American Experience

The Island Murder

Passport Season 30 Episode 6 | 52m 57s

In the summer 1931, Honolulu's tropical tranquility was shattered when a young Navy wife made a drastic allegation of rape against five nonwhite islanders. What unfolded in the following days and weeks was a racially-charged murder case that would make headlines across the nation, enrage Hawai'i's native population, and galvanize the island's law enforcers and the nation's social elite.

Aired: 04/17/18

Expires: 04/16/21

Rating: TV-PG

Video has closed captioning.

Problems Playing Video?

Closed Captioning

Episode Links

Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Consumer Cellular. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

More Episodes

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Eugenics Crusade

American Experience

The Eugenics Crusade

The Eugenics Crusade tells the story of the campaign to breed a “better” American race,

S30 Ep11 | 1h 53m 12s

The Eugenics Crusade

S30 Ep11 | 1h 53m 12s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Circus, Part 2Passport

American Experience

The Circus, Part 2

Revisit the heyday of America’s traveling circus and meet the showmen who created it.

S30 Ep10 | 1h 53m 21s

The Circus, Part 2

S30 Ep10 | 1h 53m 21s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Circus, Part 1Passport

American Experience

The Circus, Part 1

Explore the early days of this popular, influential and distinctly American entertainment.

S30 Ep9 | 1h 51m 36s

The Circus, Part 1

S30 Ep9 | 1h 51m 36s

Video thumbnail: American Experience RFKPassport

American Experience

RFK

As RFK began to move beyond the shadow of his brother, he, too, was assassinated.

S30 Ep8 | 1h 51m 21s

RFK

S30 Ep8 | 1h 51m 21s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Chinese Exclusion Act

American Experience

The Chinese Exclusion Act

The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act remained in force for more than 60 years.

S30 Ep7 | 1h 51m 54s

The Chinese Exclusion Act

S30 Ep7 | 1h 51m 54s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Island MurderPassport

Now Showing

American Experience

The Island Murder

Honolulu's tranquility was shattered when a Navy wife made a drastic allegation of rape.

S30 Ep6 | 52m 57s

The Island Murder

S30 Ep6 | 52m 57s

Video thumbnail: American Experience Roads to Memphis

American Experience

Roads to Memphis

The fateful narrative of James Earl Ray who shot Dr. Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968.

S30 Ep5 | 53m 7s

Roads to Memphis

S30 Ep5 | 53m 7s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Bombing of Wall Street

American Experience

The Bombing of Wall Street

The mostly-forgotten 1920 bombing in the nation’s financial center that left 38 dead.

S30 Ep4 | 51m 59s

The Bombing of Wall Street

S30 Ep4 | 51m 59s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Gilded Age

American Experience

The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age: Full Film

S30 Ep3 | 1h 53m 2s

The Gilded Age

S30 Ep3 | 1h 53m 2s

Video thumbnail: American Experience The Secret of Tuxedo Park

American Experience

The Secret of Tuxedo Park

Story of a Wall Street tycoon who helped alter course of history in World War II.

S30 Ep2 | 53m 17s

The Secret of Tuxedo Park

S30 Ep2 | 53m 17s

Video thumbnail: American Experience Into the Amazon

American Experience

Into the Amazon

Into the Amazon

S30 Ep1 | 1h 52m 55s

Into the Amazon

S30 Ep1 | 1h 52m 55s

See All Episodes
The Road to Apollo

Interactive

The Road to Apollo

Launch interactive

You Might Also Like

Country Music
Finding Your Roots
American Masters
Secrets of the Dead
Origin of Everything
The Greeks