Who was responsible for the purchase of Ni'ihau and in which year did this occur?

The purchase of Ni'ihau was completed by Elizabeth Sinclair in 1864. She was a Scottish-born entrepreneur who acquired the island from the last of the Hawaiian chiefs. This transaction is significant as it established private ownership of Ni'ihau, which remains the only privately owned inhabited island in Hawaii.

The historical context surrounding this purchase highlights the shift towards privatization of land that was occurring during this period in Hawaiian history, following the overthrow of the traditional chiefdom. Elizabeth Sinclair's acquisition was part of a broader trend during the 19th century in Hawaii, where land ownership began to transition from royal control to private individuals, particularly following the Great Mahele Land Division in the 1840s.

Involvement of other figures, like Queen Liliuokalani, James Cook, or William Howard Taft, in relation to Ni'ihau is not accurate in the context of the island's ownership. Queen Liliuokalani ruled much later and was involved in different matters related to the governance of Hawaii, while Cook was an explorer and did not participate in such transactions. Taft, who later became President of the United States, was involved in the political affairs of Hawaii but not in its land purchases. Therefore, the correct