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Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"A fast-paced debut...Espionage buffs will savor this vibrant account." — Publishers Weekly
A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; a Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that would change the world forever. Scrutinizing long-buried historical documents, NCIS star Mark Harmon and co-author Leon Carroll, a former NCIS Special Agent, have brought forth a true-life NCIS story of deception, discovery, and danger.
Hawaii, 1941. War clouds with Japan are gathering and the islands of Hawaii have become battlegrounds of spies, intelligence agents, and military officials - with the island's residents caught between them. Toiling in the shadows are Douglas Wada, the only Japanese American agent in naval intelligence, and Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information on the U.S. fleet.
Douglas Wada's experiences in his native Honolulu include posing undercover as a newspaper reporter, translating wiretaps on the Japanese Consulate, and interrogating America's first captured POW of World War II, a submarine officer found on the beach. Takeo Yoshikawa is a Japanese spy operating as a junior diplomat with the consulate who is collecting vital information that goes straight to Admiral Yamamoto. Their dueling stories anchor Ghosts of Honolulu's gripping depiction of the world-changing cat and mouse games played between Japanese and US military intelligence agents (and a mercenary Nazi) in Hawaii before the outbreak of the second world war.
Also caught in the upheaval are Honolulu's innocent residents - including Douglas Wada's father - who endure the war's anti-Japanese fervor and a cadre of intelligence professionals who must prevent Hawaii from adopting the same destructive mass internments as California.
Ghosts of Honolulu depicts the incredible high stakes game of naval intelligence and the need to define what is real and what only appears to be real.
"A fast-paced debut...Espionage buffs will savor this vibrant account." — Publishers Weekly
A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; a Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that would change the world forever. Scrutinizing long-buried historical documents, NCIS star Mark Harmon and co-author Leon Carroll, a former NCIS Special Agent, have brought forth a true-life NCIS story of deception, discovery, and danger.
Hawaii, 1941. War clouds with Japan are gathering and the islands of Hawaii have become battlegrounds of spies, intelligence agents, and military officials - with the island's residents caught between them. Toiling in the shadows are Douglas Wada, the only Japanese American agent in naval intelligence, and Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information on the U.S. fleet.
Douglas Wada's experiences in his native Honolulu include posing undercover as a newspaper reporter, translating wiretaps on the Japanese Consulate, and interrogating America's first captured POW of World War II, a submarine officer found on the beach. Takeo Yoshikawa is a Japanese spy operating as a junior diplomat with the consulate who is collecting vital information that goes straight to Admiral Yamamoto. Their dueling stories anchor Ghosts of Honolulu's gripping depiction of the world-changing cat and mouse games played between Japanese and US military intelligence agents (and a mercenary Nazi) in Hawaii before the outbreak of the second world war.
Also caught in the upheaval are Honolulu's innocent residents - including Douglas Wada's father - who endure the war's anti-Japanese fervor and a cadre of intelligence professionals who must prevent Hawaii from adopting the same destructive mass internments as California.
Ghosts of Honolulu depicts the incredible high stakes game of naval intelligence and the need to define what is real and what only appears to be real.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 457 reviews
August 14, 2024
I first became aware of this book when actor, Mark Harmon was in an interview around the time he announced his retirement from his CBS NCIS series, as the popular, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He tells of how he was writing and researching this book with his technical adviser, retired NCIS veteran Leon Carroll, Jr. Because of his experience on the show, he wanted to go back and find out more about how the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) came to be.
He didn’t realize then, how this was to become a passion project and that it would take him through piles of research back to WWII.
Which truly is the beginning. Because that beginning becomes a true story of a big crime – the Japanese attack that ignited World War II, and how these early days of what use to be known as the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) would eventually birth itself into what is now known as NCIS.
And with any story, there is a hero. And this hero is ONI spy, Douglas Wada, Hawaiian born, to Japanese immigrant parents. He was recruited specifically to sleuth out Japan’s spies in Honolulu. Unbeknownst to Wada, he actually did see the smoke on that fateful day of December 7, 1941, but it was the person working at the lighthouse that announced to him that the attack had actually happened. Still Wada was the first Japanese American ever to work in intelligence in American government, and he now had a job to do. Notify everyone else!
Also within the story is Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information on the U.S. fleet. Their dueling stories anchor the gripping depiction of the outbreak and upheaval of the beginnings of WWII stateside.
Reviewing long-buried historical documents to bring forward truths not before known, the authors provide this inside view of history.
And through their lens, as readers we come to discover…Deception. Danger. High stakes. Naval intelligence in its infancy.
That even as a non-fiction story, this one is a fast-paced, interesting page-turner.
One last thing, for those of you who are fans of the television program, NCIS, if you haven’t already wondered…
The character of NCIS Director Leon Vance, who is played by American actor Rocky Carroll (no relation to the co-author, Leon Carroll) is partly named after him. Another interesting tidbit, as the character, he also chews on a toothpick, which is inspired by Carroll’s real-life habit.
4.5 stars rounded up.
He didn’t realize then, how this was to become a passion project and that it would take him through piles of research back to WWII.
Which truly is the beginning. Because that beginning becomes a true story of a big crime – the Japanese attack that ignited World War II, and how these early days of what use to be known as the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) would eventually birth itself into what is now known as NCIS.
And with any story, there is a hero. And this hero is ONI spy, Douglas Wada, Hawaiian born, to Japanese immigrant parents. He was recruited specifically to sleuth out Japan’s spies in Honolulu. Unbeknownst to Wada, he actually did see the smoke on that fateful day of December 7, 1941, but it was the person working at the lighthouse that announced to him that the attack had actually happened. Still Wada was the first Japanese American ever to work in intelligence in American government, and he now had a job to do. Notify everyone else!
Also within the story is Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information on the U.S. fleet. Their dueling stories anchor the gripping depiction of the outbreak and upheaval of the beginnings of WWII stateside.
Reviewing long-buried historical documents to bring forward truths not before known, the authors provide this inside view of history.
And through their lens, as readers we come to discover…Deception. Danger. High stakes. Naval intelligence in its infancy.
That even as a non-fiction story, this one is a fast-paced, interesting page-turner.
One last thing, for those of you who are fans of the television program, NCIS, if you haven’t already wondered…
The character of NCIS Director Leon Vance, who is played by American actor Rocky Carroll (no relation to the co-author, Leon Carroll) is partly named after him. Another interesting tidbit, as the character, he also chews on a toothpick, which is inspired by Carroll’s real-life habit.
4.5 stars rounded up.
November 21, 2023
I always take a slight pause before picking up a history book which has an actor or pundit listed as a co-author. Luckily, I can confirm that Mark Harmon (from NCIS but more importantly, Summer School) and Leon Carroll do a great job with Ghosts of Honolulu.
The subtitle of the book is a bit misleading. While it sounds like this is a spy vs. spy espionage thriller, this book is more about the shifting fortunes of Japanese-Americans on Oahu during World War II. There is the main character of Doug Wada, but he disappears for extensive periods of time in a short book. That said, the book is still a great read and it covers a lot of ground.
There is one criticism I have which can either be a nitpick or a deal-breaker depending on your adherence to the tenets of non-fiction. There are at least two places in the book where the authors point out they "dramatized" a conversation. This would normally drive me insane, but the authors do have footnotes explaining where the information comes from and that the conversations are not made up from nothing. If you are a casual history reader, you won't notice and will enjoy the book immensely. For the history nerds who see this as sacrilege (I am usually in this camp), these sections are slight and do not come from nowhere. The footnotes are extensive throughout the book. Quite frankly, the authors should have never bothered as the narrative would have been strong even without the dramatizations.
This is a great, fast-paced, and interesting book for anyone who likes a good story even if you aren't a full-on history nerd.
The subtitle of the book is a bit misleading. While it sounds like this is a spy vs. spy espionage thriller, this book is more about the shifting fortunes of Japanese-Americans on Oahu during World War II. There is the main character of Doug Wada, but he disappears for extensive periods of time in a short book. That said, the book is still a great read and it covers a lot of ground.
There is one criticism I have which can either be a nitpick or a deal-breaker depending on your adherence to the tenets of non-fiction. There are at least two places in the book where the authors point out they "dramatized" a conversation. This would normally drive me insane, but the authors do have footnotes explaining where the information comes from and that the conversations are not made up from nothing. If you are a casual history reader, you won't notice and will enjoy the book immensely. For the history nerds who see this as sacrilege (I am usually in this camp), these sections are slight and do not come from nowhere. The footnotes are extensive throughout the book. Quite frankly, the authors should have never bothered as the narrative would have been strong even without the dramatizations.
This is a great, fast-paced, and interesting book for anyone who likes a good story even if you aren't a full-on history nerd.
December 10, 2023
I learned about a piece history regarding World War II that I had limited knowledge about; Japan’s espionage behind and planning for the attack on Pearl Harbor. This is clearly well researched but the writing style is hard to follow and there are too many people (many ancillary) mentioned and there are many places, making this hard to follow and not an easy read.
December 2, 2023
Very interesting history but writing style lacks good storytelling. It is hard to follow all of the characters other than the main one.
April 10, 2024
Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll have produced a well written and well researched book of events in and around Pearl Harbor before, during and after the attack. Their research examines the historical roots of NCIS. It is both interesting and informative. One of my relatives served in the Army at this time so I found it particularly interesting. There are many names to keep straight but dealing with that is a small price to pay. Well done!
January 9, 2024
Interesting premise, but the writing left something to be desired. I felt like I was reading a mediocre term paper rather than a well thought out work of nonfiction.
July 28, 2024
This book triggers a lot within me. Not just as a veteran and granddaughter of Navy men, but in defining who the enemy is. For how long. Dishonest policies. Ugh, struggling with a review rewrite as there’s so much this book evokes. True great historical novel. Mr. Harmon as narrator on audio doubles the pleasure.
Major fail on my part with review focus on the book. To save people from this, the book is fantastic. If you’re into history will enjoy the pieces this book adds to the World War ll canvas. Dig in and read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This will not be a typical book overview. If this type of lit peaks interest then buckle up.
From here, over share on the impact the book has on me and things that came up including other novels in the genre’ you might find interesting.
Library bought an audio copy upon request. Great way to save money to buy books not available for free. Always fun being first to borrow.
Within the info provided by me will learn a familial fact related to WWll that recently was revealed. From personal experience appreciate facts aren’t always related to those they impact in real time. Some more than 50 years passes when we learn the truth. Such as Ghosts in Honolulu reveal.
The big question, does this change our view of war? Any war? As they all have threads of repeat BS and sins of omission. Unless revealed through quality conveyance. Such as this wonderful read.
While listening to the author, Mr. Harmon, narrate, thought about who our (United States) enemies are suppose to be, Russia, China, Iraq, N. Korea, etc. Who are our friends: Germany, Japan, S. Korea, Vietnam, etc.
Ghosts of Honolulu is a clear demonstration not too long ago our enemy was Japan. Everyone disliked Germany at some point for their role in death camps of millions of people. Russians were on the same side as the United States.
Russia and the United States fought Nazi cruelty during WWll. What I find interesting today, the U.S. supports a country that is run by a Nazi mafia mentality. Hidden behind a notable leader taking direction. Sending enough money over and over that could have been used to help its own citizens.
Ghosts of Honolulu proves spy’s exist in plain sight. How easy is it today for many spies to enter America with support from cartels amidst people seeking asylum.
If someone disagrees encourage do research. Before jumping on the bandwagon. Begin with Peter Santenello’s interview of Sherriff Wilmer. This shocked and opened my eyes to how many nations are crawling through fences and no doubt not asylum seekers. How many spy’s are among us from our enemies?
https://youtu.be/GdYAYgbf5Uc?si=oYFMF...
As a veteran serving we the people meant a deep abiding respect for the nation and support of our ideals. In recent years question who our enemies are. It appears we are our own worst.
What makes an enemy? Who decides? Sometimes actions are so obvious. Bombing our nations Navy in Hawaii or in recent years NYC on September 11th.
Other nations have these same choices. Who is their enemy?
After we left Afghanistan FINALLY listened to different sides recounting how we took a roll in that land. The people weren’t our enemies and it wasn’t our job to dictate their rules. That mess was about the oil pipe lines. Do research and interview veterans posted along the pipe line. All trails lead to greed.
I can’t begin to understand why Japan thought it was a good idea to do what they did so well. Our response to conclude that attack landed two atomic bombs.
Thankfully we did an air detonation. The difference between this and land explosion is the Japan we see today my son and beautiful daughter in law visited.
Unlike the nuclear catastrophe of Chernobyl. A land detonation by accident that will never recover and still suffers the impact of that cataclysmic experience.
Despite our thoughtful bombing we killed a lot of people. A disproportionate reply to what happened in Hawaii that fateful Sunday Dec 7th, 1941 just before 8am.
Reminds me of Israel and Palestine.
Not posting this for debate. Simple comparison to remark how times go on. Enemies declared. People die. We make new enemies and friends of foes.
What’s different about this book, Ghosts of Honolulu along with others listed and no doubt others you may have read, the facts behind the memories surface. Expressing new light to the happenstance altering history.
What we hear about a war, think Ukraine, may not be what it appears initially. It never is.
Remember ‘wars of mass destruction’ turned to oil pipe lines and a trickling into does anyone remember why we continue?
We leave one place and jump into another.
War hurts everyone. Especially when it is based on rhetoric and broken promises. There is no winning team. Peace is corrupted by who started it and never really concluded by who ends it. New alliances form. New behind the curtain globalist regimes to make a dime make a new war.
Unfun fact, United States companies supported Nazi’s during WWll and including Henry Ford, “an anti-Semite and was awarded a Nazi medal, designed for “distinguished foreigners” in 1938. Ford continued to sell and make cars with Russian slave labor for American and Germans during World War II.”
Does this change one’s mind about humanity or those who support what the general consensus says was mass genocide?
👇🏼
https://www.phactual.com/8-american-c...
If you dig into research, as these authors do for Ghosts of Honolulu, will discover truths that may change perception. Though, is it too late for the lost lives?
Why mention this for a review about an untold story about Pearl Harbor and a Japanese spy?
What I notice in recent years, the world is learning truths that change the outlook of many topics of man’s inhumanity to man.
Example, consider people of African, Irish, Italian decent. Did you know the largest mass lynching in America was Italian’s killed by the order of the Louisiana Governor who went on to be a senator. And the president and people across the nation condoned this behavior toward people, like my great grandfather, who were thought to be lower than the ‘negro’. This was literally in a newspaper article.
Who made Italians white is a whole other reason I’m slow to believe anyone tooting believe in war because they say so. Or, in any topic without doing my own due diligence.
Irish and African people use to voyage over to this land in the 1600’s in exchange for servitude. Form communities. Marry. Raise families. Until, race was created to divide for profit in 1676 following Bacon’s Rebellion. Fun but sad short film on this history they didn’t teach in school 👇🏼
https://youtu.be/ppvbBY3ce8Y?si=ZI4Il...
Even though history changes with new revelations, a lot is lost. It’s books like Ghosts of Honolulu that shed a deep light of facts in a world of changing narratives. Including truth once buried intentionally or not.
What I noticed in recent times, a lot of people jumped on the Ukraine bandwagon without hesitation or research. I understand why this happens. If most would pause. Take a deep breath. Dig into due diligence would find meaning and reasons to perhaps say, ‘wait a minute.’
In about two years we left Afghanistan and jumped into multiple conflicts without batting an eye.
How much did we really know beyond propaganda? The dust is settling. People get reality and truth from research. Now, how often do we hear about the war and how much do we hear about funding?
Political black mail between Ukraine and our own boarder. Why are we combining them?
Except for Antarctica, the other six continents are invading America through our southern boarder. Most not for asylum. Supposedly to live the American Dream and others for nefarious reasons. How many 9/11 style pipeline of people are there? We won’t know until someone dies and buildings blow up. It’s the espionage that’s most dangerous.
This book triggers an explosion of fact shrapnel, for me. Maybe for you. Collectively our information, personal perspective, and concerns are distinctive. As citizens one certainty is we are being invaded uncontrollably. Unlike this books conclusions how will we protect our country and its citizenry from bad actors?
Many people this hurts are the legit asylum seekers. And, people needing work visa’s to pick watermelon for $15 an hour. I’ve seen interviews of farmers who cannot get enough workers to help harvest and many fields are going to waste of produce we could eat.
We may not like the last five or six years of politics or narrative. But, ya gotta admit, more people than ever are informing themselves of facts. Which helps us all learn about history. With the hope our children will grow up. Become leaders. Prevent future forever war hopping.
As a veteran who’s a research geek do my best to learn. Rather than jump to conclusions pause, research. Interview people. Listen. Ask questions. Do my best to improve what I can and take time to share when the opportunity arises.
I’m sure this may turn a lot of convinced people about one narrative or prefer just a few words about why this book is excellent, or to some not.
My hope, this review inspires. Please, read other great novels about histories once unknown. Uncover truths and pass them on to generations to come.
If we want peace in the world, we must embrace mistakes. Find forgiveness. Make amends. Renew our minds. Amass an army of sensible conscientious human beings ready to change the world.
Recently watched a movie called, The Creator on Hulu.
Not to give away much, except for the point. The U.S. dubs itself the thrown to destroy AI. Asia embraces AI and creates a new shape of humanity coexisting with a peaceful mixed union of intelligence and people. A culture of peace. We the people fear and … I’m sure you can imagine the pulse and movement forward.
Throughout our history we have become unrecognizable. From what I can see from where I sit with my knowledge for understanding into wisdom of insight for the choices we make … it’s a few people deciding the measure of a reason for attack. We elect them to do so. And, we die supporting the ignorant leading the way.
This is how it feels and this book triggers the idea.
The world is crowded with a noise so deafening the only way out may be civil war or world war. The first is within and the second is the distraction will rally to support. Potentially explode from. Killing the “we the people”. Leaving the elite. Believing we are better for the take over in the long run as long as they survive and procreate a whole new world.
When twenty five states sign a letter to the President insisting Texas has the sovereignty to defend its boarder when the federal government fails its constitutional responsibility you know times are about to change.
When people are quick to ground into their laurels and forget we are one nation united the rest will be in a history book like Ghosts of Honolulu for future generations to wonder why didn’t we come together. Rather fall apart. No longer the greatest nation on the planet. The why … hope to live long enough to read this if not write it myself a very old woman :)
How I found this by Mr Harmon …
Unique way discovered this read. Upon son and daughter in law meeting the author a few days before the book launch. In route back from overseas to do interviews. Mr Harmon is her second favorite actor (Alan Alda 1st) and it was her birthday.
The next week saw Mr Harmon being interviewed about the subject. Asked the library to buy the audio. I’m the first loan 🙌🏼
My hope is sharing other comparative lit options and deeply moving history born of family who served will inspire anyone who is interested in hero’s made in America. Plus, highlighting an up and coming release sure to wet the imagination of anyone alive the previous few decades who remember.
What peaked my interest in Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr’s Ghosts of Honolulu: a Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor most is how much I liked Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: a World War ll Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.
Donald Stratton’s All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor’s First Hand Account of Pearl Harbor.
Valor in Action: The Medal of Honor Paintings of Col Charles Waterhouse. His daughter published in his memory. Scored an autographed copy 🙌🏼
David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. This book in particular highlights the backstory to a renown United States organization. As does Ghosts of Honolulu on how NCIS emerged.
If this type of history quenches your satiation for great lit consider Jack Carr’s up coming release, Targeted: The 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing being released in 2024. Check here for the official updates of this soon to be best seller.
https://www.officialjackcarr.com/tag/...
If ya don’t know, Mr Carr is the author of the story that created the successful Terminal List series.
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr Carr last year and let me say, he’s the real deal not just as a thoughtful author who served as a Navy Seal. But, his backstory as the son of a librarian gave him tremendous footing as a someday author following his retirement from the military.
What makes him unique is the team of people who he uses as sounding boards and content editors for the story lines.
His non-fiction deeply researched soon to be released book will improve the standard of epic lit, to be sure.
My interest sparked in this genre with Unbroken. The author was being interviewed on a news broadcast about the time the book released and the main subject, Louis Lamporini, died shortly before finishing the book sadly.
Then I tried another with All the Gallant Men finished on D Day of all moments. Excellent.
Then, a bomb dropped from the Marine’s and government a few years ago. They acknowledged my son’s paternal uncle was officially named the man in several photos raising the Flag at Iwo Jima. He was on patrol when they captured Mount Suribachi. Raised the first U.S. flag. Next, one of six Marines who raised the larger replacement flag on the mountain top as shown in the third raising to pose for the photographer. That became the iconic picture and statue we all adore.
During the Battle of Iwo Jima, he was a member of the patrol that captured the top of Mount Suribachi and raised the first U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. He is one of the six Marines who raised the larger replacement flag on the mountaintop the same day as shown in the iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.”
Shortly after learned both grandfathers served as Navy men. One as a UDT or Underwater Demolition Team member. This group was renamed Navy Seals by President Kennedy.
Now, as one might imagine, am a wee bit obsessed.
Toss in my third cousin became President Lincoln’s sculptor of his bust. Upon his untimely death finished without her model. Then, became the first woman at 18 hired by Congress to sculpt the Lincoln Memorial.
Whether you discover history on TiK Tok and pursue more details or find this book by Mr Harmon and Carroll your cup of tea. What is most important, you seek the facts. Before climbing a top a conclusion fed by a narrative that is as malnourishing as a much of what the grocery story sells.
We buy what is offered. Why not seek what feeds the soul. Inspires the mind. Free’s our spirits to peace.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh is my screen saver.
Last year Mindfulness was the word for 2024. Peace was 2023.
This year, Consecrate to my creator each day anew. And, Freedom … by faith.
Please, choose knowledge to understand wisdom for insight. Then, make a choice.
Within this arrive from kindness and peace. The world around you will change. We are the seed for the forests, orchards, unicorns of change.
Although people attribute the quote ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ to Ghandi.
What he ACTUALLY said,
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Books like Ghosts of Honolulu inspire me to be mindful of history. No man or woman is truly thine enemy. The destruction evolves from within. No one is blameless to begin. Though can be in the end with redemption. How is up to each of us and our creator.
Thank you for reading this far. Hope you find a seed of joy and peace within to spread afar.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🇺🇸
Major fail on my part with review focus on the book. To save people from this, the book is fantastic. If you’re into history will enjoy the pieces this book adds to the World War ll canvas. Dig in and read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This will not be a typical book overview. If this type of lit peaks interest then buckle up.
From here, over share on the impact the book has on me and things that came up including other novels in the genre’ you might find interesting.
Library bought an audio copy upon request. Great way to save money to buy books not available for free. Always fun being first to borrow.
Within the info provided by me will learn a familial fact related to WWll that recently was revealed. From personal experience appreciate facts aren’t always related to those they impact in real time. Some more than 50 years passes when we learn the truth. Such as Ghosts in Honolulu reveal.
The big question, does this change our view of war? Any war? As they all have threads of repeat BS and sins of omission. Unless revealed through quality conveyance. Such as this wonderful read.
While listening to the author, Mr. Harmon, narrate, thought about who our (United States) enemies are suppose to be, Russia, China, Iraq, N. Korea, etc. Who are our friends: Germany, Japan, S. Korea, Vietnam, etc.
Ghosts of Honolulu is a clear demonstration not too long ago our enemy was Japan. Everyone disliked Germany at some point for their role in death camps of millions of people. Russians were on the same side as the United States.
Russia and the United States fought Nazi cruelty during WWll. What I find interesting today, the U.S. supports a country that is run by a Nazi mafia mentality. Hidden behind a notable leader taking direction. Sending enough money over and over that could have been used to help its own citizens.
Ghosts of Honolulu proves spy’s exist in plain sight. How easy is it today for many spies to enter America with support from cartels amidst people seeking asylum.
If someone disagrees encourage do research. Before jumping on the bandwagon. Begin with Peter Santenello’s interview of Sherriff Wilmer. This shocked and opened my eyes to how many nations are crawling through fences and no doubt not asylum seekers. How many spy’s are among us from our enemies?
https://youtu.be/GdYAYgbf5Uc?si=oYFMF...
As a veteran serving we the people meant a deep abiding respect for the nation and support of our ideals. In recent years question who our enemies are. It appears we are our own worst.
What makes an enemy? Who decides? Sometimes actions are so obvious. Bombing our nations Navy in Hawaii or in recent years NYC on September 11th.
Other nations have these same choices. Who is their enemy?
After we left Afghanistan FINALLY listened to different sides recounting how we took a roll in that land. The people weren’t our enemies and it wasn’t our job to dictate their rules. That mess was about the oil pipe lines. Do research and interview veterans posted along the pipe line. All trails lead to greed.
I can’t begin to understand why Japan thought it was a good idea to do what they did so well. Our response to conclude that attack landed two atomic bombs.
Thankfully we did an air detonation. The difference between this and land explosion is the Japan we see today my son and beautiful daughter in law visited.
Unlike the nuclear catastrophe of Chernobyl. A land detonation by accident that will never recover and still suffers the impact of that cataclysmic experience.
Despite our thoughtful bombing we killed a lot of people. A disproportionate reply to what happened in Hawaii that fateful Sunday Dec 7th, 1941 just before 8am.
Reminds me of Israel and Palestine.
Not posting this for debate. Simple comparison to remark how times go on. Enemies declared. People die. We make new enemies and friends of foes.
What’s different about this book, Ghosts of Honolulu along with others listed and no doubt others you may have read, the facts behind the memories surface. Expressing new light to the happenstance altering history.
What we hear about a war, think Ukraine, may not be what it appears initially. It never is.
Remember ‘wars of mass destruction’ turned to oil pipe lines and a trickling into does anyone remember why we continue?
We leave one place and jump into another.
War hurts everyone. Especially when it is based on rhetoric and broken promises. There is no winning team. Peace is corrupted by who started it and never really concluded by who ends it. New alliances form. New behind the curtain globalist regimes to make a dime make a new war.
Unfun fact, United States companies supported Nazi’s during WWll and including Henry Ford, “an anti-Semite and was awarded a Nazi medal, designed for “distinguished foreigners” in 1938. Ford continued to sell and make cars with Russian slave labor for American and Germans during World War II.”
Does this change one’s mind about humanity or those who support what the general consensus says was mass genocide?
👇🏼
https://www.phactual.com/8-american-c...
If you dig into research, as these authors do for Ghosts of Honolulu, will discover truths that may change perception. Though, is it too late for the lost lives?
Why mention this for a review about an untold story about Pearl Harbor and a Japanese spy?
What I notice in recent years, the world is learning truths that change the outlook of many topics of man’s inhumanity to man.
Example, consider people of African, Irish, Italian decent. Did you know the largest mass lynching in America was Italian’s killed by the order of the Louisiana Governor who went on to be a senator. And the president and people across the nation condoned this behavior toward people, like my great grandfather, who were thought to be lower than the ‘negro’. This was literally in a newspaper article.
Who made Italians white is a whole other reason I’m slow to believe anyone tooting believe in war because they say so. Or, in any topic without doing my own due diligence.
Irish and African people use to voyage over to this land in the 1600’s in exchange for servitude. Form communities. Marry. Raise families. Until, race was created to divide for profit in 1676 following Bacon’s Rebellion. Fun but sad short film on this history they didn’t teach in school 👇🏼
https://youtu.be/ppvbBY3ce8Y?si=ZI4Il...
Even though history changes with new revelations, a lot is lost. It’s books like Ghosts of Honolulu that shed a deep light of facts in a world of changing narratives. Including truth once buried intentionally or not.
What I noticed in recent times, a lot of people jumped on the Ukraine bandwagon without hesitation or research. I understand why this happens. If most would pause. Take a deep breath. Dig into due diligence would find meaning and reasons to perhaps say, ‘wait a minute.’
In about two years we left Afghanistan and jumped into multiple conflicts without batting an eye.
How much did we really know beyond propaganda? The dust is settling. People get reality and truth from research. Now, how often do we hear about the war and how much do we hear about funding?
Political black mail between Ukraine and our own boarder. Why are we combining them?
Except for Antarctica, the other six continents are invading America through our southern boarder. Most not for asylum. Supposedly to live the American Dream and others for nefarious reasons. How many 9/11 style pipeline of people are there? We won’t know until someone dies and buildings blow up. It’s the espionage that’s most dangerous.
This book triggers an explosion of fact shrapnel, for me. Maybe for you. Collectively our information, personal perspective, and concerns are distinctive. As citizens one certainty is we are being invaded uncontrollably. Unlike this books conclusions how will we protect our country and its citizenry from bad actors?
Many people this hurts are the legit asylum seekers. And, people needing work visa’s to pick watermelon for $15 an hour. I’ve seen interviews of farmers who cannot get enough workers to help harvest and many fields are going to waste of produce we could eat.
We may not like the last five or six years of politics or narrative. But, ya gotta admit, more people than ever are informing themselves of facts. Which helps us all learn about history. With the hope our children will grow up. Become leaders. Prevent future forever war hopping.
As a veteran who’s a research geek do my best to learn. Rather than jump to conclusions pause, research. Interview people. Listen. Ask questions. Do my best to improve what I can and take time to share when the opportunity arises.
I’m sure this may turn a lot of convinced people about one narrative or prefer just a few words about why this book is excellent, or to some not.
My hope, this review inspires. Please, read other great novels about histories once unknown. Uncover truths and pass them on to generations to come.
If we want peace in the world, we must embrace mistakes. Find forgiveness. Make amends. Renew our minds. Amass an army of sensible conscientious human beings ready to change the world.
Recently watched a movie called, The Creator on Hulu.
Not to give away much, except for the point. The U.S. dubs itself the thrown to destroy AI. Asia embraces AI and creates a new shape of humanity coexisting with a peaceful mixed union of intelligence and people. A culture of peace. We the people fear and … I’m sure you can imagine the pulse and movement forward.
Throughout our history we have become unrecognizable. From what I can see from where I sit with my knowledge for understanding into wisdom of insight for the choices we make … it’s a few people deciding the measure of a reason for attack. We elect them to do so. And, we die supporting the ignorant leading the way.
This is how it feels and this book triggers the idea.
The world is crowded with a noise so deafening the only way out may be civil war or world war. The first is within and the second is the distraction will rally to support. Potentially explode from. Killing the “we the people”. Leaving the elite. Believing we are better for the take over in the long run as long as they survive and procreate a whole new world.
When twenty five states sign a letter to the President insisting Texas has the sovereignty to defend its boarder when the federal government fails its constitutional responsibility you know times are about to change.
When people are quick to ground into their laurels and forget we are one nation united the rest will be in a history book like Ghosts of Honolulu for future generations to wonder why didn’t we come together. Rather fall apart. No longer the greatest nation on the planet. The why … hope to live long enough to read this if not write it myself a very old woman :)
How I found this by Mr Harmon …
Unique way discovered this read. Upon son and daughter in law meeting the author a few days before the book launch. In route back from overseas to do interviews. Mr Harmon is her second favorite actor (Alan Alda 1st) and it was her birthday.
The next week saw Mr Harmon being interviewed about the subject. Asked the library to buy the audio. I’m the first loan 🙌🏼
My hope is sharing other comparative lit options and deeply moving history born of family who served will inspire anyone who is interested in hero’s made in America. Plus, highlighting an up and coming release sure to wet the imagination of anyone alive the previous few decades who remember.
What peaked my interest in Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr’s Ghosts of Honolulu: a Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor most is how much I liked Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: a World War ll Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.
Donald Stratton’s All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor’s First Hand Account of Pearl Harbor.
Valor in Action: The Medal of Honor Paintings of Col Charles Waterhouse. His daughter published in his memory. Scored an autographed copy 🙌🏼
David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. This book in particular highlights the backstory to a renown United States organization. As does Ghosts of Honolulu on how NCIS emerged.
If this type of history quenches your satiation for great lit consider Jack Carr’s up coming release, Targeted: The 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing being released in 2024. Check here for the official updates of this soon to be best seller.
https://www.officialjackcarr.com/tag/...
If ya don’t know, Mr Carr is the author of the story that created the successful Terminal List series.
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr Carr last year and let me say, he’s the real deal not just as a thoughtful author who served as a Navy Seal. But, his backstory as the son of a librarian gave him tremendous footing as a someday author following his retirement from the military.
What makes him unique is the team of people who he uses as sounding boards and content editors for the story lines.
His non-fiction deeply researched soon to be released book will improve the standard of epic lit, to be sure.
My interest sparked in this genre with Unbroken. The author was being interviewed on a news broadcast about the time the book released and the main subject, Louis Lamporini, died shortly before finishing the book sadly.
Then I tried another with All the Gallant Men finished on D Day of all moments. Excellent.
Then, a bomb dropped from the Marine’s and government a few years ago. They acknowledged my son’s paternal uncle was officially named the man in several photos raising the Flag at Iwo Jima. He was on patrol when they captured Mount Suribachi. Raised the first U.S. flag. Next, one of six Marines who raised the larger replacement flag on the mountain top as shown in the third raising to pose for the photographer. That became the iconic picture and statue we all adore.
During the Battle of Iwo Jima, he was a member of the patrol that captured the top of Mount Suribachi and raised the first U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. He is one of the six Marines who raised the larger replacement flag on the mountaintop the same day as shown in the iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.”
Shortly after learned both grandfathers served as Navy men. One as a UDT or Underwater Demolition Team member. This group was renamed Navy Seals by President Kennedy.
Now, as one might imagine, am a wee bit obsessed.
Toss in my third cousin became President Lincoln’s sculptor of his bust. Upon his untimely death finished without her model. Then, became the first woman at 18 hired by Congress to sculpt the Lincoln Memorial.
Whether you discover history on TiK Tok and pursue more details or find this book by Mr Harmon and Carroll your cup of tea. What is most important, you seek the facts. Before climbing a top a conclusion fed by a narrative that is as malnourishing as a much of what the grocery story sells.
We buy what is offered. Why not seek what feeds the soul. Inspires the mind. Free’s our spirits to peace.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh is my screen saver.
Last year Mindfulness was the word for 2024. Peace was 2023.
This year, Consecrate to my creator each day anew. And, Freedom … by faith.
Please, choose knowledge to understand wisdom for insight. Then, make a choice.
Within this arrive from kindness and peace. The world around you will change. We are the seed for the forests, orchards, unicorns of change.
Although people attribute the quote ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ to Ghandi.
What he ACTUALLY said,
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Books like Ghosts of Honolulu inspire me to be mindful of history. No man or woman is truly thine enemy. The destruction evolves from within. No one is blameless to begin. Though can be in the end with redemption. How is up to each of us and our creator.
Thank you for reading this far. Hope you find a seed of joy and peace within to spread afar.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🇺🇸
January 2, 2024
I wish this had been written by a Japanese American person, and I extra wish the audiobook had been read by a Japanese American person, bc the pronunciation gave big gaijin energy.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
March 1, 2024This was a very interesting book but I just got distracted by other books. Maybe someday I can get back to it.
November 25, 2023
Much that I didn’t know. Very well written and the forward by Tom Hanks is great!
March 27, 2024
Being a Mark Harmon fan from NCIS, I was excited to read a book he has written. To my sadness the book is not an exciting tale of spy versus spy but one of history. I think he picked an occurrence that has been discussed completely so it seemed repetitive to me.
However, I do like the documentation of the Japanese detention centers from the Japanese/Hawaiian point of view and how it differed from the Japanese people located on the West Coast. I was glad to have the difference in their loyalty, etc. presented. Overall, a good read, an easy read and worth the effort. More educational than entertaining. Enjoy.
However, I do like the documentation of the Japanese detention centers from the Japanese/Hawaiian point of view and how it differed from the Japanese people located on the West Coast. I was glad to have the difference in their loyalty, etc. presented. Overall, a good read, an easy read and worth the effort. More educational than entertaining. Enjoy.
January 6, 2024
I am an NCIS devotee. This novel about the history of the beginnings of the Naval Criminal Investigative Servies was fascinating from both the historical perspective and the human point of view. It spotlights some of the best and worst American behavior during war time and reminds us that there are always two sides to most stories. The individuals depicted represent the best of American patriots who work tirelessly to protect America while upholding the highest of American ideals. Congratulations to the authors who brought this evidence to light.
December 27, 2023
Could not stop reading. Starts with the beginning of people involved and history before WWII. Then gets into the details of what went down up to and including December 7, 1941, and what happened after. If this part of history fascinates you, you will more than likely enjoy this book.
October 12, 2024
This was a sometimes compelling retrospective about aspects of World War II-era life in Honolulu and specifically the actions of one American of Japanese Ancestry, Douglas Wada. It was presented in a narrative that while well-researched nonfiction, read like a tepid adventure novel. The issues of wartime strategies, the internment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry, and post war life were touched upon, but not fully realized, and the book left me wanting to read more about these issues. Taken at face value the book did tell us about a spy, a spy hunter, and a (probably) untold story. It was an entertaining and quick read.
December 5, 2023
This book reads like an extended term paper with its copious use of footnotes rather than endnotes documenting every statement, and its trite language. Its format suggests the outlines of a screenplay for a future movie with headings referencing the date and location before each section describing an event. People, including the central figures, pop in and out of chapters in the book with little rhyme or reason. Some disappear for long periods of time, only to appear again later when they play a role in the story. None are truly well developed with respect to their biographies although the authors rely on interviews and historical records in presenting the information.
The book often digresses from its central focus on the foundations of today’s NCIS in intelligence gathering operations in Hawaii during the period proceeding World War II to political, social and cultural issues. It tries to avoid critical subjects such as blatant racism and economic issues which underpinned the forced relocation of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, and the seizure of their homes, lands and business and lack of compensation for their losses when it touches on these subjects. Instead of using numerous available primary and secondary sources which testify to these facts, the authors blandly parrot the PR of the time about potential fifth columns threatening the U.S.
For no clear reason the book skips from 1942 and the exchange of Japanese diplomats for American diplomats to 1945 and the events preceding the end of the War with little information on what transpired during the preceding years. It subsequently proceeds to provide an overview of the activities of several key figures in the years following World War II. However, the relationship between those activities, especially those in the political and cultural realm, and the foundations of NCIS are never made clear.
Few photographs are included although it would have been helpful to have pictures of the people and places referred to in the text as they appeared during the period covered by the book, not primarily the author’s photographs of the sites at present.
As a result of these failings what could have been an interesting story about the antecedents of NCIS through the work of Naval Intelligence Officers in Hawaii during the lead up to World War II and the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, especially that of the sole Japanese American naval officer, Douglas Wada, or the cat and mouse game between American agents and Japanese spies, veers totally off-course and becomes dull and laggard.
This is another example of a book that would have been sent back for rewriting and revision to ensure that it told the story of its focal subject and the events in which he participated in a more focused manner if a celebrity author were not associated with the project.
The book often digresses from its central focus on the foundations of today’s NCIS in intelligence gathering operations in Hawaii during the period proceeding World War II to political, social and cultural issues. It tries to avoid critical subjects such as blatant racism and economic issues which underpinned the forced relocation of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, and the seizure of their homes, lands and business and lack of compensation for their losses when it touches on these subjects. Instead of using numerous available primary and secondary sources which testify to these facts, the authors blandly parrot the PR of the time about potential fifth columns threatening the U.S.
For no clear reason the book skips from 1942 and the exchange of Japanese diplomats for American diplomats to 1945 and the events preceding the end of the War with little information on what transpired during the preceding years. It subsequently proceeds to provide an overview of the activities of several key figures in the years following World War II. However, the relationship between those activities, especially those in the political and cultural realm, and the foundations of NCIS are never made clear.
Few photographs are included although it would have been helpful to have pictures of the people and places referred to in the text as they appeared during the period covered by the book, not primarily the author’s photographs of the sites at present.
As a result of these failings what could have been an interesting story about the antecedents of NCIS through the work of Naval Intelligence Officers in Hawaii during the lead up to World War II and the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, especially that of the sole Japanese American naval officer, Douglas Wada, or the cat and mouse game between American agents and Japanese spies, veers totally off-course and becomes dull and laggard.
This is another example of a book that would have been sent back for rewriting and revision to ensure that it told the story of its focal subject and the events in which he participated in a more focused manner if a celebrity author were not associated with the project.
January 24, 2024
While interesting and the account of the Pearl Harbor attack is moving, the story does only loosely follows the life and story of Douglas Wada and hardly, if at all, discusses the formation of NCIS and any role Wada might have played in that history. The book simply follows too many individuals that ends up muddying the narrative and creating an disheveled account of historical events.
May 10, 2024
An amazing book. Wow there is so much information on the attack of Pearl Harbor. What is really depressing is all the information known before the attack.
March 2, 2024
This NCIS fan enjoyed it.
November 5, 2024
Difficult to navigate with so many names to follow. Written textbook style. Would love to learn more about Wada and Yoshikawa and wish this book spent more time on the two of them and less time on so many others.
February 27, 2024
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this book more but found the first 1/2 of the book to jump topics and settings frequently making it hard to pick up a cohesive thread. It may have been easier to follow in written form than as an audiobook. The sections describing the actual attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent fallout on the Japanese American citizens of Hawaii were quite interesting and flowed much better.
November 25, 2023
Interesting facts that I knew nothing of. But the writing a bit of a struggle. I did get something out of it though.
October 23, 2024
Just ok.
August 30, 2024
I finished this two days ago, but I’ve had trouble figuring out how to rate this. It was really well written, but it wasn’t what I expected and definitely read like a history textbook. I don’t wanna rate this book too low because it wasn’t bad at all, I just didn’t enjoy it. It was definitely not written for me. I thought we were going to closely follow the story of Douglas Watta, but we didn’t end up doing that and he was only in a third of the book. It felt a little misrepresented imo. Good book, wasn’t for me 2⭐️ I’m sure history fans will love this though
67/100
67/100
February 19, 2024
I don’t read a lot of nonfiction but have read many historical fiction World War II books. This was just too much factual information and my mind would wander but it is Interesting to learn about what was happening in Hawaii prior to the Pearl Harbor attack and how Japanese Americans were treated. And who doesn’t like listening to Gibbs? (Mark Harmon narrates the audiobook)
June 15, 2024
Don’t get me wrong, this is a very interesting book that was well-researched, but it only gets three stars. The editing is horrible, honestly, and I have to ask if anyone actually read it at all before publication. This happens so often now I have to ask what’s going on. It used to be just really crappy romances that had this level of poor editing, now I’m finding it across all genres.
December 29, 2023
Too many people with their stories being told at the same time making it difficult to follow. Also as I was reading, I just visually played Pearl Harbor (movie) in my mind which helped support the story.
January 31, 2024
Not a great writing style. It took half the book to get into it and still not a smooth story. The characters were also not fully developed
It could have been so good based on the true story that many do not know about.
It could have been so good based on the true story that many do not know about.
January 15, 2024
Writing style made it very confusing. I didn’t know what was happening most of the time. Too many different people. Hard to follow. Did not like this at all.
March 19, 2024
What happened in the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941? We get a bit of insight into the events leading up to the attack and the resulting war crimes trial in Japan. This was apparently going on around the same time as the Nuremberg trial of the Nazis. The United States trained trusted Japanese Americans to be spies and translators. One man in particular was Douglas Wada one of the intelligence officers serving in Hawai'i. His work helped American WWII mostly with what Japan was doing concerning the attack on Pearl Harbor. After this was over the Intelligence office that he worked for morphed into NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), created February 4, 1966. One of the authors of this book, Leon Carroll, Jr, was a Special Agent with NCIS and became an advisor to the television series that was later created. The other author, Mark Harmon, played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, on the original NCIS.
I borrowed this book from the library, and will soon purchase a copy because I want to learn more about this topic. It presented some interesting facts that I wish to explore further.
I borrowed this book from the library, and will soon purchase a copy because I want to learn more about this topic. It presented some interesting facts that I wish to explore further.
March 10, 2024
A very quick audiobook. The authors included a lot of location names that were all over the island. Since I live in Hawaii and I am very familiar with the locations mentioned, I didn’t become confused but I could definitely see myself getting overwhelmed and lost at the constant mention of different locations and military bases. I enjoyed learning about a piece of history that I am not too familiar with. I have been the the Arizona Memorial quite a few times and have a pretty decent understanding of the history of the Pearl Harbor attack, but Japanese Spies and the way the Japanese were treated in the US after Pearl Harbor is something I haven’t heard too much about. I did find the book to be a little surface level and lacking a lot of details. I could have definitely read a much longer and more detailed version of this book. I felt like it left a lot to be desired. Overall, it was a very quick and interesting read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone planning on visiting Pearl Harbor.
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