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Niihauright Ni‘ihau, at 70 sq. miles (182 sq. km), is the smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands in the US State of Hawai‘i. The island's dimensions are 30 km by 10 km (6.2 x 18.6 mi; 50% larger than uninhabited Kaho‘olawe). The maximum elevation (Paniau) is 390 m (1280 ft). Ni‘ihau is the geologically oldest of the eight main islands. The island is relatively arid, because it is situated in the rain shadow of Kaua‘i and lacks the elevation needed to catch significant amounts of Trade Wind rainfall (see orographic precipitation). The entire island is owned by the Robinson family who purchased it from the Kingdom of Hawai‘i for $10,000 in gold in 1872. It was said that the purchaser, Elizabeth Sinclair (later Sinclair-Robinson), bought the island in preference to other real estate parcels such as Waikīkī, Pearl Harbor, or the island of Lāna‘i. There is a small U.S. Navy installation on the Island, but no military personnel are permanently stationed there. The island has approximately 160 permanent inhabitants, nearly all of whom are Native Hawaiians. They support themselves largely by subsistence agriculture. Many of them were employees of the Ni‘ihau Ranch until the Robinson family finally had to shut the operation down in 1999; it had not been profitable for most of the 20th century. Many of the residents ended up on federal welfare, although these benefits will end soon because of the five-year limit on such benefits. The Native Hawaiians lead a rural, low-tech life. They speak the Hawaiian language and keep traditions alive. This is enabled by terms in the purchase contract obligating the owner to help preserve Hawaiian culture and tradition. Ni‘ihau is the only one of the Hawaiian islands on which the Hawaiian language is the main form of communications. However, the Native Hawaiians are hardly cut off from the outside world; Ni‘ihau is subject to regular droughts that occasionally force the population to temporarily evacuate to Kaua‘i until the water supply is replenished by the next big rainstorm. In recent years, another problem has been tourists and fishermen overfishing the surrounding waters. This is troubling because the island residents already compete (disputed fact) with the local endangered population of Hawaiian monk seals for seafood (and the seals themselves are protected by the Endangered Species Act). Ni‘ihau is also known as the "Forbidden Island". This is due to the fact that until recently, the island was off-limits to all but family members, U.S. Navy personnel, government officials and expressly invited guests. Now, tourists can see the island through a limited number of supervised tours, including diving, hiking, and hunting safaris. On the beaches of the island are found shells which are the only shells to be classified as gems. Ni‘ihau shells and the jewelry made from them are very popular. Many, especially those with darker and richer color, are collectors' items. The sale of shells and shell jewelry provide an additional source of income for the local populace. The Robinson family claims that the unusual luster of Ni‘ihau shells is due to the island's extremely low pollution levels (in relation to the other islands). External link
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