Niihau Information and Facts

[Hawaii Forum]

Niihau, at 70 sq. miles (182 sq. km), is the smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. State of Hawaii. Niihau is also known as the "Forbidden Island". This is due to the fact that until recently, the island was off-limits to all but family members, U.S. Navy personnel, government officials and expressly invited guests. Now, tourists can see the island through a limited number of supervised tours, including diving, hiking, and hunting safaris.

Geography

Niihau is the geologically oldest of the eight main islands. The island is relatively arid, because it is situated in the rain shadow of Kauai and lacks the elevation needed to catch significant amounts of Trade Wind rainfall (see orographic precipitation).

The island is located about 29 km (18 miles) west of Kauai. Its dimensions are 30 km by 10 km (6.2 x 18.6 mi; 50% larger than uninhabited Kahoolawe). The maximum elevation (Paniau) is 390 m (1280 ft).

On the beaches of the island are found shells which are the only shells to be cl***ified as gems. Niihau shells and the jewelry made from them are very popular. Many, especially those with darker and richer color, are collectors' items. The sale of shells and shell jewelry provide an additional source of income for the local populace. The Robinson family claims that the unusual luster of Niihau shells is due to the island's extremely low pollution levels (in relation to the other islands).


People

The island has approximately 160 permanent inhabitants, nearly all of whom are Native Hawaiians who live in the island's main settlement of Puʻuwai. They support themselves largely by subsistence agriculture and generally lead a rural, low-tech life. They speak the Hawaiian language and keep traditions alive. This is enabled by terms in the purchase contract obligating the owner to help preserve Hawaiian culture and tradition. Niihau is the only one of the Hawaiian islands on which the Hawaiian language is still the main form of communications.

However, the Native Hawaiians are hardly cut off from the outside world; Niihau is subject to regular droughts that occasionally force the population to temporarily evacuate to Kauai until the water supply is replenished by the next big rainstorm. In recent years, another problem has been tourists and fishermen overfishing the surrounding waters: the island residents already compete (disputed fact) with the local endangered population of Hawaiian monk seals for seafood (the seals are protected by the Endangered Species Act).

[Hawaii Forum]

History

The entire island is owned by the Robinson family who purchased it from the Kingdom of Hawaii for $10,000 in gold in 1872. It was said that the purchaser, Elizabeth Sinclair (later Sinclair-Robinson), bought the island in preference to other real estate parcels such as Waikīkī, Pearl Harbor, or the island of Lānai. In 1915, grandson Aubrey Robinson closed the island to most outside visitors; even relatives of the inhabitants could visit only by special permission.

Despite the self-imposed isolation, Niihau has a long-standing relationship with the U.S. military dating from before World War II. There is a small U.S. Navy installation on the Island, but no military personnel are permanently stationed there. More recently, however, the U.S. military has used the island for training special operations units, hiring the Niihauans as "enemy" trackers.

Many of the residents of Niihau were employees of the Niihau Ranch until the Robinson family finally had to shut the operation down in 1999; it had not been profitable for most of the 20th century. Many of the residents ended up on federal welfare, although these benefits will end soon because of the five-year limit on such benefits. The Robinson family has been considering alternative economic options to keep their residents employed, such as an increased economic role for the U.S. military (an earlier 1999 proposal to establish a missile testing program on the island fell by the wayside), or increased tourism. Either of these would erode the relative isolation that the residents currently enjoy.

[mauimadness]

wow - that is fascinating that the whole place was bought for 10k in gold. I guess it was lots back in the 19thcentury, but not really a m***ively impossible amount. Buying an island. makes me think of the idea of buying a whole country especially if people are living on it. Would be cool to visit just because it is so restricted, though.

[kana]

So this is where most natives live? or the highest proportion.

[1-2B@C]

To be isolated, away from the rest of the wold is one thing.
To maintain your identity as survivors of a group of people who braved the oceans as the Polenisians once did, is totally awsome and should be preserved if at all possible.
I sure hope that the people of Niihau will keep their history and culture of the past, and that the island will remain isolated from tourism. It is already too bad that the military are there, rather than the US Park Service or some other agency that could help to preserve the heritage of the last Hawaiian traditions.
Let's help the people with food and other necessities, but let us also encourage them to remain Hawaiian, true and blue.

[frankyP4lover]

I agree with 1-2. It'd be a real shame if this island became like the others. Hawaiian tradition is still alive on the other islands, but has become more of a theatrical, touristy version. It's a real shame.

I hope Nihau can build their economic resources without the help of the military and Tourists. No matter how hard they try to preserve their culture, if tourism is fully introduced, the culture will be tweaked to become more palattable and profitable for tourists.

Any ideas of how they can make a living without tourism??