David Akui

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Corporal David M. Akui, a member of the 298th Infantry of the Hawaii National Guard made history when he captured the first Japanese prisoner of war taken by American forces during World War II on Oahu, Hawaii in the early morning hours, less than a day after the Japanese attacks on the army and naval bases at Pearl Harbor on this island,

His unit was deployed to guard the beach near Bellows (Air) Field when, in the darkness, he spotted someone coming out of the water. Akui challenged the man and ordered him to halt and lie down. While covering his prisoner with his rifle, he telephoned the Officer of the Day to report the incident.

The stranger was quickly taken into custody and turned out to be Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, the commander of one of the five two-man "midget" Japanese submarines that were supposed to be used in the Pearl Harbor attacks. Sakamaki's sub had been hit and damaged by American depth charges outside the harbor entrance, later forcing it to surface. It was found in the morning floating near the shore, close to where he was captured. The other crewman was found dead. Akui, who became an instant hero in Hawaii, served throughout the war. His service included being a member of the famed "Merrill's Marauders" fighting the Japanese in Burma. He returned to the Hawaii Guard after the war and retired as a master sergeant.