During the Japanese invasion of Hawaii, the Kamehameha Highway was used by the US Army to transfer military personnel to defend northern Oahu as it is where the main landing site of the invasion. However, Japanese airplanes, with air superiority over Hawaii, took advantage in destroying Army columns on the highway. Civilians from Haleiwa and Wahiawa were also being evacuated on the bombarded Kamehameha Highway after Japanese landing forces took northern Oahu and were similarly and indiscriminately attacked by Japanese planes. After Hawaii fell under Japanese rule, the Kamehameha Highway was repaired by American prisoners of war.