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Imagine an island where locals spend their time fishing, hunting, and harvesting homegrown sweet potatoes, mangoes, papayas, or pumpkins. On beautiful beaches, artists gather shells to craft into exquisite lei like those that once adorned Hawaiian royalty. An islander may ride by on horseback, but there are no paved roads or passenger cars.
While it might sound like a scene from centuries ago, that's what contemporary life looks like on Ni'ihau. This Hawaiian island is home to a deep-rooted community, but it doesn't have a single store or restaurant. Although it's only 17 miles (27 kilometers) from the island of Kaua'i, which is a popular tourist destination, this serene setting has no hotels, high-rises, highways, or hustle-bustle.
There's something else that's almost entirely absent from Ni'ihau, too…visitors. With very few exceptions, outsiders—including native Hawaiians from other islands—aren't allowed to set foot on its 70 square miles (181 square kilometers) of terrain, which is why it's often called the Forbidden Island. Only people whose families have lived there for generations have unlimited access to Ni'ihau. The restriction hasn't just kept the environment tranquil. It's also helped the native language and culture thrive.
Why is Ni'ihau forbidden for all but a fortunate few? The answer has to do with the island's unusual history. In the mid-1800s, the archipelago of Hawaii was a sovereign nation. Ni'ihau was inhabited by the ancestors of the indigenous people who live there today. In 1864, the Hawaiian king sold the island to a Scottish family in exchange for $10,000 in gold and a pledge to respect the native culture. Many Ni'ihauans were aggrieved that their homeland was now under foreign ownership. More than half left the island, but the rest chose to stay.
The Forbidden Island earned its nickname in the 1900s, when the decision was made to close Ni'ihau to visitors. Many sources say the purpose was to safeguard the population against diseases like polio and measles, but the policy preserved the islanders' heritage, as well as their health. Surrounded by foreign influences, Hawaiians on other islands struggled to keep their culture alive. Isolation helped the people of Ni'ihau hold firm to their customs and traditions.
On Ni'ihau today, the old ways live on. It's the only community in the world where Hawaiian is the primary language. As a matter of fact, its members speak a dialect of Hawaiian that is unique to this island. Like their forebears, they live off the land. They've also passed down knowledge of traditional songs and artistry.
But, for residents, the island isn't some old-fashioned outpost untouched by time and cut off from the outside world. The people of Ni'ihau visit nearby islands and places far beyond Hawaii's shores. The island has modern technology like computers and solar power. In fact, Ni'ihau is the site of the only school in Hawaii that's powered entirely by solar energy.
While people of Ni'ihau honor the past, they're far ahead of other communities in some ways. Their self-reliant, sustainable lifestyle is a model of forward-thinking environmental responsibility. For example, they grow and catch much of their own food. Residents mostly depend on bikes, horses, or their own two feet for transportation, cutting down on pollution and consumption of fossil fuels.
The Forbidden Island's seclusion has helped preserve a traditional Hawaiian way of life. Some believe that this small community of islanders with their time-honored knowledge of the land and its resources could help inform Hawaii's future, as well.
Question 6
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Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that the people of Ni'ihau are not cut off from the outside world?
On Ni'ihau today, the old ways live on. It's the only community in the world where Hawaiian is the primary language.
The people of Ni'ihau visit nearby islands and places far beyond Hawaii's shores. The island has modern technology like computers and solar power.
Surrounded by foreign influences, Hawaiians on other islands struggled to keep their culture alive. Isolation helped the people of Ni'ihau hold firm to their customs and traditions.
Residents mostly depend on bikes, horses, or their own two feet for transportation, cutting down on pollution and consumption of fossil fuels.
1 answer
The passage that best supports the idea that the people of Ni'ihau are not cut off from the outside world is:
"The people of Ni'ihau visit nearby islands and places far beyond Hawaii's shores. The island has modern technology like computers and solar power."
This sentence indicates that the residents engage with the broader world and have access to modern technology, suggesting connectivity beyond their island isolation.
