The Robinson family decided to restrict access of Niihau back in 1864, giving it its nickname of the “Forbidden Island.” They put a policy in place to ensure that all those born on Niihau would be able to live there for their entire life with limited exposure to the outside world.
How much is Niihau worth today?
Niihau is now valued at $88 million, according to county tax records. The island's population has declined in recent decades in step with a shortage of jobs, according to the Niihau Cultural Heritage Foundation. Some residents make a living weaving prized Niihau shells into lei.
Why did Kamehameha sell Niihau?
King Kamehameha V, sold the Island with the promise of preserving Niihau ways of life, traditions and their natural habitats . Wanting to leave the island relatively untouched from outside influences the new owners have turned much of the island into a conservation area, working to nurture the endemic flora and fauna.
How does Niihau get food?
They hunt and fish for food and have additional supplies brought in from Kauai. There is no telephone service, no hotels, no paved roads, only a handful of cars, and the island is entirely solar powered. The primary language spoken on Niihau is Hawaiian.
Who owns Niihau island?
Why did the Robinson family buy Niihau?
A Promise To PreserveIn 1864, King Kamehameha V sold the island of Niihau to the Robinsons' ancestors, the Sinclair family, for $10,000 worth of gold and, according to some accounts, a requirement that the family would promise to preserve the Native Hawaiian language and Niihau's unique way of life.
How is Niihau different from other Hawaiian island?
Niihau is the only place in the world where Hawaiian is still the primary language; the island has its own unique dialect (Olelo Kanaka Niihau) spoken within the community that differs slightly from the traditional Hawaiian language (Olelo Hawaii).
Does Niihau have grocery stores?
The bulk of Niihau is restricted to its 70 full-time residents and their families or to those who received a coveted invitation from the family who has owned the 69-square-mile island since 1864. There are no paved roads, hospitals, police stations, grocery stores, or indoor plumbing.
Does anyone live on the island of Niihau?
About eighteen miles southwest of the Garden Island (Kauai), sits Hawaii's “Forbidden Island”, also known as Niihau. Pronounced “Knee-ee-how”, with fewer than 200 residents, it is the least inhabited of the Hawaiian Islands.
Did Oprah buy a Hawaiian island?
Oprah Winfrey's Hawaiian ParadiseIn 2002, she purchased a sprawling 163-acre estate on Maui's Hana coast. Since 2004, she has amassed approximately 1,000 acres across Maui. The property, known as the “Promised Land,” is estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars.