On7December1941,JapanesefighterpilotNishikaichicrash-landedontheHawaiianislandofNiihauafterparticipatingintheattackofPearlHarbor.Unawareoftheattackbutsuspicious,theislanderstookhimintocustodywhiletreatinghimwithhospitality.
AfewJapanesepeoplelivedonNiihau,andaftercommunicatingwithNishikaichiandlearningofthePearlHarborattack,theyhelpedhimtoescape.Armedwithashotgunandapistol,theyterrorisedtheislanders.On13December,Nishikaichishotavillagerthreetimes:inthegroin,stomach,andupperleg.ThevillagerthenpickedNishikachiupandthrewhimagainstastonewall.HiswifebashedNishikachiintheheadwitharock,andthevillagerslithisthroatwithahuntingknife.
一九四一年十二月七日，日本戰機飛行員西開地參與偷襲珍珠港之後，緊急降落夏威夷的尼豪島。島民還未知道偷襲事件，但起了疑心，一面殷勤款待，一面把他拘留。
島上有幾個日本居民，和西開地交談之後，知道了偷襲事，於是協助他脫身。他們憑着一支獵槍和一把手槍，用恐怖手段對付島民。十二月十三日，西開地向一名村民開了三槍，打中鼠蹊、肚子、大腿。那村民奮力把他抱起，擲向石牆；村民的妻子則舉起大石，砸他頭顱。最後，那村民用獵刀割破他喉嚨。
【注】日本今有西開地紀念碑，說「其光輝事迹永垂不朽」。