Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Since then, the Robinsons have focused on two income and employment
sources: the military and tourism. Since 1999 military special operations forces
have been leasing sites on the uninhabited southern end of the island to stage peri-
odic training maneuvers. The operations are small scale, typically with teams of a
dozen soldiers practicing mock rescue operations. The Robinsons have also
pushed for Niʻihau's participation in major Navy missile testing, which they con-
sider less invasive and damaging (both to the physical land and to the preservation
of Niʻihau's culture and privacy) than popular tourism and overgrazing by sheep.
However, based on the minimal income actually derived from said military test-
ing, the only other realistic option is tourism, which is why the Robinsons started
offering helicopter and hunting safari tours. Neither is a booming moneymaker,
probably due to the steep tour prices and the low-key Robinsons' ambivalence
about opening the island to tourists. They publicize the tours mainly by word-of-
mouth, with only minimal advertising.
Politically, Niʻihau falls under the jurisdiction of Kauaʻi County.
Visiting Ni'ihau
Although outsiders are not allowed to visit Niʻihau on their own, the Robinsons of-
fer helicopter flights and hunting excursions, and dive outfits on Kauaʻi offer scuba
diving tours to the waters around Niʻihau (a typical three-tank day trip costs
around $350).
Niʻihau Helicopters
(
877-441-3500;
www.niihau.us
;
per person $385, minimum of five
guests required)
The pilot flies over much of Niʻihau (but avoids the population cen-
ter of Puʻuwai) and lands beachside to snorkel. Tours must be arranged well in ad-
vance.
Niʻihau Safaris
(
877-441-3500;
www.niihau.us
;
per hunter/observer $1750/500)
Provides everything you'll need (rifle, license, transportation, guide, preparation
and shipping of trophies) to hunt Polynesian boar and feral sheep, as well as wild
eland, Barbary sheep and wild oryx. Organizers promote this as ʻuseful harvesting
of game' (due to overpopulation and overgrazing) and obey norms of free-chase
hunting.
Dixie Maru Beach
BEACH
South of Papohaku, beach access is to small sandy coves surrounded by rocky outcrops.
At the southern end of the paved road there's a parking lot with access to a small, round
inlet, which the ancient Hawaiians knew as Kapukahehu.
It is now called Dixie Maru, after a ship that went down in the area long ago. Dixie
Maru is the most protected cove on the west shore, and the most popular swimming and
snorkeling area. The waters are generally calm, except when it is stormy.
