Niʻihau, Private island in Kauai County, United States.
The westernmost inhabited Hawaiian island spans 69.5 square miles across arid terrain with a single mountain peak reaching 1,200 feet above sea level.
Elizabeth Sinclair purchased the island from the Kingdom of Hawaii for $10,000 in 1864, establishing restricted access policies that continue through her descendants.
The island maintains Hawaiian as its primary language, with residents following traditional practices including fishing, shell crafting, and sustainable living methods.
Access remains limited to the Robinson family, government officials, and select visitors, though helicopter tours allow brief stops at Nanina Beach.
Residents move around on horses and bicycles because no paved roads cross the territory. This way of living also means no running water or telephone network exists here.
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