On clear days, Kauai's west coast overlooks a small island. It is only 17 miles away, but for most people in the state, this is the only way to see Niihau Island. It is known as Hawaii's Forbidden Island, a nickname that suits it perfectly.
Despite the fact that it is very close to the resort of Kauai, Niihau remains surprisingly isolated from the outside world. There are no roads, cars, shops or internet on the island. Its sandy beaches have seen far more wildlife than human footprints. Sleepy Hawaiian monk seals dot the coast, and sharks swim alongside the empty shores. But the island is inhabited by people.
History of the island
When the Hawaiian island of Niihau was bought by the Sinclair family in the 1860s, the inhabitants of the island, known as the Niihauane, were allowed to stay, but access to the island was limited to outsiders. Until now, only Niihauans, Robinsons (descendants of a titled family) and invited guests are allowed to stay there.
In 1864, King Kamehameha V sold the island of Niihau to his ancestorsRobinsons, to the Sinclair family, for $10,000 worth of gold and reportedly required the family to promise to preserve the native Hawaiian language and unique Niihau lifestyle.
These promises have provided the Niihauns with the luxury most modern day travelers seek in the world: a truly secluded and unspoilt island.
Modernity
The Niihauans desperately defend their island. In 2013, a group of residents found trespassers fishing on their coastline. They recorded the attackers on a digital camera and went to court, asking for help in protecting their resources.
There are, however, several sanctioned ways to see Niihau. From the island of Kauai, you can go to the coastal waters of Niihau and go snorkeling. Of course, without the opportunity to go ashore. You can also dive into the Lehua Crater, a volcanic cone that lies north of Niihau Island.
Can I get to the island?
If you want to go ashore, the Robinsons offer organized excursions and hunting safaris, ferrying curious tourists in their private helicopter from Kauai to the backcountry of Niihau. The tour consists of an air tour and then tourists are taken to a remote beach for lunch and snorkeling. Long hunting trips can cost upwards of $1,700 but offer a bit more freedom to move around the island.
The Robinson tours help support Niihau economically, butintentionally avoid contact with local residents. The village remains out of sight to protect the integrity of the Niihauan.
For Bruce Robinson, who is married to a native islander, maintaining Niihau's unique culture and lifestyle is a priority.
In 2013, he gave an interview in which he said that the islanders have “a sense of inner peace and renewal that we do not understand in the outside world. Western culture has lost it, and so have the rest of the islands. The only thing left of him is Niihau Island in Hawaii.”
