Rumors

In 1941, the main source of information was newspapers. There was no "instant" communication or televising of a war. Facts traveled slowly, from person to person, and often, like a game of telephone, the facts were mutilated. You've got to picture a community in fear of being invaded by a ruthless enemy. The telephone lines were down, the radio broadcasts were being censored by the Military Governor, martial law was imposed. There were blackouts, curfews, and rationing. Smoke from fires from Pearl Harbor smoldered for weeks, and the rubble of civilian damage remained for months. Rumors flew.

There were rumors of mass deportation of Japanese to Kahoolawe where they would be left to starve. (Check the article on Kahoolawe at wikipedia. It is an unihabited island which cannot independently support human life.)

Rumors of Japanese being interned on Molokai at the Leprosy Settlement.(If you'd like to read more about the leprosy settlement, read about Kalaupapa. There are several excellent books about the subject including Gavan Daws's HOLY MAN, O.A.Bushnell's MOLOKAI, and D.N. Buckingham's MY NAME IS LOA.)

Rumors of Filipinos sharpening machete in the fields to kill Japanese workers.

Rumors of the water supply of Oahu being poisoned.

Rumor of mass evacuation of all Japanese to concentration camps caused frantic buying of trunks, suitcases and clothing.

Rumors that all the Japanese maids who worked at Pearl Harbor officers’ families were spies.

Rumors that arrows were cut in the cane fields to show the Japanese attack pilots the direction to Pearl Harbor.

Rumors that one of the Japanese pilots shot down during the December 7, 1941 attack was wearing a McKinley High School ring.

All the above were false.

PHOTO: A sake brewery posted both this poster and the one posted on January 12, 2009 to support the anti-rumor campaign.