Facebook founder’s ambitious project faces backlash amid concerns over Hawaiian land displacement

Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire founder of Facebook, is undertaking one of the most extensive residential construction projects in US history, raising eyebrows with a $270 million mansion in Hawaii. The sprawling 1,400-acre compound, documented by WIRED, encompasses several mansions, a village, and a controversial underground bunker, among other features.

The estate, located on Kauai, Hawaii’s oldest island, is slated to include 30 bedrooms, swimming pools, saunas, conference rooms, a library, and a network of 11 interconnected treehouses linked by rope bridges. Two main residences will be connected via an underground tunnel, leading to the bunker—complete with a living area, library, and escape hatch—contained behind soundproofed walls made of metal and concrete.

In addition to its opulence, the estate aims for self-sufficiency, boasting its water and food supply. However, this ambitious project has drawn criticism from Hawaiian advocacy groups, who argue that wealthy individuals are contributing to the displacement of locals by acquiring land.

A 2020 petition on Change.org voiced concerns, stating, “Hawaiians are already mistreated enough as is. We need to let them have this. Their land is important to them. He’s building a mansion to what? Live in Kauai for two months out of the year? This is inhuman. It is sick. He needs to be stopped.”

In response to such criticisms, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg emphasized the couple’s commitments to charitable organizations focused on education, healthcare, conservation, flood recovery, and COVID-19 relief on the island. The spokesperson asserted that less than one percent of the land is developed, with the majority dedicated to farming, ranching, conservation, and wildlife preservation.

As Zuckerberg’s grand project unfolds, it continues to fuel discussions about the responsibilities of wealthy individuals in the communities where they choose to invest.