Sits atop a Burial Ground: What’s making some locals unhappy with Mark Zuckerberg ‘top secret’ Hawaii compound
Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO, has reportedly expanded his $300 million Kauai estate by acquiring an additional 962 acres of ranch land, bringing his total holdings on the Hawaiian island to over 2,300 acres. According to a report in WIRED, the purchase, made through an LLC for an estimated $65 million, has intensified local concerns, particularly regarding the presence of ancestral Burial sites on the property.A key issue highlighted in the expansion, as per the report, has been the presence of burial sites at the compound. Around 2015, local islander Julian Ako contacted Zuckerberg’s representatives to report that part of the compound contained the remains of his great-grandmother and her brother. After months of negotiations, Ako gained access to the site and registered the graves with Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. However, Ako’s attempts to locate additional ancestral remains on the property were unsuccessful. Hawaiian officials have since confirmed, based on oral testimony, a high probability of other burial sites existing on Zuckerberg’s land. The identified burial site was reportedly “fenced off and maintained” following its discovery, according to Zuckerberg’s spokesperson, Brandi Hoffine Barr.
What’s worrying Hawaii locals living around Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s ‘secret’ compound
Ako told Wired that workers at Zuckerberg’s compound are “bound by regulations that require reporting of inadvertent discoveries of Iwi” — or Hawaiian ancestral bones. And since they are bound by strict nondisclosure agreements, local residents fear that any future discovery of Iwi could be concealed. “If all of the workers have signed these nondisclosure agreements, then basically they’re sworn to silence,” Ako told the publication. “If they uncover Iwi — or bones — it’s going to be a challenge for that to ever become public knowledge, because they’re putting their jobs in jeopardy.”The sprawling estate already includes two mansions with a combined floor area the size of a football field, a gym, a tennis court, guest houses, ranch buildings, saucer-shaped treehouses, a water system, and an underground storm shelter with blast-resistant doors and an escape hatch. Recent planning documents reveal plans for three additional large buildings, ranging from 7,820 to 11,152 square feet, with two featuring 16 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms in a motel-style layout, potentially accommodating over 100 people. These buildings are equipped with cameras, keypad locks, and motion detection devices, described by Hoffine Barr as short-term guest housing for family, friends, and staff.The land, previously owned by the Mary Lucas Trust Estate and used for sugar plantations and cattle grazing, is now part of Zuckerberg’s Koʻolau Ranch, which focuses on cattle ranching, organic farming, and conservation efforts. Hoffine Barr noted that the majority of the land is dedicated to agriculture and endangered species protection, with prior plans for 80 luxury homes canceled after the purchase.Zuckerberg’s growing presence on Kauai, which includes additional land purchases like 560 acres near Larsen’s Beach and 110 acres encompassing the Kaloko Dam, has sparked mixed reactions. The report says that while his donations to local nonprofits and job creation have been welcomed, the scale of his influence and the potential disturbance of sacred burial sites continue to fuel unease among locals, who worry about the impact of billionaire land acquisitions on Kauai’s cultural and natural heritage.
