How I Got Started

In 1999, I was a librarian at Windward Community College. Around December 7, a colleague of mine, Nanette Napolean Purnell was giving a talk about the civilian dead of Pear Harbor. I had a vague interest in the topic, but I really went to the program to support Nannette--that forty-five minute presentation changed my life.

Nanette began by reciting facts: As a result of the December 7, 1941 attack, there were 1,143 wounded and 2,341 persons killed. Among the deceased were 1,998 Navy personnel, 109 Marine, 233 Army and Army Air Corps personnel and between 48 and 71 civilians.

OK, OK, I sat there, thinking of what I was going to make for dinner. I tried to absorb the enormity of the tragedy, and the numbers she was reciting as actual individuals. But, I couldn't the war seemed like it happened one hundred years ago. It was my father's generation's war.

I knew a little about World War II. I had visited the Arizona Memorial, and my husband was a career Marine Officer. I knew people who had been killed in the line of duty. But they were real people, people I knew. "2,341 persons killed" on December 7, 1941 was only a number.

Nanette went on. She said, "The National Park Service lists 48 civilian dead at the Peal Harbor Memorial. Of those, 32 are men, four are women, and 12 are children."

Children? When I heard children, I perked up. Then Nanette showed slides of downtown Honolulu. I never knew it was "bombed."

Nanette told stories about women my age whose children were killed. Almost all civilian casualties were casualties, not of Japanese bombs as was originally thought, but of shrapnel from U.S. Navy. It didn't matter how they died to me--it's a sin against nature to bury a child.

She told the story of Gussie Ornellas who lost two daughters, a brother and a nephew. I couldn't imagine a more tragic story, until I heard about the Hirasaki family and the Cherry Blossom Saimin Stand. Then there were the Adams and Mc Cabe men, their nephew David Kahookelewho were killed on the way to Pearl Harbor. They were on Judd Street, in front of the home of the Faufata family, when their car was hit by an anti-aircraft shell. All three men were killed. Shrapnel from their car flew toward the house and killed 12-year old Matilda Faufata, standing on her porch.

I won't go on with the stories of the dead. They're too hard to absorb. As I post blogs and intersperse them with quieter, joyful posts.

PHOTO: Gussie Ornellas

Here are the facts on the civilian dead as I have collected:

The first report of civilian casualties was in the Second Extra of the December 7 Honolulu Star Bulletin. Nine casualties were listed, not all were named. Some were referred to simply as, “Unidentified female, 30 to 40; Unidentified, puncture wound left temple; Portuguese girl, 10 years, Caucasian male, 35; Japanese girl, unidentified, age about 9, fur collar on coat only identification.”

The headline on the Star Bulletin’s Third Extra was “Deaths Are Mounting.” In that edition the paper was estimating the military death toll to be “over 400.” That was the last newspaper headline to mention military casualties in terms of numbers.

There is no agreed upon number of civilians who died. The range is between 35 and 71. The National Park Service lists 48 civilian dead at the Peal Harbor Memorial. Of those, 32 are men, four are women, and 12 are children.

Some list Mr. James Akana who was murdered by fellow Office of Civilian Defense Fire Wardens who mistook him for an enemy parachutist.

Some lists include the six Japanese fishermen who were killed by the U.S. Navy because their fishing sampans were mistaken for Japanese spy boats.

Some lists exclude Philip Eldred because, although he was a Hawaii resident, he was an active member of the Hawaiian Air Department.

If you would like to see the complete list, I will post them as CIVLIAN DEAD APPENDIX LIST.