History of Niihau Island

Information about the history of Niihau Island in Hawaii.

Niihau Was Purchased in 1864 On January 23, 1864, two brothers, Francis Sinclair and James McHutchison Sinclair purchased Niihau Island for $10,000 from King Kamehameha V. (or was it purchased by Elizabeth Sinclair?)

1941 Japanese Crash Landing on Niihau In 1941 a Japanese pilot crash landed on the Hawaiian island of Niihau while he was trying to fly back to his aircraft carrier after the December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor. Two books written about that incident.

Niihau 1958 Position on U.S. Statehood Niihau residents voted against U.S. statehood in 1959, in a vote of 70 to 18.

Accidental 1965 Bombing of Niihau On October 5, 1965, the United States Navy accidently bombed Niihau during an aviation night practice mission. The target was suppose to be Kaula Island. Fortunately no one was injured.

Niihau Cultural Heritage Foundation History Article

This entire island of Niihau was sold by the Kingdom of Hawaii to Elizabeth Sinclair for $10,000 in 1864. She passed private ownership down to her descents, the Robinson Family, the current owners of the island. Today the island is managed by brothers Bruce Robinson and Keith Robinson.

1863
Eliza and her family arrived in Hawaii in September of 1863. AT some point after that, King Kamehameha IV of the Kingdom of hawaii Sold the entire island of Niihau to her for $10,000 USD. She later purchased additional land at Makaweli and at Hanapepe on the nearby Island of Kauai where she grew sugar cane.

1867
Valdemar Knudsen married Eliza's youngest daughter Anne on the island of Niihau. They had five children including Eric Alfred Knudsen.

1892
Eliza Sinclair died on October 16, 1892 at the age of 92.

1863
Eliza and her family arrived in Hawaii in September of 1863. AT some point after that, King Kamehameha IV of the Kingdom of hawaii Sold the entire island of Niihau to her for $10,000 USD. She later purchased additional land at Makaweli and at Hanapepe on the nearby Island of Kauai where she grew sugar cane.

1867
Valdemar Knudsen married Eliza's youngest daughter Anne on the island of Niihau. They had five children including Eric Alfred Knudsen.

1892
Eliza Sinclair died on October 16, 1892 at the age of 92.

1700's

1797: Francis W. Sincalair was born

1800's

1846: Francis W. Sincalair was lost at sea (with eldest son)
1863: Elizabeth McHutchinson Sinclair arrived in Hawaii
1963: Elizabeth McHutchinson Sinclair bought Niihau for $10,000
1867: Anne Sinclair married Valdemar Knudsen
1872: Eric Alfred Knudsen was born (July 29, 1872)

1900's

1922: Eric A. Knudsen Estabished a trust in 1922 for 3,000 acres on Kauai
1957: Eric Alfred Knudsen died (February 12, 1957)
1941: Keith Robinson was born
1941:
A Japanese pilot crash landed on Niihau after December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor

1987:
small number of supervised Niihau day tours and Niihau hunting safaris became available to tourists.

1967
Death of Niihau Owner Aylmer Robinson
Niihau owner Aylmer Robinson died on April 2, 1967. In his will he left the island to his brother Lester Robinson and his wife Helen. Their children, Keith and Bruce Robinson inherited Niihau.

2000's

(to be added)

Other History

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About the Private Island of Niihau

Other Islands of Hawaii

Visitor Destinations in Hawaii

Hawaii for Visitors

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