By: Daniel Nardini
Imagine a place anywhere in the United States where there are no computers (certainly no Internet), no TVs, no radios, no cars, no trains, no electricity, no running water or gas, and the only means of transportation is either by horse or bicycle. Imagine where the only means of living was agriculture or hunting and fishing. And finally, imagine living in a place where all water is from wells or caught in cisterns after rain storms. Welcome to the Hawaiian island of Niihau. The seventh largest island in the Hawaiian island chain, Niihau has the distinction of being known as “the forbidden island.” For centuries, Niihau was in a state of anarchy and war. In the 18th Century, Niihau’s King Kaeo defeated all of the other chieftains and united Niihau. In 1810, the Kingdom of Hawaii under King Kamehameha I took control of Niihau. In 1864, Niihau was sold to Elizabeth Sinclair, and in 1915 ownership of the island passed to Sinclair’s grandson Aubrey Robinson. Since that time the island has belonged to the Robinson family.
At that time the Robinson family closed off Niihau to all people except for family and relatives of those native Hawaiians still living on Niihau. Today there are only 130 permanent residents on Niihau. Most of them are native Hawaiians. In fact, Niihau is the only Hawaiian island whereby the Hawaiian language is still the primary means of communication (although English is a secondary language). There is only one schoolhouse on Niihau. Tourists are not allowed onto the island, and no one else beyond relatives, U.S. officials and “invited guests” are allowed to have any contact with the native Hawaiians. For the people on Niihau, life is as it was in the late 19th Century. At present, there are only two ways visitors can get to see the island. One is by helicopter which flies over the island, and special hunting expeditions that are carefully arranged to avoid any contact with the residents on Niihau. Beyond this there is no other way to even remotely see the forbidden island. One can read about Niihau. Among a couple of books I can recommend are, Niihau: The Last Hawaiian Island by Ruth M. Tabrah, and Aloha Niihau/Oral Histories.
Forbidden Hawaiian Island
By: Daniel Nardini
At that time the Robinson family closed off Niihau to all people except for family and relatives of those native Hawaiians still living on Niihau. Today there are only 130 permanent residents on Niihau. Most of them are native Hawaiians. In fact, Niihau is the only Hawaiian island whereby the Hawaiian language is still the primary means of communication (although English is a secondary language). There is only one schoolhouse on Niihau. Tourists are not allowed onto the island, and no one else beyond relatives, U.S. officials and “invited guests” are allowed to have any contact with the native Hawaiians. For the people on Niihau, life is as it was in the late 19th Century. At present, there are only two ways visitors can get to see the island. One is by helicopter which flies over the island, and special hunting expeditions that are carefully arranged to avoid any contact with the residents on Niihau. Beyond this there is no other way to even remotely see the forbidden island. One can read about Niihau. Among a couple of books I can recommend are, Niihau: The Last Hawaiian Island by Ruth M. Tabrah, and Aloha Niihau/Oral Histories.