The only firsthand Pearl Harbor story told by an American child survivor at ground zero. Dorinda’s unforgettable memories bring history to life through the eyes of a young witness.
Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson (pearlharborchild.com), author of Pearl Harbor Child (pearlharborchild.com), began dancing hula at the age of three alongside her mother in Waikiki. At just six years old, she witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor firsthand, watching Japanese torpedo bombers fly so low over her home that she could clearly see the pilots’ goggles.
Her debut book, Pearl Harbor Child, recounts the events of December 7, 1941, through the eyes of a young child. An award-winning author, Nicholson is dedicated to bringing World War II history to life for both students and adult readers through compelling, personal storytelling. She especially enjoys receiving selfies from visitors posing beside the iconic photograph of her and her brother wearing child-sized gas masks at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
While educators and classrooms remain her primary audience, Nicholson has also shared her story with international audiences, including presentations at the U.S. Embassy in Prague and lectures in Guam, Saipan, Jakarta, and at commemorative events at Pearl Harbor.
Her remarkable childhood experience also inspired the American Girl character Nanea, whose World War II-era story is set in Hawaii. Nicholson’s story has been featured in People magazine, on NBC News, the History Channel, the Military Channel, and on CBS Sunday Morning with Lee Cowan, filmed on location at Pearl Harbor.
Click here to purchase signed copies of Dorinda’s books.
Testimonials
“She tells us what it was really like to carry a gas mask everywhere, to lose her dog during the bombing, and watch battleships burn.” —Capt. Edward Beach, USN (retired)
“I’ve been teaching WWII history for 12 years and this is the first book that’s been meaningful to my students.” —Elementary School Teacher
“You kept us spellbound with your personal recollection of the Pearl Harbor attack.” —Daniel Martinez, Historian, USS Arizona Memorial, Hawaii
Books by Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson
