How much did the Robinsons buy Niihau for?

In 1864, King Kamehameha V sold the island of Niihau to the Robinsons' ancestors, the Sinclair family, for $10,000 worth of gold and, according to some accounts, a requirement that the family would promise to preserve the Native Hawaiian language and Niihau's unique way of life.



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The island is currently managed by brothers Bruce and Keith Robinson. The people of Ni?ihau are noted for their gemlike lei pupu (shell lei) craftsmanship. They speak Hawaiian as a primary language.

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The Robinson family decided to restrict access of Niihau back in 1864, giving it its nickname of the “Forbidden Island.” They put a policy in place to ensure that all those born on Niihau would be able to live there for their entire life with limited exposure to the outside world.

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The Robinson's grandfather, Aubrey Robinson planted 10,000 trees per year during much of his ownership of the island; Robinson's afforestation efforts increased rainfall in the dry climate. The dry climate is ideal for the solar power that is used on Niihau, as they do not have electricity or running water.

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Do people on Niihau pay taxes? On Wednesday the Kauai County Council approved legislation to impose an annual flat tax rate of $40,000 for Niihau based on a series of factors, including the island's contributions to agriculture and Hawaiian culture and its sparse use of county services.

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Billionaire Larry Ellison owns an island in Hawaii. 98 per cent of the island of Lanai is his property.

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They hunt and fish for food and have additional supplies brought in from Kauai. There is no telephone service, no hotels, no paved roads, only a handful of cars, and the island is entirely solar powered. The primary language spoken on Niihau is Hawaiian.

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No one is allowed to visit Hawaii's Forbidden Isle—the 70-square-mile island, which on a clear day can be spied from Kauai's west coast—unless they are invited by Niihau owners the Robinson family, or by one of its 70 full-time Native Hawaiian residents.

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Great selection of hotels in Niihau Whether you're searching for hotels in Niihau on business, or hunting for a family getaway, Niihau hotel options are only a click away. Find hotels in Niihau with the location, star-rating and facilities you need.

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No one is allowed to land on Niihau unless you are a resident of the island, a member of the Robinson family, or an invited guest. The Robinson family permits helicopter tours, but contact between the visitors and natives is not allowed. Fishermen and sailors may visit the island by sea, but are not able to land.

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Niihau is now valued at $88 million, according to county tax records. The island's population has declined in recent decades in step with a shortage of jobs, according to the Niihau Cultural Heritage Foundation. Some residents make a living weaving prized Niihau shells into lei.

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King Kamehameha IV sold it for $10,000 in 1863 to Elizabeth Sinclair of Scotland. Her descendants, the Kamaaina (meaning “Old-Timer”) Robinson family, continue to live on the island and have attempted to preserve Hawaiian culture there.

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Here's a rundown of her history with Hawaii. Oprah Winfrey reportedly owns around 1,000 acres of land across Maui, Hawaii. After the August wildfires, Winfrey visited shelters and started a fund to help locals. Some fans online criticized her call for donations, which she referred to as vitriol this week.

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But there's one foreign billionaire landowner that has been completely absent for more than a decade: the owners of Molokai Ranch. The ranch's landholdings encompass one-third of the entire island of Molokai. It's owned by billionaire investment firm Guoco Group, based out of Hong Kong.

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