It has been reported in the news and social media that Mark Zuckerberg has purchased 600 more acres on Kauai. The property was apparently sold last month for over $50 million by a local family who trace ownership back to the Kingdom of Hawaii. That brought the Zuckerberg Kauai empire to a total of over 1,300 acres.
The transaction did not include the road which provides Larsen’s beach access. That is open to the public and is owned by the County of Kauai. As you may know, all Hawaii beaches are public.
The latest property is slated to remain undeveloped. There’s a good chance that will actually happen. Consider the land holdings on Kauai by Bette Midler that also remain undeveloped as an example.
57,000 square foot home.
According to county building permits, the Zuckerberg’s have a 57,000 square foot single-family residence with a total of 25 bathrooms on their original property.
With a net worth estimated at $114 billion, Zuckerberg is one of the richest people in the world. That is said to have grown by more than $40 billion in just the past year.
Where on Kauai are Zuckerberg’s properties found.
In his original purchases, the Facebook head acquired 700 acres, which included access to white sand Pilaa Beach, an organic farm, and a prior sugarcane plantation.
The original Pilaa Beach property consisting of 350 acres was acquired for about $50 million. An adjacent 357-acre plantation property that was previously planted in sugarcane was also added. It featured 2,500 feet of oceanfront access plus the organic farm. That cost the social media guru another $66 million.
A few miles to the south of Kilauea, on Kauai’s north shore, turn towards the ocean at the Kilauea Farm sign on N. Wailapa Road. Then drive to the end and turn left on a dirt road that ends at the beach overlook.
At the overlook, you’ll find two trails. The one on the left goes to beautiful Waiakalua Beach. It takes about 10 minutes to reach Waiakalua Beach, whereas the Pilaa trail is about 30 minutes away.
Secondly, Zuckerberg had a lava rock wall built along a portion of his property line on Koolau Road, which you’ll see in this video.
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Richard S. says
Hi. It is N. Waiakalua Street not N. Wailapa. Wailapa is the next makai turn north of Waiakalua.
The Waiakalua and Pila’a trails are public. A sign indicating the Pila’a trail and saying the bluff top land is a Kauai Land Trust easement owned by the Svengross family was cut and never replaced.
Atlee says
Mahalo for your in-depth coverage.
Annette says
He can make his own private road like the jerk on the hill above secrets beach but he can’t take that public road to the beach no matter the money or lawyer he has. And there’s plenty of locals that would try to stop him.
Karen W says
Mark Zuckeberg and Bette Midler are two very different people! Bette Midler is very involved with parks, city gardens, horticultural education and the environment.
Bonnie G says
Wall effectively blocks off any view of the Pacific. Apparently he believes he owns the view too. Heart hurts for the locals
Sam T says
Why build a wall, are there border patrol keeping locals out from picking wild fruit growing on da property? He won’t last as long as the Original Hawaiian Kingdom. He will be conquered and the conquest will go down as one of the greatest victory of Hawaiian history. Like his software programs his legacy will be smothered into nothing but a nerd’s accomplished flukes. History will not look kindly upon his greed of property and respect of da Hawaiian Kingdom!
Kym V says
I’m so glad that public access to beaches is always allowed no matter who purchases the properties around it. However, it is sad that a property that could be traced back to the Kingdom of Hawaii went to someone who may live there part time and seems to be buying up more land to keep the locals away, but has no real connection to Kauai or it’s history. Just another billionaire with too much money. Would be nice if he used some of his vast wealth to give back to the community there. Thank you.
Jake F says
Zuckerberg and Chan have donated millions to Kauai’s food bank.
David"WhereToSitBroken-hearted?" B says
Look people, 25 bathrooms may sound excessive, but that’s only 1 bathroom for every 3000 SF of house. You need to keep these things in perspective.
Laurie says
Another example of unbridled greed. 75k sf and 25 br? Slightly out of touch, Markie. So much for living the Aloha life.
Mahalo for the video as well. I kept wondering where he got (purchased?) all that lava rock for the ridiculous wall. I certainly hope no ancient/sacred sites were disturbed obtaining it.
So sad.
L
SusanC says
That’s insane!
nosogirl says
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
DS says
Reminds me of the movie “The Descendants” 2011 with George Clooney
Guy C says
Me also. To bad the land owners didn’t hold out like the movie.
Rochelle h says
Thanks for reminding us of this guy’s “open borders’ policies smh
Sonja says
Imagine what the guys are thinking that got a measly $65m from Zuckerberg for stealing their Facebook idea. Watch out Hawaii, Zuckerberg may just buy all of the islands. I truly hope he leaves it undeveloped.
Jake F says
Hello? Oracle CEO Larry Ellison owns basically all of Lanai and every business on it already.
Bobby D. says
My wife and I have been going to Kauai since 1992, sad to see Hawaiin families sell off large portions of their heritage to one person. The heritage, history, culture and beauty is what brings us to the island, not somebody that owns a home with 25 bathrooms.
John B. says
Lets hope they get lost in their mansion and never found
CR says
Lol!! Yes!
AW says
A much bigger concern than the road leading to the trail head to Larsen’s beach is whether the path down to the beach will continue to be open. The land owner has been trying for years to fence this off and close the trail for years. I fear that Zuckerberg with his vast wealth will be able to accomplish this.
Annette says
Most of the people in kauai have limited choices. There’s literally whole family’s that a driven to living on the beach because they can’t afford rent. These people are employed, but all thee average expenses and rent exceed their pay so they sell the land.Bette Middler has so much property I was at one in wailua homestead. Most was given as a gift from a greedy politician she probably doesn’t know.
Richard C says
Aloha BOH Bro’s
As many including myself have predicted Zuckerberg along with island elite’s are looking to take advantage of the pandemic to change the social economic makeup of Kauai.
Plans are in place to slow tourism to the island by making short term rental condo ownership a thing of the past. The same is happening on Maui where 3 of my close friends saw the scales tip and have found non-resident owner of a short term rental condo unsustainable.
Don’t worry with the inflated condo values all made out like bandits when they sold their properties.
All the right people are on board with this change to Kauai. Retires, government, island elites and Zuckerberg the days of cheap lodging on Kauai are coming to an end.
Marsha says
Unbelievable squandering of resources. Time for Mark Z to pay his fair share of taxes.
David B says
Stood next to the guy in the buffet line at mutual friend’s BD party years ago in Palo Alto. Was a formal affair (jackets, ties), but he was in jeans with a grey hoodie.
Anyway, 75000 SF with 25 bathrooms makes for some excellent social distancing possibilities. Or they could house all the people that they just removed (or tried to remove) from the Anini beach park. (I keed)
Anonymouse says
I think its sad we allow the super rich to just buy up everything and block off access to the beaches which are all supposed to be publicly accessible. Facebook needs to go away.
Veronica W says
Sadly, I’m afraid that one day I may not get to go home! Zuckerberg will end up buying out my entire family, because they won’t be able to afford to live there anymore. It’ll be like the “displacement” of my paternal family, the Native Americans! All this from the guy WHO is against the southern border wall!!