Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have made another large purchase of Hawaiian land. It is the tycoon's second major purchase of Hawaiian land, the first of which generated huge controversy.
The recent purchase is for 600 acres of real estate worth around $53 million.
It is described as containing several properties and a 'reef, sea, avian, flora and historical collections in their unaltered native habitat'.
Bought from the Waioli Corporation, the firm said of the purchase:
"We know that this land will remain in their trusted hands and that Mark and Priscilla will act as responsible stewards of Lepeuli today and in the future."
There has previously been huge controversy over Zuckerberg's previous purchase of 700 acres of land, much of which belonged to indigenous people who did not have formal title deeds and were therefore not legally the owners of the land.
When the native people protested the sale, Zuckerberg launched a series of legal challenges to force the families out of their homes by making them sell their land at public auction.
Kapua Sproat, a law Professor at the University of Hawaii who is originally from Kauai, said at the time:
"This is the face of neocolonialism. Even though a forced sale may not physically displace people, it's the last nail in the coffin of separating us from the land. For us, as Native Hawaiians, the land is an ancestor. It's a grandparent. You just don't sell your grandmother."
After a public outcry, the CEO dropped the lawsuits and apologised for his actions.
Zuckerberg has said that he does not plan to evict anyone from the old land he owns or the new land. He said in a statement:
"Waioli does essential work promoting conservation and cultural preservation and we are mindful of their legacy with regard to this land. We are committed to honouring the current ranching lease to Paradise Ranch and extending the existing agricultural dedication."
Zuckerberg is a keen surfer and has often visited Hawaii in order to surf in the world-renowned waves off the coast.
[h/t: The Independent]
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