Hawaii has a mysterious “Forbidden Island”: This is why visitors aren’t allowed
For years, the island of Niʻihau has been a highly restricted region of the planet.
Humans are naturally drawn to the strangest, most isolated places on Earth. So what if I told you that out in the Pacific Ocean, 17 miles from Kauaʻi, lies Niʻihau, an island that feels like the setting for Jurassic Park. Enveloped in secrecy and virtually off-limits to outsiders, locals call it “The Forbidden Island”.
Niʻihau is the seventh largest island of the archipelago and was purchased in 1864 by the Robinson family, who bought it from the cash-strapped Hawaiian monarchy, reportedly for $10,000 in gold (and possibly a grand piano). Following the controversial sale, most of the residents fled to neighbouring islands.
Today, descendants Keith and Bruce Robinson uphold a strict control of the 69-square-mile piece of land, tightly micro-managing access and preserving its natural beauty from outsiders.
About 70 people live full time on Niʻihau, with a rhythm of life that feels almost untouched by the modern world. Without paved roads, modern police, or large-scale medical facilities, the community depends on living from the elements, collecting rainwater, taking in the plentiful solar energy, and traditional farming. Curiously, and wonderfully, it is one of the few places in the world where the Hawaiian language thrives and survives as a daily means of communication.
The payoff for the locals is that they must live by the Robinson’s Calvinist beliefs: activities like drinking alcohol or using drugs are forbidden, and visits are tightly regulated; everyone must receive permission from the Robinsons to set foot on the land. Punishment for breaking the rules is exile. “Everything is funnelled through the Robinsons,” one ex-resident told a journalist.
According to Business Insider, “in 2020 every Niihauan vote went to Donald Trump, and in 2024 all but one did."
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However, as is the modern way, and when it comes to America in particular, Niʻihau is slowly feeling the squeeze from the leader of the free world. U.S. military installations have taken up roles on the island, with radar sites bringing an outside presence.
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