Ni'ihau, the Forbidden Island
Photo by Claus Hansen, used by permission
From the southwest side of Kauai, Ni'ihau (nee-ee-how) is visible low on the horizon, 17 miles away. This island, at 69 square miles the smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands, has been owned since 1864 by the Robinson family. Since 1915, tourists have been prohibited.
About 160 native Hawaiians live there, mostly in the little town of Puuwai. They speak the Hawaiian language, which has fallen from common usage everywhere else. This is the language of their K-8 school.
They use bicycles to get around, and they're talking about bringing in electricity. These residents are free to come and go, and so have been able to encourage Hawaiian language and customs on other islands as those have begun to die out in recent years.
Ni'ihau has an arid climate,
since it is in the rain shadow of Mount Wai-ale-ale on Kauai. In fact, residents
have moved to Kauai en masse during droughts, as a regular occurrence.
Residents practice subsistence farming. The Robinson family
operated a cattle and sheep ranch there for much of the 20th century, now closed
down. There is also some fish farming there.
History buffs may want to know about the Niihau Incident during the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. A Japanese pilot crashed on Niihau and managed to terrorize the place for a time.
The women on Niihau practice a wonderful folk art: making elaborate necklaces out of thousands of tiny shells the size of popcorn seeds or smaller.The art lies in the coloring--whole families gather the tiny shells and sort them by color. Then the artist uses an awl often made from a bicycle spoke to punch a hole in each, to be able to put it on the necklace. However, as many as half of them shatter at this point!
| These elaborate necklaces are called Ni'ihau shell leis. They can cost thousands of dollars. Since 2004, a state law has required strict labeling of Ni'ihau shells products, which come with certificates of authenticity. Shopping on Kauai, you may be able also get earrings or a delicate little necklace of Ni'ihau shells, looking a lot like a single strand of tiny pearls studded with teeny tiny red seeds, for less than $100. It comes with a certificate of authenticity. |
Here is a picture of mine:
The Robinson family is now allowing limited tourist excursions to the island for hikers, divers, and hunters. Feral pigs and bighorn sheep are multiplying on Niihau, so the Robinson family is now permitting hunting tours, for a sizeable fee of course. So if you have been itching to go to the Forbidden Island, here is your chance! Only $1650 per day per hunter!
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