A rare special visit to Niihau Island by Alan Lloyd as a guest of the Robinson Owner. Alan provides the History, highlights around the lsland, and the Island's ties to Pearl Harbor December 7th and the Japanese Zero Pilot. Part 2
what a great thing to do...to post this up for the rest of us who love hawaiian history but who will never get the chance to visit this isolated jewel. this is a fine example of the benefits of private property and how those who own and treasure their legacy can preserve such natural environments better than any government
The Robinson example is an exception and not generally the rule. We have done the public good by designating national monuments and national parks, even BLM land counts in terms of preserving unique landscapes and wildlife. However, even those iconic lands have been under attack and for sale by an administration that sees them as merely profit centers with their cronies in big oil and mining, no doubt a kickback is part of the scheme. If you see what this administration has already done to previously protected lands like Bears Ear in Utah, and their chatter and selling of publicly owned and managed by the government BLM land, it is a sign of putting profits, including personal profits under the cover of their office title over preservation for future generations. Now they are determined to upset one of the most important and sensitive nesting and birthing areas in N. America, the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. The administration wants to open up these lands to fracking and oil exploration. The oil companies claim they can do it with little harm to the environment, does anyone with a brain believe a word they are saying? Digging for oil is a dirty, noisy, and polluting endeavor, consider light pollution as well, something that is overlooked as very destructive to the life cycles of wildlife that migrate to the Arctic from thousands of miles away. Oil operations throw out massive light pollution. We can't let this happen and for that matter, stop them and Trump's handpicked billionaire cabinet secretaries that certainly have one thing in common, they have no idea what they are doing. They reek of incompetence. In the short time, he has been in office, even though he bragged he will only appoint the best managers, how many are left from those already thrown out of office due to corruption or blatant disregard for the law or the interests of the American people? What they do protect and collude with is the power elite in big oil, gas, and mining. Trump has a sick admiration for billionaires and he believes it's beneficial to his own bottom line if he recruits them into his network, one sign of this was the massive tax break they recently were awarded. Hardly any of that trickled down and from what my friends are telling me, they are no longer getting refunds at tax time, they are now paying through the ass and none of them got their $4K bonuses from their employers as Trump promised his tax cuts would do. Net worth is his criteria for competence and none of what he has was self-made, he was born with a silver spoon to about 200 million and perhaps a lot more through generating illegal income through tax fraud for many years. This recent development came to light recently when his sister, the Federal Judge came under scrutiny for conspiring with her brother in a huge tax scam involving their dad's money. Once the word got out she was under deep suspicion she immediately resigned/retired from the bench. Can you say the consciousness of guilt? All of the information surrounding the Trumps leads me to believe he was the head of nothing less than a mafia-style operation, a crime family. He always had connections with the mob in NY, tried to borrow money from them when US banks refused to extend him any more loans. A couple mafia members stated Trump was a wannabe mobster, but was too chickenshit to be legit. After this rebuff, Trump sought the help from Russian Oligarchs and eventually Putin himself. Putin played him like a fiddle, dangled women and money and Trump would do whatever he said, as a starter, just read the story on the Helinski summit meeting between him and Putin.
I cannot imagine anyone speaking ill of the family preserving the island for the generations to come, nor for preserving the ocean eco systems. The mere genealogy going back more than 150 years is fascinating!
When I lived on Kauai my neighbors were former residents of Niihau and I loved hearing their stories of their life on the island. Thank you for providing us with this gem of a video. I enjoyed your stories too.
I was lucky to see Niihau from the Lucky Lady on May 28th . We were given some of the history of this Island but nothing like this. This is a wonderful history which I have enjoyed very much.
The Robinson's offered to fly us and some friends over to beachcomb on Niihau shortly after Hurricane Iniki. Our friends, who had a sailboat charter out of Port Allen, Kauai, saved the Robinson's boat during the hurricane. The Robinson's flew us to Niihau in their silvery, ultra-modern helicopter which was used in the first Jurassic Park movie. While beachcombing, my wife discovered the complete skeleton of a bighorn sheep, one of which is shown in your video. The one my wife found was a very mature bighorn with horns that went past a complete 360 degree circle. That skull is hanging on a shed outside our friend's home on Kauai.
For some reason this video and its first part "found me" this morning and I found it so interesting! Niihau has such a unique history in the Hawaiian chain and it always seemed so shrouded in mystery. But I'm so glad it was and probably still is shrouded in mystery because it's such a jewel among the growing main islands. Thank you Alan Lloyd, for sharing this with whoever then loaded it onto RU-vid. I no longer visit the islands much anymore but the last time I was there--on Maui for a wedding--things had become so crazy with growth and mayhem that I was angry non-stop for the first 3 days In was there. I cried a lot, too, until my partner scolded me for ruining the whole trip. So, I plastered a happy face on and decided that instead of my anger I would allow my grief to settle in. It comforts me to know that Niihau was (is?) still protected by the Robinson family. I hope it can remain that way. I do care that the permanent residents have limited ways of earning their livings, though. I guess there usually are no perfect solutions in life.
Lovely and informative video. My Mother-in-law was an educator and had an insatiable interest in anything that had to do with different cultures. She especially loved Hawaii. She left a very small collection of Ni' Ihau jewelry (which I know nothing about), and that is what let me to this video. Thank you for keeping it alive! Much appreciation for Alan.
thank goodness the Robertson family said, "they don't do business like that!" It's not about the money it's about preserving the island and the indigenous people, plants and animals! but this presentation was impressive! Mahalo nui loa
Mahalo for your sharing of the Island of Niihau with us all. As a Hawaiian Native and retired military and disabled Veteran I really appreciate your explanation of Niihau. Mahalo again.
Love this video. We lived on Oahu for 4 years, and have been off island for 5 years now and I miss it so very much. We've been to the aviation museum and have seen the plow and tractor and plane parts. Love this history.
I would have like to know about the Hawaiians that lives on Niihau. I remember Pearl Harbor when I was a 9 year old kid. I was about 4 miles away from Battleship Row in Kalihi next to the railroad tracks and Oahu Prison. On the radio, it was reported that a downed Japanese pilot was killed on Niihau by a Hawaiian who tried to help him. The scared pilot shot him, but the Hawaiian managed to get to him and crush his skull. This is what I remembered. Now I know the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would put it.
Mahalo so much for sharing Niihau. It’s always been so mysterious to me and I’d never thought of looking for videos of it, but these popped up in my feed today...Beautiful footage and enjoyed your storytelling immensely. Very fascinating. Much Aloha from Maui. ❤️🙏🌺🌈❣️
A dear friend of mine told me stories of working for the Robinsons in the late 1970's. He was a gardener and landscaper in Santa Barbara but spent time off and on at the Robinsons property. He said they built him a small cottage down towards the ocean. He is passed away now but oh how I wish I had more information about his time there. His name was Tom(Tommy) Jones if anyone knows anything.
My High School class was larger than the population of The whole island. That’s a crazy thought. So glad some disease didn’t wipe them out and we still have such a jewel.
Thank you so much for sharing and providing a glimpse into this incredible habitat. The U.S. government is in debt to the Robinson family for all they’ve contributed to our country and should pay for the cleanup of Niihau’s beaches. The govt sure as heck needs to stay out of their business, and instead of impeding or crippling them needs to step up with grants to help sustain the environment.
An effort should be made to remove all the garbage floating in; that's a crying shame! Im sure people would love to help clean up the shoreline. I'll FLY IN and work for free. Maybe a few school kids on a field trip, could be brought over periodically to help. That would lessen the impact of garbage on the environment. And obviously laws for dumping trash need to change.
Wonder if that has anything to do with what’s happening in Hawaii right now berms burnt that town down to ashes and thier people thier own people I Am so proud the Scottish people look after that island like gold the way or scottish do much love to all Hawaii island 🏝️ prayers and thoughts to you all hurt one you hurt all 8 islands, love from Glasgow Scotland 🏴 ❤
Long story, but this vid gives the history "My Recollections of Governor John Burns by James Burns" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BV8QEcXT_3s.html
King Kamahamaha sold it to their grandmother because they were friends and the island is rather unproductive as it gets the least amount of rain and is susceptible to droughts quite often. They built a ranch on it and its been in the family ever since. The family is close to the people who live there and from everything ive read there is no animus but community on the island. The Robinsons are conservationists and environmentalists and chose to keep the island private so that the people who are from there can enjoy it for what it is without foreign investment and tourism...to keep it pure. very few people live here (Robinsons also dont live here) but those who do seem to be happy to. Hawaii lost possession of the island when the Dole (your fav pineapple) stole the islands in a hostile takeover backed by the US GVT
Its great that the island is preserved and Hawaiians can preserve their culture this way, but i have heard a few problems now. One being that that the population is declining because the younger population feels limited and then leaves. Its also concerning that if a Native from the island wishes to marry an outsider - they must leave. That feels wrong. It also doesnt encourage enough variety in their gene pool. I think some rules for preservation are great, but a lot of this doesnt sound sustainable for the Natives on the island. Eventually they will die out or leave. Then what? Its just another private empty island owned by non natives - not contributing to preserving Hawaiian culture at all.
Robinson doesn't sound much like a Hawaiian name but certainly sounds as if they're the ones running the show there. All this time I thought it was the last Hawaiian only island.
It is. And the o my reason it is the last Hawaiian island is because of the robinsons family and their commitment to the Hawaiian people. You should research the history before you speak. The island is privately owned and they can do with it as the please. But they have preserved it for the Hawaiian people for 100 years . Not many other people would have done the same. Robinson’s bought the island and gave it back to native Hawaiians. Would you rather see it turn into another tourist hot spot full of Americans and every other race where native Hawaiians are the minority?? Put some respect on the Robinson name. They did Hawaiians a solid.
Are you suggesting that the HI government should be able to just take over and utilize private land however it sees fit? It is the right of the island residents to choose what they should or shouldn't do with their land. That is part of the price of freedom; things don't always work out as the majority would like.
In point of fact it is the responsibility of the majority to protect the minority, unfortunately it rarely works out that way but it is a nice aspiration.
@@tanyakarazan8094 Freedom is messy by it's very nature. Those who crave order can't stand actual freedom, because it permits all kinds of deviation from tradition and the customary. That is the very real and organic price of freedom. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.
Mr. Robinson purchased the island for $10,000 back in the 1920's IIRC. Watch parts 1 and 2 of the videos. He or his heirs and assigns are is the ones who make the decisions for this private island.
Military person telling us how he supports the navy on Niihau, military has done wrong by the Hawaiians from the beginning. Realize.... Niihau ,no more military sites, all things Hawaiian,Hawqaiian
How many families lost loved ones to defend a private family's island property where no one can go. IMHO, that is straight up nonsense!!!! That island should be used for farmland to provide for all the islanders & then some. Doing so will reduce the Hawaiian island's agricultural dependency on the mainland for source of foods. Old fashioned farming methods such as horse & plow or ox & cart & such as was done would contribute reduction of fuel consumption. Hard time's comin', HI, THINK!
Twinhit Living in Hawaii I still find it strange that vegetables grown in the mainland and shipped from there are still cheaper than Hawaiian Farmer’s market ones. Eggs from mainland are also cheaper. I would buy local if the ones who sell it stop trying to gouge their customers. They try to shame us for buying mainland food but I say shame on them for thinking we would buy theirs when they could lower it because they don’t pay for it to come across an ocean. It should be cheaper, but it isn’t. Drop the price and I would buy local.
If you visited a factory farm covering a few square miles, you'd see why their produce costs less than the output of a family farm, even allowing for transportation.
Love Hawaii & traveled to for many years. Haven’t been since leftist & Obama took possession. Sad to know it is attempting to be ruined by people who just don’t care. Do not let it go the way of California, Yellowstone, & many parts of the Islands. Some things are sacred.
How do you plow 4000 miles of land from an island 18 miles long and 6 miles wide, sounds like another misleading made up story, I was born and raised on Oahu, stop watching at the plow part of this fairytale story.
Video 1:00 Fact Check: Let’s do the math. 4000 miles X 5280 feet is a length of 21,120,000 ft. 2 foot wide furrows equals a furrowed area of 42,240,000 square feet 27,878,400 square feet per square mile 42,240,000 / 27,878,400 = 1.52 square miles Per Google Earth: the 3 dry lakes have areas of: Halali’I Lake 0.94 sq miles Halulu Lake 0.45 sq miles Nonopapa Lake 0.26 sq miles Total Area 1.63 sq miles Conclusion: 4,000 miles is not an unreasonable estimate of the distance the tractor plowed. Please watch the rest of the video, it’s not a fairytale.
Hawaiians never depended on mainland food. Mainland forced their food on Hawaiians for profit. Now the price of poi is out of reach for Hawaiians. Learn the history.
