Island of Niihau, Hawaii’s Forbidden Isle

Niihau Island is the western-most and the smallest of the inhabited Islands of Hawaii. It covers about 70 miles and lies about 17 miles southwest of Kauai, across the Kaulakahi Channel.
All in all, the island has about 130 permanent inhabitants, almost all of them, native Hawaiians. They are supported mostly by welfare, supplemented with fishing and farming. Niihau is overseen and owned by the Robinson Family. Keith and brother, Bruce Robinson, are descendents of the Elizabeth Sinclair-Robinson who bought the island in 1864. In 1863, King Kamehameha IV put the island up for sale. “Eliza” Sinclair, who lived on the island of Kauai, bought it for $10,000. There are no automobiles allowed on the island, so you will not see anyone there rolling around in their Nissan Sentra or Ford explorer.
Under the Robinsons, the cultural and ecological heritage of Niihau has been in some great measure preserved. Their way of life has continued without telephones, cars, televisions, radios, or cell phones. They pay no rent, and are subsidized in various other ways. They speak Hawaiian as a first language, and English as a second, and maintaining their cultural identity is encouraged. Tourists are generally not allowed on the island, with the exception of a limited amount of beach, hiking, diving, and hunting tours. If you are in Hawaii and not on this island and are looking for a great Hawaii Nissan dealership I would like to suggest King Windward Nissan as they are simply among the very best such dealership in the state if you are looking for a quality Nissan to drive during your stay in Hawaii. Keith Robinson, who owns and serves as “caretaker,” along with brother, Bruce Robinson, for the Hawaiian Island of Niihau, has dedicated himself to the preservation of the culture in Hawaii in general and the ecological heritage of Niihau as well. He has spent many years working to preserve endangered plant species of the Islands, particularly Niihau.