the reefs surrounding Niihau are among the best in Hawaii, and after watching this video, we’d have to agree. Who else wants to head underwater to explore all that the vast Pacific Ocean has to offer?
This Is The Single Weirdest Thing You Never Knew Happened In Hawaii
The Niihau incident, following the Pearl Harbor attack, involved a Japanese pilot terrorizing locals on Niihau Island, leading to a dramatic confrontation.
The most tragic foreign military assault in American history, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killed approximately 2,400 Americans and wounded another 1,770. Additionally, the Japanese attack damaged all eight U.S. battleships - four were sunk - three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. But there is one story from that fateful day that is rarely told outside the islands; the Niihau incident is one of the more weird things that happened in Hawaii.
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After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese Navy fighter pilot crashed his aircraft on Niihau, the westernmost island of Hawaii’s eight main islands, and terrorized the locals for a week.
At first the encounter was peaceful, and Niihau residents even invited the Japanese pilot to a luau, but it quickly went downhill. The pilot was probably restless and scared after he didn’t hear from his comrades and decided to take it out on Niihau residents.
Two island residents, Hawila Kaleohano and Beni Kanahele, were able to disarm and kill the intruder. Shot three times during the incident, Kanahele allegedly grabbed the pilot, flinging him against a wall and cracking his skull.
According to Pacific Aviation Museum Curator Burl Burlingame, the Japanese Zero Plane was a secretive aircraft the Japanese did not want the United States to get their hands on this “secret weapon” of the Japanese military.
The Japanese assumed that Niihau was only inhabited by aborigines, and they were wrong. The people of Niihau had been preparing for a Japanese attack for years - and the pilots landing gear was severely damaged by an anti-aircraft trench.
Often referred to as the Forbidden Isle, Niihau is owned by the Robinson family and is home to approximately 200 native Hawaiians who have preserved traditional ways of life, including speaking Hawaiian.
The island can be seen from afar via helicopter or boat tour, but is generally off-limits to everyone except relatives of the owners, government officials, and invited guests.
Among the weird things that happened in Hawaii history, this strange event often seems to be forgotten when the events of December 7, 1941, are recalled. To learn more about this chapter in the Aloha State's history, we recommend taking one of the excellent history tours offered by our friends at Viator.
Did you know about this unusual incident? Let us know in the comments!
From the Western world’s first contact with the islands’ natives to Hawaii’s admittance as the 50th state in America, the Hawaiian Islands have had quite a tumultuous history full of conflict and intrigue. But of all the bizarre things that have happened in Hawaii, the Aloha State is also the backdrop to many stories that are foundational to our state as a whole. And no doubt there is no incident more infamous in Hawaii history than the imprisonment of Queen Liliuokalani that occurred during the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
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You might have heard this story, but we’re pretty sure you don’t know all of the details. Let’s dive in!
Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii, ruling from January 29, 1891 to January 17, 1893.
During her reign, the Queen attempted to draft a new constitution that would restore the power of the monarchy and the voting rights of those who were economically disenfranchised.
Not everyone agreed with her efforts, and in January 1893, a group of Americans and Europeans who called themselves the "Committee of Safety" planned a coup d’etat to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy.
Half a dozen policemen were sent by the Queen to Iolani Palace to arrest Committee members who tried to enter. A shooting broke out and one of the policemen was shot and had to be carried out by the remaining palace guards. Then, the Committee of Safety entered, and with almost no audience, they signed a document that ended the monarchy. Queen Liliuokalani didn’t find out about it until the next day.
The coup d’etat established the Republic of Hawaii, but the ultimate goal was the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States. The oligarchical government placed the former queen under house arrest at Iolani Palace after an unsuccessful uprising to restore the monarchy.
It wasn’t until January 24, 1895 that Liliuokalani abdicated the throne, officially ending the monarchy. The former queen then lived out the remainder of her life as a private citizen, and died at her residence, Washington Place, in the capital city of Honolulu on November 11, 1917. The photograph above depicts Liliuokalani being escorted up the palace stairs in 1895 following her imprisonment.
Since then, many of the original furnishings have been restored to the palace from private owners across the world and are now on display at the palace turned museum. It's a wonderful place to visit for history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, and casual travelers alike!
Want to learn more about this strange story and the Kingdom of Hawaii? Visit the Iolani Palace in Honolulu! This incredible piece of history was opened to the public as a museum in 1978 and is typically open six days a week for guided tours and self-led audio tours available, as well as special tours of the basement galleries, which showcase the crowned jewels, as well as a collection of ancient regalia. Check out the Iolani Palace website to get more info about visiting this piece of history!
Speaking of weird Hawaii tidbits and pieces of history, how many of these historic sites have you checked off your bucket list?
