Niihau, is called the Hawaiian "Forbidden Island" - where "time has stood still". Niihau Island (pronounced "Nee-ee-how") is a 72 square mile, privately owned island located 18 miles from the island of Kauai across the often rough Kaulakahi Channel and can be easily seen looming mysteriously in the distance from Kauai's western shore. The oldest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands, and the least changed by modern progress, Niihau is most easily accessed by helicopter.

Purchased from King Kamehameha in 1864, this island has preserved many of the traditional ways of life and is inhabited by about 200 people of Hawaiian ancestory whose primary language is Hawaiian. The Niihauans fish and hunt for their main staples of food, with their diet supplemented by supplies brought in by air and sea by the owners of the island. The residents of Niihau still hunt with ropes and knives and fish with spears and nets.

Niihau is most famous for its delicate shell leis ... it takes years to collect enough of these tiny colorful shells to make a lei, and they often sell for thousands of dollars. There are no resorts and you can't spend your vacation on this island, however recently day tours and hunting safaris have become available for those of very adventurous spirit, as well as boat tours including some great snorkeling at Lehua Rock

Kahoolawe is visible from the south shore of Maui. It is completely uninhabited and is off-limits to visitors. For years, the island was used for target practice by the Navy and is now badly contaminated and contains dangerous, unexploded ordinance. The island has been given back to the Nation of Hawaii, and is currently being cleaned up and restored by the US government in conjunction with The Protect Kahoolawe 'Ohana, and other Hawaiian preservationist groups.

For more information on the restoration efforts... please visit: http://www.kahoolawe.org/