Which island in Hawaii is invite only?

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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Ni'ihau earned its nickname as “the Forbidden Island” in the 1950s when the Polio epidemic was raging. To visit Ni'ihau then, you had to have a doctor's note and quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease to the small population.

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Niihau, also known as the Forbidden Isle, is a beautiful small island in Hawaii spread across 180 sq km. The island is off-limits to outsiders and only the Robinson family, their relatives, invited guests, government officials and US Navy personnel are allowed here.

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Molokai is known for its limited resorts and attractions, which adds to its charm as the least touristy island in Hawaii. Unlike other islands that are filled with high-rise hotels and commercialized attractions, Molokai offers a more rustic and untouched experience.

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Molokai. Molokai is the best island for solitude, meaning few tourists and small town Hawai?i life. Additionally, Molokai is all about making your own adventure, easy but scenic hiking, and most of all, relaxing! If you like a slow vacation, then Molokai may be for you!

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Who owns Kauai? After the State of Hawaii, who owns over 155,000 acres on Kauai, the Robinson Family is the second-largest landowner at over 55,000 acres (excluding their Niihau acres), and then Grove Farm is the third-largest landowner at over 30,000 acres.

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When the Sinclairs purchased the island in 1864, they committed to maintaining Niihau's Hawaiian culture. Brothers Bruce and Keith Robinson, descendants of the Sinclairs, own the island today, and they have continued to protect the island from the pressures of the outside world.

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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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Updated Hawaii Visitor Guides
  • Oahu - The Gathering Place. Oahu is the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands, at nearly 4.7 million visitors annually. ...
  • Maui - The Valley Isle. Maui is the second most visited island with around 2.7 - 2.9 million visitors annually. ...
  • Kauai - The Garden Island. ...
  • Hawaii - The Big Island.


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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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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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Here's why. Fodor's Travel named Maui one of 10 destinations on its 2023 “No List” that tourists should reconsider visiting this year. The travel publication outlined 10 regions ranging from Antarctica to Italy that are threatened by environmental damage caused by overtourism and climate change.

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Stunning coastlines, towering mountains, and lush jungles abound on both islands. However, the main difference between the two islands comes down to the variety in the landscapes, which Maui wins by a narrow margin. Maui: All in all, the scenery on Maui is more accessible than what's found on Kauai.

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Oahu is the easiest island to get around. There are several car rental companies at the Honolulu Airport if you'd like to drive the island. If you're looking to save a few dollars on transportation, the Oahu bus system can get you within walking distance of almost anywhere on the island.

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