Hawaiian Island of Niichau

On clear days off the west coast of Kauaioverlooking the small island. It is only 17 miles away, but for most people in the state this is the only way to see the island of Niichau. He is known as the Forbidden Island in Hawaii, and this nickname suits him perfectly.

Despite the fact that he is very close toresort of Kauai, Niihau remains surprisingly isolated from the outside world. On the island there are no roads, cars, shops and the Internet. Its sandy beaches saw much more wildlife than human tracks. Sleepy Hawaiian seals-monks dot the coast, and sharks swim next to empty beaches. But the island is inhabited by people.

History of the island

When the Hawaiian island of Niikhau was bought by the familySinclair in the 1860s, the inhabitants of the island, known as nihihuan, were allowed to stay, but access to the island by strangers was limited. Until now, only nyihauans, Robinsons (descendants of a titled family) and invited guests are allowed to be there.

In 1864, King Kamehameha V sold the islandNiichau to the ancestors of the Robinsons, the Sinclair family, for $ 10,000 worth of gold and, according to some reports, demanded that the family promise to preserve the indigenous Hawaiian language and the unique way of life of Niichau.

These promises have given the nihauans the luxury that most modern travelers are looking for in the world: a truly secluded and unspoilt island.

Modernity

The Niihauans are desperately defending their island. In 2013, a group of residents discovered violators fishing on their shoreline. They wrote down the cybercriminals to a digital camera and appealed to the court, asking for help in protecting their resources.

There are, however, several sanctionedways to see Niihau. From the island of Kauai, you can go to the coastal waters of Niihau and go snorkelling. Of course, without the opportunity to go ashore. You can also sink into the crater Lehua, a volcanic cone, which is located to the north of the island of Niikhau.

Can I go to the island?

If you want to go ashore, the Robinsonsoffer organized tours and hunting safaris, ferrying curious tourists on their private helicopter from Kauai to remote areas of Niikhau. 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 more than $ 1,700, but provide little more freedom of movement around the island.

Robinson Tours help to economically support Niikhau, but deliberately avoid contact with local residents. The village remains out of sight to protect the integrity of the nyihauan.

For Bruce Robinson, who is married to a native islander, maintaining the unique culture and lifestyle of Niichau is a priority.

In 2013, he gave an interview, in which he told,that the islanders have "a sense of inner tranquility and renewal, which we do not understand in the outside world. Western culture has lost it, and the rest of the islands too. The only thing left of him is the island of Niikhau in Hawaii. "