Niʻihau

Niihau is Hawaii's westernmost main island and the seventh biggest inhabited island. It covers an area of 69.5 square miles (180 km2). Wetland habitats for the Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian stilt, and Hawaiian duck are provided by several intermittent playa lakes. Brighamia insignis, an endemic and endangered Hawaiian lobelioid, has been listed as essential habitat on the island.

Except for the Robinson family and their relatives, US Navy troops, government officials, and invited guests, the island is known as "the Forbidden Isle." Tourists have had access to a restricted number of supervised activity trips and hunting safaris since 1987. Bruce and Keith Robinson, brothers, currently operate the island. The Niihau people are known for their gemlike lei pp (shell lei) artistry. Hawaiian is their primary language.

Since 1987, Niihau's owners have offered half-day helicopter and beach excursions of the island, while contact with inhabitants is avoided and no accommodation is available. Tourists who pay to visit the island to hunt eland, aoudad, and oryx, as well as wild sheep and boars, have provided money since 1992. Any meat left over by the hunters is donated to the village.

Location: the United States

Best time to visit: August, September, and then July

Price: $1,919 for one person per week

Ranking: #6 Best Hawaiian Island

Website: https://niihauheritage.org/