Producers for the movie version of the “Ni’ihau Incident” are casting white actors to play people of color. Actor Zack McGowan will play Native Hawaiian Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele, who was a key figure in the World War II event. It’s a true account of a Japanese pilot who crashed on a Hawaiian island. The choice of McGowan in the lead prompts the recurring question of why the role wasn’t offered to a Native Hawaiian. It also highlights Hollywood’s long history of whitewashing movie characters.