Pearl Harbor Read online

  To the men and women who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Real Stories From My Time

  Chapter 1: Island Paradise

  Chapter 2: The Melting Pot

  Chapter 3: Celebrations and Negotiations

  Chapter 4: A Daring Plan

  Chapter 5: Surprise Attack!

  Chapter 6: An Island on Fire

  Chapter 7: Under Military Control

  Chapter 8: Americans of Japanese Ancestry

  Chapter 9: Kokua

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Source Notes

  Timeline

  About the Author

  Sneak Peek: Real Stories From My Time: The Boston Tea Party

  Copyright

  America’s past is filled with stories of courage, adventure, tragedy, and hope. The Real Stories From My Time series pairs American Girl’s beloved historical characters with true stories of pivotal events in American history. As you travel back in time to discover America’s amazing past, these characters share their own incredible tales with you.

  When most people think of Hawaii, they picture a lush, tropical island with miles of sandy beaches and palm trees swaying in the warm breeze—and that picture is pretty accurate! But that’s only part of Hawaii’s beauty. The islands are also home to majestic mountains, crashing waterfalls, tropical rain forests, and ancient volcanoes. With warm temperatures and sunny skies throughout the year, Hawaii is a beautiful place to live and a great place to take a vacation!

  Hawaii is not just a beautiful place—the people who live there are warm and welcoming, too. The Hawaiians’ attitude toward others is called the aloha spirit. The word aloha means many things: hello, goodbye, love, affection. The aloha spirit is about showing kindness and respect to one another and accepting differences. It means treating others with care and compassion. In fact, today, Hawaii’s nickname is the Aloha State.

  Hawaii is an archipelago, or a group of islands, spread out across the Pacific Ocean to the southwest of the United States mainland. There are 132 islands, but just seven of them contain most of the population: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Although these islands are close to one another, they are fairly isolated from the rest of the world. This means that they do not have any nearby neighbors. The largest islands’ closest US neighbor is California, which is over 2,300 miles away.

  The Hawaiian islands

  Hawaii’s location, about halfway between the US and Asia, made it the perfect spot for a US naval base. Ships stationed there could protect the mainland United States from military threats. In 1900, Hawaii wasn’t an American state, but it was a US territory. That meant that the US military could build a naval station in Hawaii. In 1908, the island of Oahu became home to Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Having a base in Hawaii allowed the US to refuel their ships on the way to Asia, making a journey across the Pacific Ocean much easier.

  By 1940, World War II (WWII) was raging in Europe and Asia—but the US was not involved in the war. Because of Pearl Harbor, islanders were used to planes flying overhead, practicing maneuvers, but the actual war felt far away for them. It was a surprise to most Hawaiians when the war flew right to their own backyard.

  An aerial photo of Pearl Harbor before WWII

  In 1941, Nanea Mitchell was a nine-year-old girl growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii. Nanea swam in the clear, turquoise-colored water and ran barefoot on the beach with her friends, Lily and Donna. She hiked steep mountain trails with her big brother, David, fished with her dad, and grew flowers in the garden with her mom. Nanea and her older sister, Mary Lou, danced in the backyard, practicing hula or pretending to jitterbug. Wherever Nanea was, she drank in the beauty of her wide-open island life.

  Nanea adored her ‘ohana—her family. She could walk to her grandparents’ house. She loved talking with her tutu kane (grandfather), who told Nanea stories of what the island was like long ago. She also loved taking hula lessons from her tutu (grandmother), a master teacher who had taken lessons from her own mother. Nanea felt honored to carry on tradition that had been part of her family for generations.

  Nanea’s sense of family extended beyond her relatives. She thought of her friends and neighbors as part of her ‘ohana. As islanders, everyone was connected. They helped one another, celebrated joys together, and shared one another’s sorrows. This was the way of aloha.

  On December 7, 1941, when Nanea’s world changed dramatically, her understanding of aloha was more important than ever. Though Nanea is a fictional character, her story will help you imagine what it was like to live through the attack on Pearl Harbor.

  Hawaii has one of the most diverse—or mixed—populations in the world. Over the years, people from many different countries have settled on the islands, bringing their own cultural and ethnic traditions. As a result, Hawaii is a tapestry of different languages, clothing, food, and celebrations.

  The first people to settle on the islands were Polynesians. They came from various islands scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean, from New Zealand (near Australia) to Easter Island (near South America). It is believed that the first Polynesians who lived on Hawaii came from the Marquesas Islands, over 2,300 miles away. They made the trip in large canoes between 300 and 600 CE. The Polynesians brought food, livestock, clothing, and plants with them. They landed on the Big Island of Hawaii and built homes and temples. As the population grew, the people spread out, settling on six other nearby islands.

  An illustration of early Polynesian settlers

  The Polynesians lived simply. They fished for food, planted small crops, and relied on the land to produce what they needed. They also relied on one another. Family—‘ohana—was important because everyone helped each other out. A person’s ‘ohana included more than her blood relatives. The whole community was ‘ohana. These close connections helped people survive, and it shaped the way they treated others—with care and compassion. This became the way of aloha and, with the strength of ‘ohana, became the core of their culture.

  For hundreds of years, settlers to the islands had very little contact with the outside world. That changed in 1778 when English explorer Captain James Cook landed on Kauai. Cook’s “discovery” of the islands made the whole world aware of Hawaii. More and more people traveled to see the beautiful islands. Hawaii became a busy seaport for many ships sailing between North America and Asia.

  By the early 1800s, American businessmen discovered that the rich soil and warm climate of Hawaii was perfect for growing valuable crops, such as sugarcane, pineapple, and coffee. People from the United States moved to Hawaii to build huge plantations for these crops. Over the next sixty years, more than four hundred thousand immigrants came to Hawaii to work on the plantations. They came from countries like China, Japan, and Portugal, where job opportunities were limited. Plantation work in Hawaii was physically demanding—especially for the children who helped in the fields. Ten-year-old Haruno Nunogawa Sato came to Hawaii from Japan with her family. Haruno helped her father load the sugarcane onto other plantation workers’ shoulders so they could carry it to the trucks. During the hottest time of the day she brought heavy cans filled with water from nearby ditches to the workers in the field. When she got older, Haruno dug endless rows for planting sugarcane. It was a hot, dirty job that paid just thirty-five cents a day. Workers started at 4:00 a.m. and worked twelve hour days, six days a week.

  Japanese immigrant workers at a sugarcane field in Hawaii, circa 1885

  The people who came to Hawaii from other countries did not all work on plantations. Some opened shops and businesses. Some became teachers or journalists. Some went into polit
ics. They built homes, had families, and joined communities. Their clothing, food, and traditions became part of the local island culture.

  The Japanese, for example, introduced mochi, a sticky, sweet rice cake that became a favorite treat in Hawaii. People from the Philippines made food dishes such as longaniza (pork sausage with rice) and pinakbet (eggplant, okra, and tomatoes) popular on the islands. Portuguese food also became common throughout the islands. People of all different ethnicities ate malasadas (doughnuts), pao doce (sweet bread), and Portuguese sausage. And while many people associate the ukulele, a small guitar-like instrument, with Hawaii, it actually originated in Portugal. Hawaiian king Kalakaua requested ukulele music be played at royal gatherings in the 1880s, and shortly thereafter it became a common instrument used in music for the hula dance.

  King Kalakaua

  As more and more people moved to Hawaii, the ethnic mix on the islands changed. In 1853, Native Hawaiians made up 97 percent of the islands’ population. But by 1923, that number was just 16 percent. By 1940, more than ten different ethnic groups were officially recognized as part of the Hawaiian population: Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Caucasian, Korean, African American, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, and Samoan. With such diversity, people often married someone whose ethnic background was different from their own. That meant their children were of mixed race. Being Hawaiian meant something different for everyone. A child might be part Japanese, part Filipino, part Portuguese, part English, and part Native Hawaiian. Regardless of her ethnic mix, if she could trace any part of her ancestry to the early Polynesian settlers, she considered herself Hawaiian.

  The wide range of ethnicities on the island made it the diverse place it is today. The original Hawaiian culture changed over time, but it did not disappear. The spirit of aloha remained strong. Respecting differences and showing kindness continues to be key to being Hawaiian.

  Because people had immigrated to Hawaii from all over the world, the islands were home to a wide variety of cultural celebrations. Islanders learned the customs of their friends and neighbors, and they celebrated along with them. People of all ethnicities celebrated Chinese New Year, Hinamatsuri (or Girls’ Day) for Japan, and attended luaus. A luau is a traditional Hawaiian celebration. It marks a special occasion, such as a child’s first birthday, a wedding, or a graduation. People at a luau enjoy traditional Hawaiian dishes such as poi, a dish made from the root of the taro plant; pork made in an imu (underground oven); and fresh seafood. Entertainment at a luau features traditional Hawaiian music as well as hula dancing.

  Native Hawaiian hula dancers at a luau in 1938

  The respect and acceptance of different cultures is part of the spirit of aloha. In fact, a special celebration known as Lei Day was created in 1927. The lei, a handmade garland of flowers, leaves, shells, or feathers, is the symbol of aloha. Islanders take great care in gathering materials and weaving each lei. They believe the mana, or spirit, of the person who created it is woven into the lei. When the lei is given to someone else, the creator is giving a piece of him- or herself. It is a sign of family, togetherness, and acceptance.

  Despite the aloha spirit on the islands, World War II was still being fought on the other side of the world. The Allied forces of England and France were fiercely battling Germany, Italy, and Japan, the Axis powers. The United States government did not want to enter the war, but they were not getting along with the Japanese government.

  Japan was a small yet mighty country. Its population and economy were growing. In 1937, Japan invaded China and declared war. The United States government did not want to go to war with Japan, but they wanted to help China. By 1940, the US decided they would not buy goods that Japan was selling, and they wouldn’t sell Japan gasoline, oil, or steel. The United States hoped that by cutting off money and important supplies, they could persuade Japan to leave China alone. This made the Japanese government very angry. The US and Japan tried to negotiate, or talk, to fix the problem. But since Japan was still trying to take over land from China, the US continued to refuse to buy goods from or sell to Japan.

  As the relationship between the US and Japan grew more tense, the US Navy sent a large fleet of ships from Southern California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This gave the navy a better position to send ships into the Pacific if they were needed to defend the West Coast of the US.

  Japan saw these economic and military moves as a threat. Japan’s new army minister, General Hideki Tojo, wanted to take action against the United States. What exactly would that action be? Who would be affected? Were these two countries headed for war?

  The time had come for action. General Tojo worked with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto to plan an attack against the United States. And the target? Hawaii! It was the closest US territory to Japan. More importantly, Honolulu was home to Pearl Harbor as well as a US airbase, Hickam Field. The plan was to destroy the battleships, aircraft carriers, and planes at Pearl Harbor. It would take weeks for the US Navy to send ships from California to fight back. During that time, the Japanese Navy would have full control over the Pacific Ocean.

  Japanese general Hideki Tojo

  In order to plan an attack, Admiral Yamamoto needed details about Pearl Harbor. He needed a spy. Takeo Yoshikawa was one of several Japanese spies in Hawaii. Yoshikawa climbed the slopes of a mountain where he had a bird’s-eye view of Pearl Harbor and the nearby airfields. He also kept watch at a nearby teahouse. He memorized every ship’s name and its location, as well as the number and location of the planes. He sent all this information to Admiral Yamamoto via coded messages.

  Now Yamamoto knew exactly where every ship in Pearl Harbor was. He also knew that Sunday was the best day for an attack because fewer sailors were on duty that day of the week. Even with all this information, Yamamoto knew he would need perfect timing to achieve the complete surprise he wanted. What he didn’t count on was the brand-new technology in place at Pearl Harbor, called radar.

  Radar, or radio detecting and ranging, is a way of detecting objects in the air or water. At the time, radar was still quite new and not very accurate. An operator could tell how far away the object was and what direction it was heading, but not what the object was.

  Radar was only an effective warning system if someone was constantly watching for blips to appear or disappear. But in 1941, the radar at Pearl Harbor was not manned all day and night. It was only turned on and monitored for three hours each day, from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.

  A US Navy technician in the radar room of an aircraft carrier

  By chance, the two soldiers at the radar outpost station on the morning of December 7, 1941, were late shutting it down. At 7:02 a.m., Private George Elliott noticed a huge blip about 130 miles offshore. He told Private Joe Lockard, who was working with him. The blip was so large that they thought the radar might not be working correctly. They called their superior, who told them to ignore the blip. He believed it was most likely a group of US bomber planes that were expected to fly in shortly. Even though he’d been told to shut down the radar, Private Elliott kept it on a few minutes longer. He wanted more practice tracking objects. Private Elliott continued to track the huge blip until it reached 22 miles offshore. Then the large blip disappeared behind a mountain and could no longer be tracked. At 7:39 a.m., Elliott and Lockard shut down the radar station, as ordered.

  That blip was actually a massive fleet of Japanese fighter planes. And they were headed straight toward Pearl Harbor!

  On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Honolulu sky was blue and clear. Islanders were sleeping late, attending church services, or relaxing with their families. Without warning, Japanese planes appeared, and bombs began to fall.

  Dorinda Makanaõnalani Nicholson was six years old at the time of the attack. She lived in a house close to Pearl Harbor with her parents and baby brother, Ishmael. As her family was sitting down to breakfast that Sunday morning, they heard loud explosions overhead. Dorinda and her family raced outside to see the sky filled with planes. They
were dark green with large orange-red disks: Japanese fighter planes! They flew very low, just over the rooftops. Dorinda could feel the hot exhaust from the plane’s engines. The roar of the engines muffled the sound of the bullets that struck her house. She looked back to see holes in the roof. The kitchen, where she was just about to have breakfast, was on fire. Dorinda was terrified. Her parents grabbed her and Ishmael and hustled them to the car. They had to get away from Pearl Harbor! As military vehicles and men rushed toward the base, Dorinda’s father drove away from it, searching for safety. At the far end of the harbor, he stopped the car.

  Dorinda has never forgotten what she saw at that moment. One of the enormous battleships was upside down in the water. Other ships were burning uncontrollably. Thick black smoke rose into the air, stinging her nose and making her eyes water. The water in the harbor, usually clean and clear, was a fireball as oil leaked from the ships and burned.

  Six-year-old Dorinda with her family at their home, just a few hundred yards from Pearl Harbor

  Just before 8:00 a.m., 183 Japanese planes descended upon Pearl Harbor. They bombed the US fighter planes that sat unattended on the airfields. They dropped bombs on the ships docked in an area called Battleship Row. The first wave damaged every battleship. The USS West Virginia sank and the USS Oklahoma exploded and rolled over, trapping hundreds of men inside. The USS Arizona took a direct hit to its ammunitions compartment, which set off a massive explosion. The ship broke in two and sank in less than fifteen minutes, taking more than 1,100 sailors with it to their deaths.

  Pearl Harbor on fire after the attack

  When it was over, just before 10:00 a.m., more than twenty-one US Navy ships and over 300 planes were damaged or destroyed. The surprise attack killed 2,335 military personnel and wounded another 1,143.