The Hawaiian island of Kauai which is privately owned by Ni'ihau measures six by 19 miles and only has fewer than 200 residents. It isn't easy to get to the place which lies 18 miles west of Kauai, but 138 miles southeast of the closest Northwestern Island.
Why is it called the Forbidden Island? Because when it was purchased by the Sinclair family, the inhabitants of the island called the Niihauans were allowed to stay. But outsiders, including those from Hawaii who are not from the area were restricted to enter it.
Today, only the Niihauans, the Robinsons, who where the descendants of the Sinclair family who bought the island from King Kamehameha V in 1864, and the occasional invited guest are allowed to get into the island, Huffington Post wrote.
It is also very expensive to get a long sea voyage in the area especially that the owners of the island wanted to severely restrict outsiders in the place in order to preserve its privacy. But if you will get that rare chance to get into the Forbidden Island of Hawaii, here are some tips for you to make sure that you will enjoy it.
1. Try the helicopter tour. If you are the type of is already happy by merely looking at stunning views, then you can get a good view of the island through a helicopter tour. For sure, you will feel very relaxed after getting a bird's eye view of the area. But thing is, you will not be able to interact with the residents and you will enjoy other activities in the island.
2. Try scuba diving. When you ride a boat instead of a helicopter, you can get the opportunity to scuba dive on the reefs around Ni'ihau. The 33-mile trip from the dock of Kauai on the south to the Lehua Rock of the north is very intimidating as you journey across the Kaulakahi Channel. According to experienced divers, dives around the island and in the neighboring Lehua Rock are among the best in Hawaii, CNN wrote.
3. Enjoy the seascape. One of the assets in the area is the waters that are clear and blue that results into underwater visibility. Because of that, you can take a good look at the underwater seascape while riding a boat. There is even a large chance to see whales, large sharks, dolphins, rays and others.
4. Don't miss seeing the Hawaiian monk seal. Because this animal is very rare, seeing it makes one feel like it is a "ghost" encounter. Aside from rare fishes around the area, this seal can only be found here and Lehua Rock is the only place where you can reliably dive with them. The Hawaiian monk seal, which can only be found in Hawaii, is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world.
5. Explore the island. It isn't just the breathtaking ocean that you will see but even the sight of the mountains will surely impress you. But that is not all. There are also tunnels, giant arches, gorges and caves in the island. Don't miss the chance to see the dramatic topography of the place. Also, inside those structures, you will see shrimps, lobsters, nudibranchs and others!
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
