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Volume 36What is the deal with the Hawaiian forbidden island and how do American laws and rights apply?
Listener question & Gary’s response · Transcript passage
Gareth Morgan asks What is the deal with the Hawaiian forbidden island and how do American laws and rights apply?
The island you are referring to is Niihau.
Ni?ihau is a privately owned Hawaiian island purchased by the Sinclair family in 1864 and still controlled by their descendants, the Robinsons.
It is often called the “Forbidden Island” because access is strictly limited: only Native Hawaiian residents, invited guests, and the owners are allowed. The restriction is meant to preserve traditional Hawaiian culture, language, and way of life, which are still actively practiced there.
It is part of the United States and the State of Hawaii. All of the laws apply. It is simply just private property that happens to be an island. No different than your house being “forbidden” to anyone who might want to walk inside.
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