Mark Zuckerberg has purchased more property on Kauai including the Kaloko Reservoir, further adding to his 1,300-acre estate. Not unlike the other Zuckerberg Kauai acquisitions, this $17 million, 110-acre addition is controversial and this time includes a haunted and most tragic past.
The tragedy at Kaloko reservoir.Â
Zuckerberg’s latest purchase was part of a retired sugar plantation, but more significantly, includes Kaloko reservoir which was once part of the property’s irrigation. You may recall, however, as we do, the indelible memory of when the ancient reservoir’s earthen walls collapsed. It sent a deadly wave of water down a Kauai slope, wiping out everything in its path and killing seven people. As the nearby property owner whose family was killed at the time said, “Oh my God, everything’s been washed away.” That event occurred during an unprecedented and unforgettable 40 days of torrential rain, some fifteen years ago. For a long time, some of the damage was apparent from the highway. Ultimately vegetation grew back, obscuring the incredible damage.
The dam was previously owned by wealthy Hawaii car dealer James Pflueger who pled no contest to felony reckless endangerment. The sentence was 7 months in jail and 5 years probation. Pfleuger was released from jail early due to medical reasons and later died. His company also pled no contest to manslaughter.
It was alleged that Pflueger had intentionally blocked the dam spillway to raise the water level in order to create waterfront property. Settlement on behalf of the victims and others whose property was destroyed, which included Bette Midler, included a $25 million payment.
Zuckerberg’s representatives indicated that they will follow all legal requirements with regards to the dam’s safety going forward.
Kauai Mayor was implicated in deadly dam breakage at new Zuckerberg property.
The county had received complaints about illegal grading associated with Kaloko reservoir. Later the state attorney general said that the dam’s critical spillway had been covered despite warnings about the safety implications.
It was reported, including on ABC’s 20/20, that the prior owner had given a large, illegal and unreported $9,000 cash contribution to then-mayor Maryanne Kusaka to get inspectors to look the other way in terms of damn safety. Pfleuger said he gave the money to Kusaka because he believed she needed the help. Kusaka later testified before a Kauai grand jury. It was widely rumored that she received immunity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony against Flueger.
When Kusaka was asked about it by 20/20 reporters, she covered her face, did not respond, fled, and then refused to answer subsequent questions.
Read about Zuckerberg 600 Acres on Kauai At Larsen’s Beach
Zuckerberg’s last acquisition: Kauai’s fishpond.
Recently, Zuckerberg also acquired the largest fishpond on Kauai in exchange for a $4 Million donation.
The 600-year-old Menehune (Alakoko) fish pond consists of over 100 acres near Lihue. It had been for sale for years for up to $12 million.
Zuckerberg provided a donation to the Trust For Public Land to help them acquire the fish pond to preserve its cultural and environmental significance.
Zuckerberg’s Kauai home.
According to previously issued county building permits, the Zuckerberg’s have a 57,000 square foot single-family residence with a total of 25 bathrooms on their original Kilauea Kauai property.
Actually I think you’ve got something there. One of the things that is definitely Kauai is the original Coco Palms, especially as viewed by the world in the 1961 movie “Blue Hawaii” with Elvis Presley. Zuckerberg could not only afford to get the land, but he has the wherewithal to acquire Hal Kanter’s screenplay notes and pictures for historical accuracy in recreating Coco Palms. You only require a facade and lagoons, as I actually see it as a museum and tourist attraction for decades to come!
Thanks Miss Chan and Mr. Zuckerberg for investing in and preserving our aina for all our oiwi living and visiting Hawaii. We are pleased and grateful, mahalo.
Thanks Miss Chan and Mr. Zuckerberg for investing in and preserving our aina for all our oiwi living and visiting Hawaii. We are pleased and grateful, mahalo.
I get that he’s a self-made man and earned his money. I get that he wanted a vacation home on Kaua’i for his wife and himself. I get that he wanted it to be secluded, but seriously, how much land does he need for that? He has plenty of land already to keep the riff raff out, and a wall around it. Does he need to keep acquiring more? When will he be satisfied? Is this some kind of obsession with him? I don’t have the answer, but maybe he needs to be content with the land he has now.
Kusaka should have been implicated in the deaths of the 7 people as well. How many other Kaua’i development projects did she (and predecessors) take money for and look the other way?
Why doesn’t he invest in something and make it useful, like buying Coco Palms and restoring it to its original beauty. That would bring in jobs, and money to the island. Generations are now waiting to return to the splendor of Coco Palms.
There remains only whimsical interest in resurrecting the property by a tiny minority of bystanders.
Actually I think you’ve got something there. One of the things that is definitely Kauai is the original Coco Palms, especially as viewed by the world in the 1961 movie “Blue Hawaii” with Elvis Presley. Zuckerberg could not only afford to get the land, but he has the wherewithal to acquire Hal Kanter’s screenplay notes and pictures for historical accuracy in recreating Coco Palms. You only require a facade and lagoons, as I actually see it as a museum and tourist attraction for decades to come!
What’s better for Kauai both culturally and environmentally, one wealthy family building a home on 1500 acres or 1500 well to do families building homes on one acre?
“Well-to-do” is another way of saying “wealthy” in English. Kind of like colored is another way of saying black and Anglo is another way of saying white. But certainly one family living on 1500 acres is way more environmentally friendly than 1500 families living on that same property. Culture is a completely subjective and immeasurable concept so there is no way to calculate the various impacts on that.
I seriously can’t stand this man! Not because he’s rich I have no problem with ultra successful people but this man is awful and it is a travesty that he owns so much land in the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to!
Would rather all of that land be developed into resorts for tourists–or into neighborhoods full of affordable (aka run down) housing for the “locals”? The ‘bergs and the Winfreys and the Midlers are honestly some of the few people standing between rampant over development of the islands. Or is there just not enough available, accessible, public property in Hawaii for you to enjoy? You need their land, too?