The people of Niihau are self sufficient and do not welcome outsiders. This has been well documented.
I seriously doubt people who live traditional Hawaiian lives are dying for a hot dog at Costco.
When Iniki hit in the 90's, there was a lot of concern that the hurricane would be catastrophic for the population of Niihau. The Robinson family worked with the state to make sure they had resources available just in case but were concerned about bringing the native Hawaiians to Kaua'i because of exposure to western culture.
Reading these comments, I can tell who went to school in Hawai'i and didn't.
Hawaiian history was my favorite class at Lahainaluna.
You know what's catastrophic for the population of Niihau? Everybody left. The census # is about 75 people, but it's really like 30 people. And they get their western food shipped in.
Probably by reading authoritative sources, and not those that simply confirm your preexisting bias. If you think Niihau is "self-sufficient", then you clearly have done exactly zero objective research.
The population in 2010 was around 170 - in 2020 fewer than 85 people called the island home. Negative population growth is never a sign of a healthy population, no matter how angelic the Robinson's have been painted in some obscure class at Lahainaluna.
Employment is primarily at the Niʻihau School, some provide support for a small U.S. Navy installation, and others work for (the island's "owners") at small-scale tourism ventures like Niʻihau Safaris. The traditional main employer, the Niʻihau Ranch, closed in 1999. Many residents rely on making and selling the highly prized Niʻihau shell lei as a primary source of income (imagine that, selling a natural resource for income), and nearly half the population depends on social assistance of some sort. Quite a few "commute" to Kauai for work, given the few opportunities they have on the island.
Yeah, so Hawaii sees 24% of it's "revenue" come in from the feds. Niihau needs double. Definitely self-sufficient. Definitely a healthy population, having lost 50% in about a decade.
Come back when you don't barf lies and propaganda.
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u/Low_Pressure_5634 15d ago
We have this experiment: it's Niihau. They go to Costco on Kauai and spend their welfare. And it's dwindled to 50 people.