History of niihau island

It is Its area is The island is designated as critical habitat for Brighamia insignis , an endemic and endangered species of Hawaiian lobelioid. Its census population was , most of whom are native Hawaiians; [ 4 ] its census population was At the census , the population had fallen to The island's private ownership passed on to her descendants, the Robinsons.

The island, known as "the Forbidden Isle", is off-limits to all outsiders except the Robinson family and their relatives, U. Navy personnel, government officials, and invited guests. From onward, a limited number of supervised activity tours and hunting safaris have opened to tourists.

Bruce and keith robinson

The island is currently managed by brothers Bruce and Keith Robinson. They speak Hawaiian as a primary language. The island has attracted some controversy for the strict rules the Robinson family imposes on the island and its inhabitants. The maximum elevation Paniau is 1, feet m. The entire summit and other slopes collapsed into the ocean in a giant prehistoric landslide.

As such, the island is subject to long periods of drought. Aubrey Robinson , grandfather of current owners Bruce Robinson and Keith Robinson, planted 10, trees per year during much of his ownership of the island; Robinson's afforestation efforts increased rainfall in the dry climate. According to Robinson, conditions there are better than the government refuges of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.