Expanded property holdings for Mark Zuckerberg in Hawaii, with an additional 1,000 acres added to his existing $300 million compound.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has recently expanded his estate on Kauai, Hawaii, by purchasing an additional 962 acres of former ranch land for over $65 million, bringing his total holdings to more than 2,300 acres. The expansion includes significant infrastructure development, such as dozens of structures, security infrastructure, guest quarters, underground shelters, and water pump buildings.
Plans for the estate, known as Ko'olau Ranch, also include a "20,000-square-foot, 35-foot-tall main residence with a timber and glass facade," along with a new bunkhouse, a gym, a gatehouse, and multiple other facilities. However, this expansion has raised several concerns among locals.
One of the primary concerns is the impact on local access and cultural heritage. The expansion has affected access to certain areas, such as trails leading to Larsen’s Beach, which have traditionally been open to visitors but now feel restricted. This has emotional and cultural implications for both visitors and locals.
Another sensitive issue is the potential construction on ancestral burial grounds. There are concerns that the estate could be built atop such sites, which is a sensitive issue for the Native Hawaiian community. Zuckerberg's past actions, such as filing quiet title lawsuits to consolidate ownership of kuleana lands, have also been contentious. These lands were originally granted to Native Hawaiians and often remain in shared ownership among extended families.
Neighbors and local residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the scale and secrecy of Zuckerberg's expansions, which they feel are altering the character of the island. The trend of billionaires buying land is driving up prices and reshaping the Hawaiian Islands in ways that feel irreversible to locals.
Despite the controversies, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have scrapped previous plans for 80 luxury homes on the site and are now focusing on conservation, ranching, and farming. They plan to build three more structures on the property, ranging from 7,800 to 11,000 square feet. The estate already includes two sprawling mansions, a gym, a tennis court, several guesthouses and treehouses, a water system, and an underground shelter.
The latest purchase, valued at over $65 million, was made through a Hawaiian-sounding LLC. Many of the workers on the ranch have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), making it unlikely they'd speak out if they find something. Workers on Zuckerberg's ranch are required to report any discoveries of ancestral bones. Part of Zuckerberg's land sits atop a known burial site, and there is a "high probability" of more remains nearby.
Puali'i Rossi, a professor of Native Hawaiian studies, expressed concern that "Eventually Hawaii isn't going to look like Hawaii anymore-it's going to be a resort community." This investment likely surpasses the $311 million annual operating budget for the entire island of Kauai. As the expansion continues, the concerns among locals about Zuckerberg's outsized presence on the island persist.
Abby Montanez is a staff writer at the website, with experience in print and digital publishing covering various topics.
*Sources: [1] Hawaii News Now, [2] Honolulu Star-Advertiser, [3] Pacific Business News, [4] Bloomberg*
- The expansion of Mark Zuckerberg's estate, Ko'olau Ranch, has raised concerns about the impact on local access and cultural heritage, as certain trails now feel restricted, having emotional and cultural implications for both visitors and locals.
- Another source of contention is the potential construction on ancestral burial grounds, as there are concerns that Zuckerberg's estate could be built atop such sites, a sensitive issue for the Native Hawaiian community.
- Despite the controversies, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have shifted their focus to conservation, ranching, and farming, planning to build three more structures on the property, which already includes multiple facilities such as mansions, a gym, a tennis court, and an underground shelter.
