Billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg owns 526 hectares In Hawaii, yes, now he’s beaten up again. Critics and locals alike accuse him of neo-colonialism.
Zuckerberg bought 44.5 acres of land on the island of Kauai. The $17 million deal closed last month, reports Honolulu Star Advertiser, Hawaii’s largest daily.
The area is home to most of the reservoirs that caused a deadly flood 15 years ago. The reservoir was flooded in 2006 after part of the dam collapsed after 40 days of near-constant rain. Seven people died.
The dam’s manager, James Fluger, was blamed for the tragedy. He was sentenced to seven months in prison in 2014 and released in 2015. Pflueger died in 2017 at the age of 91. The reservoir has not yet been repaired and is on the state’s list of high-risk dams.
Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for the couple, said Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are determined to do their part to meet legal requirements and enhance the safety of the tank. The two want to continue cultivating the land, raising livestock, and advocating for animal welfare.
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla ChanPhoto: Peter Barreras / AP
