11 Celebrities Who've Bought Absurd Amounts Of Land In Hawai'i (While Native Hawaiians Are Being Forced Out Of Their Home)
Hawai'i is facing a severe housing crisis. According to a recent study, it's become the least affordable state in the US, with folks spending 62% of their income to cover their mortgage bills alone. Though Native Hawaiians have called the islands home for thousands of years, they are being pushed out of their ancestral lands and make up a disproportionate number (51%) of the houseless population.
As a reminder, the Hawaiian Kingdom used to be an independent country. In 1893, US troops unlawfully invaded Honolulu, and Queen Lili'uokalani was overthrown and placed on house arrest. In 1898, Congress voted to make Hawai'i a US Territory — despite members pointing out it was unconstitutional. After a referendum in 1959, Hawai'i was considered a state.
Since statehood, tourism has exponentially increased — despite Native Hawaiians asking people to stay away for years — and resulted in overcrowding, damage to the environment, and a higher cost of living. Additionally, a 2018 Hawai'i Tourism Authority study found that nearly 70% of vacation rentals were owned by people who live outside of Hawai'i. Maui had the highest overall rate of out-of-state property owners (nearly 30%). Wealthy people continue to swoop in and snatch up homes on obscene amounts of land — leaving less and less available for Native Hawaiians.
So, here are 11 celebrities who own homes in Hawai'i:
1.Oprah
The media mogul has been a part-time resident of Maui for years with over 100 acres of land in Kula (her home base is in Montecito, California). In March, she purchased 870 more acres in the central part of Maui for nearly $6.6 million.
The purchase sparked outrage online with many wondering how she was able to buy so much land for that price when the average listing price for Maui homes is currently $1.2 million.
2.Matthew McConaughey
Two years ago, the actor — who lives in Austin, TX — purchased a $7.8 million house on the big island of Hawaii. The six-bedroom home has two pools, two outdoor fire pits, indoor and outdoor kitchens, a wine cellar, and beach views.
3.Jeff Bezos
In 2021, he reportedly purchased 14 acres in Maui for $78 million. The estate is said to include a 4,500-square-foot main house, a 1,700-square-foot guesthouse, a 700-square-foot pool, a private beach, lots of greenery, and even a section of Hawaiian lava fields. Jeff also owns homes in New York, Beverly Hills, Seattle, Texas, and Washington D.C.
4.Nick and Vanessa Lachey
In 2021, the couple decided to purchase a house and make Hawai'i their home. Vanessa told Travel + Leisure, "This is the most beautiful place I've ever been emotionally. There's a magic. When you live here and are surrounded by the loving people…you can't help but feel it and get moved by it."
"I’ve never felt more at home than I do in Hawai'i," she told Us Weekly. "I’ve never really felt like I was home until here."
5.Woody Harrelson
The actor — who also lives in Beverly Hills — owns two homes on Maui, with one of them set against the Haleakalā volcano.
6.Owen Wilson
After visiting Woody in Maui, Owen apparently loved the North Shore so much that he bought his own house there (while already owning homes in California). Since then, the actor has reportedly purchased additional houses in Hawai'i.
7.Willie Nelson
In addition to his Texas home, the singer bought a house on Maui in the late '70s. His sons were raised there and attended local schools. Willie is known for his poker nights with Woody and Owen.
8.Carlos Santana
In 2021, the singer — who lives in Las Vegas — paid $20.5 million to upgrade to a larger vacation home on Kaua'i. The 8,000-square-foot house is split into four pods connected by a central outdoor living space. The 35,284-square-foot property features an outdoor lounge, kitchen, barbecue area, lanai, and an infinity saltwater swimming pool and spa overlooking Hanalei Bay.
9.Pierce Brosnan
The actor — who splits his time between Kaua'i and Malibu — purchased a house that sits on five acres in 2002. He told Closer Weekly that having a house in Hawai'i is a "gift." He continued, "For [my wife] Keely and I to come here years ago and have some small dream of a getaway for our children, for ourselves and our future, this is truly [a] magical space."
10.Clint Eastwood
In addition to his California homes, the actor reportedly owns an oceanfront house in South Maui. He directed the film Hereafter, which was partially shot in Lahaina, about 30 miles from his house.
11.And finally, Mark Zuckerberg
In 2014, he purchased 750 acres in Kaua'i for $100 million before adding another 600 acres for $53 million in March 2021. In December 2021, he purchased 110 more acres for $17 million. This is all in addition to the many homes he owns across California.
His estate has sparked intense backlash over the years. In 2016, he built a six-foot wall around his property, cutting off easy access to Pila'a Beach. The following year, his lawyers sued many Hawaiians who owned fractions of small parcels within his estate’s boundaries. Public outcry was swift and severe, with law professor Kapua Sproat famously calling him "the face of neocolonialism." She continued, "For us, as Native Hawaiians, the land is an ancestor. It’s a grandparent...You just don’t sell your grandmother." Mark quickly dropped the suit, but those parcels of land were still sold at an auction.
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