When a Japanese pilot crash-lands on the tiny remote Hawaiian island of Ni'ihau, he is met with courtesy and traditional Hawaiian hospitality from the locals - until they discover he was part of the recent attack on Pearl Harbor. Soon the community is split between those of Japanese ancestry who support the pilot and those of Hawaiian ancestry who oppose them.
Production
Shot on location with meticulous 1940s period detail throughout.
Acting
Fukushima's pilot conveys desperation without begging sympathy.
Writing
Refuses easy villains — everyone acts from understandable fear.
Director
Gabriel Robertson
Rila Fukushima
Aiko Nishikaichi
Beulah Koale
Haku Keli'i
Matt Riedy
Aylmer Robinson
Melissa Paulo
Lani Kekoa
Joseph Naufahu
Ben Kanahele
Kanoa Goo
Hawila Kaleohano
Maria Walker
Ella Kanahele
Taungaroa Emile
Izzy Kaanaoi
Shogen
Lt. Jack Mizuha
Takashi Yamaguchi
Yoshio Harada
Chika Kanamoto
Irene Harada
Bree Peters
Kalima Kekoa
Kazuma Sano
Shigenori Nishikaichi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ni'ihau remains Hawaii's 'forbidden island' — privately owned and largely closed to outsiders, making location shooting nearly impossible.
The real 'Ni'ihau Incident' was classified for decades because military officials feared it would fuel internment camp support.
US
GB
