Royal Hawaiian Army

The Royal Hawaiian Army was created by the Japanese authorities occupying Hawaii. Initially a purely ceremonial organization, King Stanley Owana Laanui insisted that the Army receive functional weapons. As it became clear that the United States was going to invade Hawaii again in 1943, the Japanese complied, grateful for the extra help.

When U.S. forces invaded in summer of 1943, the Royal Hawaiian Army's response proved to be mixed. Many units fought just as tenaciously as the Japanese did, often to the death, refusing to come back under the rule of the haoles. Others, realizing their limitations, surrendered after token resistence.