Niʻihau (Hawaiian: [ˈniiˈhɐw]), anglicized as Niihau (/ ˈ n iː (i) h aʊ / NEE-(ee-)how), is the seventh largest island in Hawaii and the westernmost of the main islands. It is 17.5 miles (28.2 km) southwest of Kauaʻi across the Kaulakahi Channel. Its area is 69.5 square miles (180 km 2). [3]

Nov 18, 2023 · A privately owned island with an estimated 170 residents, Niihau, aka Niʻihau, is commonly referred to as Hawaii’s “Forbidden Island.” This invite-only destination tantalizes travelers from across the globe due to its extreme exclusivity.

Nov 6, 2024 · Located just 17 miles from the beachside resorts of Kauai is a small stretch of land that has remained untouched since the days of early Hawaii. For Kauai residents, the image of Niihau Island rising from the ocean horizon is an all too familiar one, though most will never set foot on its shores.

Sep 3, 2023 · Located 17 miles southwest of Kauai, Niihau is a 70-square-mile island that's remained closed to outsiders since it was purchased by the Robinson family in 1864.

Nov 25, 2024 · Niihau is a place that fascinates anyone who knows its story. It is Hawaii’s Forbidden Island. Privately owned by one family since 1864, this isolated island in the middle of the ocean is a preserved era. It is to this day, left untouched by modern civilization.

Mar 24, 2025 · Since the early 2000s, families on Niihau have used small solar panels to power their essential needs. These panels provide just enough energy to run refrigerators and satellite phones while keeping the island’s traditional character. Each house in Niihau uses far less energy than the typical American homes that use about 30,000 watts.

Apr 21, 2022 · Niʻihau is one of the most untouched of all the inhabited Hawaiian islands. At 17.5 miles from Kauaʻi, Niihau is the 7th largest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands. Today, there are only about 130 or so people living on the island where they still speak their own dialect of the Hawaiian language.

Learn about the history of the Forbidden Hawaiian Island of Ni`ihau, a unique and private Island culture and community.

Niihau Island is the oldest and smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands, spanning only about 70 square miles. Paniau, an extinct volcano, is the tallest mountain in Ni‘ihau. Yet, despite its small size, it holds massive cultural and historical significance.

Niihau is known as the “Forbidden Island” and is situated just off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii. It is one of the least visited islands in Hawaii and has earned its unique status due to its private ownership. Niihau has a rich cultural heritage and is predominantly inhabited by native Hawaiians.