How did the Robinson family buy Niihau?
Sinclair in 1864. She came to Hawaii from New Zealand with her family, which included two sons and a grand son, Aubrey Robinson, who lived until 1936. Mrs. Sinclair bought Niihau for $10,000 from the Polynesian kings who then ruled these islands.
Who owns Forbidden island?
Elizabeth Sinclair
Niihau, about 18 miles northwest of Kauai, is the “Forbidden Island.” It has been privately owned by the same family since 1864, when Elizabeth Sinclair purchased it from King Kamehameha V for $10,000.
What is life like Niihau?
Niihau is the only place left in the world where the predominant language is Hawaiian. About 250 natives live on the 73-square-mile island, most working on the Robinsons’ cattle and sheep ranch. Guns, alcohol and cigarettes are forbidden. There is no doctor, no jail, no paved roads.
Who owns Kipu Ranch?
The award was accepted by Kipu Ranch Adventures owners Ted Shanks and Antone Teves, and Robert Wolff.
What happens if you go to Niihau?
If you do visit Niihau by helicopter or safari, don’t expect to encounter any local residents. Access to many parts of the island is restricted to visitors, so during your ground visit, you’ll likely find yourself on a deserted beach with little opportunity for straying very far.
Can Hawaiians move to Niihau?
Niihau is also knows as “The Forbidden Island” because non-native Hawaiians are restricted to go there. The only job available on Niihau is at the Robinson family ranch, where the majority of the population works raising cattle. They get food from the ranch as well.
What is Kahoolawe nickname?
Kahoolawe has earned the nickname of “The Target Isle” when the United States military used it as a training ground during World War II. The island only has 45 square miles of land, making it the smallest Hawaiian island.
Why did Helen Robinson cut off visits to Niihau?
Keith Robinson said the family totally cut off visits to Niihau in the 1930’s because of the vulnerability of people to diseases to which they had never been exposed like measles, which had killed 11 children on the island. Lester Robinson, Mrs. Robinson’s husband, was the great-grandson of Eliza Hutchinson.
How big is Keith Robinson’s Island in Hawaii?
Robinson and his brother Bruce own the approximately 70-square-mile (180 km 2) island of Niʻihau in the Hawaiian island chain, which has been in the private possession of their family since their great-great-grandmother Elizabeth McHutchinson Sinclair (1800–1892) purchased it from King Kamehameha V for US$ 10,000 in gold.
Who are the current owners of Niihau Island?
Since Burns’ passing, the island’s current co-owners, brothers Keith and Bruce Robinson, continue to argue with Hawaiian authorities over their efforts to maintain Niihauan traditions.
How often does Keith Robinson visit Kauaʻi?
Robinson makes his home on Kauaʻi, but visits Niʻihau at least once per week on average. Robinson has been credited for keeping numerous Hawaiian plants from becoming extinct, including Cyanea pinnatifida, which is considered extinct in the wild.