Author Interview with Tere Tremaine Fase
December 7, 1941: A Week of Terror
May 2011
Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
PBR: Today we have the pleasure of talking to Tere
Tremaine Fase, a native of Hawai’i, and author of the new book, A Week of Terror. Tere, thank you so much for spending some
time with us.
TTF: Thank you.
PBR: I can’t help but notice your passion for
history, and I have since learned that being a historian runs in your family. Can you please tell us about that?
TTF: Yes. My
grandfather, David Malo Kupihea, also a Historian, was the grand-nephew of
David Malo, one of Hawai’is first historians during the reign of the Kamehameha
Dynasty.
PBR: When in your life did you begin to learn
about the incident involving the downed Japanese airman, and the events you
wrote about in your book?
TTF: In 1986, I read
an article about the tragedies that occurred on Ni’ihau, the smallest of the
inhabited islands in the State of Hawai’i, and the amazing stamina of the
villagers as they struggled to survive the threats made to them by Airman
Shigenori Nishikaichi, a pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
PBR: To what extent has your research been
different from others that have written about the incident?
TTF: Because little
was known about the island of Ni’ihau, or the reason why it was called the
‘forbidden’ isle, information about their lifestyle was very difficult to
find. After nearly twelve years of intensive research, the true but tragic story that occurred on
the island of Ni’ihau during the week of December , 1941, was verified by a
descendant of the first owner of the island.
PBR: The downed airman Shigenori Nishikaichi had
secret documents in his possession that, of course, were one of the pivotal
points of the story. Where are those
documents now?
TTF: They can be found in the Military Archives of the
United States Army, Navy, and Air Force.
PBR: This story is truly riveting as truth is
known now about much of what has happened. This book represents a historical record of
such an important event. Do you plan to
tell other stories about other significant historical events in future writing?
TTF: Most likely.
PBR: What has been the reaction to your book
within the Hawaiian Historical Society?
TTF: Shocked,
surprised, happy to know the true story about the island they only knew as the
‘forbidden’ island.
PBR: Again, thank you Tere for your time, and we
wish you the most success with A Week of
Terror.
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