Pearl Harbor

Celebrations and Negotiations

Because people from all over the world immigrated to Hawaii, the islands were home to a wide variety of cultural celebrations. People of all ethnicities celebrated Chinese New Year, Hinamatsuri, and attended luaus. A luau is a traditional Hawaiian celebration which marks a special occasion such as a first birthday, wedding, or graduation. People would eat traditional Hawaiian dishes such as poi, pork made in an imu, and fresh seafood. There was traditional Hawaiian music and hula dancing.

The respect and acceptance of different cultures was part of the spirit of aloha. In fact, Lei Day was created in 1927. A lei is a handmade garland of flowers, leaves, shells, or feathers, and is the symbol of aloha. Islanders took care in gathering materials and weaving each lei piece by piece. They believed the mana, or spirit, or the person who created it is woven into the lei. And when a lei was given to someone else, the creator was giving a piece of themself.

Despite the aloha spirit on the islands, WWII was still being fought on the other side of the world. The English and French were in a fierce battle against Germany, Italy, and Japan. The U.S. government did not want to enter the war, but they were also not getting along with the Japanese government.

Japan was a small, but mighty country. Its population and economy was growing. In 1937, Japan invaded China and declared war. The U.S. didn’t want to go to war with Japan, but they wanted to help China. So in 1940, the U.S. decided they would stop buying goods that Japan was selling, like gasoline, oil, and steel. This made the Japanese government very angry. The U.S. and Japan tried to negotiate, but since Japan was still trying to take land from China, the U.S. continued to refuse Japanese goods.

Their relationship grew more tense, and the U.S. Navy sent a large fleet of ships to Pearl Harbor from Southern California. This gave the navy a better position to defend the West Coast of the U.S. if needed. Japan saw these economic and military moves as a threat, and Japan’s new army minister, General Hideki Tojo wanted to take action against the U.S. What would that action be? Were the two countries headed for war?

Nanea’s Story

After Thanksgiving dinner, Lily, Donna, and Nanea take turns washing, rinsing, and drying the dishes. They don’t mind this chore; they’re laughing and telling jokes. Nanea can hear the adults talking in the living room until their voices go quiet. Nanea tiptoes across the kitchen and leans against the doorway.

Donna’s dad is saying that negotiations with the Japanese aren’t going well. Mom insists they have to go well. If they don’t cooperate, it’d be madness. Tutu Kane, Nanea’s grandfather, agrees.

Lily’s father says he’s worried, but Lily’s mother snaps back that everything will be fine. Donna’s dad responds that if negotiations continue to do poorly, he’s not sure if they’ll be able to stay out of the war. Mom, however, is confident that the diplomats will work things out. The U.S. doesn’t want to fight Japan, and Japan doesn’t want to go to war with the U.S.

Nanea hurries back to the sink. She asks Lily and Donna if they heard what the adults were discussing. Donna says she doesn’t listen to any of the talk about war. Lily is curious, though. Nanea wonders if she should tell her friends that Uncle Fudge is worried. But, grown-ups worry all the time about stuff that doesn’t happen.

Eventually, she responds that it’s nothing. Everything will be fine. And she drains the water from the sink.