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The Forbidden Isle of Ni'ihau(Part 1)
James Patton, CRS
Ni'ihau ("nee-ee-how") is fascinating, forbidden, and the smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands. Purchased in 1864 by Mrs. Elizabeth Sinclair from King Kamehameha V for $10,000 in gold, the island is still owned and operated by direct Sinclair descendants (the Robinson family of Kauai). The value of the island in today’s dollars is about $100,000,000.
Outwardly, Ni'ihau is a large, 73 square mile cattle ranch isolated 17 miles off the southwest coast of Kauai. Inwardly, it is something else. For over one hundred years, Ni'ihau has been kapu (off-limits or "taboo") to all but the resident Hawaiian families, their relatives, and the owners. The truest traditional Hawaiian mode of living anywhere is reputed to be at Puuwai, Ni'ihau, the village home of the total island population of about 200 mostly full-blooded Hawaiians. Many residents work in the Robinson ranching and farming operations. There is no electricity, plumbing, television, telephones, cars, or paved roads. Transportation is by foot, bike, and horse, and work is by sweat, brow, and traditional plow. Ni'ihau is the only island (or place in the world, for that matter) with Hawaiian as the official language – though most speak American or Pidgin English.
Take a look at the space shuttle, satellite, and aerial photos at Niihau -- (1) Satellite Photo Assemblance & (2) Aerial Oblique (Maps). The space photos show a long light patch on the lower eastern side of the island. This ribbon-like strand is a massive set of very large sand dunes. Ni’ihau is on the leeward side of the Hawaiian chain in the rain shadow of Kauai. It is the deeply eroded remnant of "an ancient ‘shield’ volcano ringed by several younger volcanoes." It is also the original island home of the volcano goddess Pele in Hawaiian legend. Though the climate is semi-arid and rainfall is light, Nihau’s several fresh water lakes provide plenty of water for current use. The island is more suited to ranching than crop agriculture, and the bulk of food and supplies is imported from nearby Kauai. Residents regularly cross the channel to Kauai to purchase groceries and other "high tech" items.
The island’s rare quaintness contrasts singularly with one rather famous "resident" -- the extremely sophisticated mechanical contraption known to the world as… (To Be Continued)
James Patton, CRSToll Free (800) 997 - 8701
Locally (808) 225-7664
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