Mark Zuckerberg’s secret Kauai empire with tunnels treehouses and a doomsday bunker
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 31, 2025, 23:01 IST
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Mark Zuckerberg owns over 2,300 acres in Kauai. His Koʻolau Ranch includes mansions, tunnels, and a bunker. The estate faces criticism from Native Hawaiians. They view it as displacement. Lawsuits against landowners caused public anger. Zuckerberg dropped the suits but expanded his holdings. New construction permits are filed. The ranch highlights wealth's influence on Hawaii.
When Mark Zuckerberg arrived in Hawaii in 2014, he envisioned more than just a vacation retreat. What began as a $100 million purchase of 700 acres on Kauai’s scenic north shore has since expanded into a sprawling private estate known as Koʻolau Ranch, now covering over 2,300 acres. This vast property stretches from the mountaintops to the ocean and rivals the island’s entire annual public infrastructure budget in value.
Inside Koʻolau Ranch, a world of luxury and security unfolds. Drone images and local reports reveal an ultra-modern compound hidden beneath dense forest canopy. The estate includes two enormous mansions connected by underground tunnels, several guesthouses, a gym, and futuristic treehouses suspended in the jungle. At its core lies a 5,000-square-foot underground bunker equipped with blast-resistant doors, a secret escape hatch, and multiple panic rooms. The property is heavily fortified with security cameras, motion sensors, keypad-locked gates, and all workers are required to sign strict non-disclosure agreements.
Though Zuckerberg’s representatives promote Koʻolau Ranch as a model of sustainability — with orchards of macadamia nuts, turmeric, and ginger, along with donations to local nonprofits — the estate has sparked significant controversy. Many Native Hawaiians view the project as a painful symbol of displacement. In 2016, Zuckerberg filed lawsuits targeting the descendants of 14 small Kuleana land parcels embedded within his estate. These parcels, often less than an acre, hold deep cultural and ancestral significance, and the lawsuits, pursued through a legal process known as “quiet title,” were widely seen as legal bullying. Many families claimed they were unaware they even owned land until served with court documents, and most lacked the resources to fight back.
Public backlash was swift and fierce. Activists denounced the lawsuits as “legal stealing,” and a petition to halt Zuckerberg’s land acquisitions gained traction. Under mounting pressure, Zuckerberg dropped the lawsuits in 2017 and expressed a desire to make amends. However, the damage to community trust had already been done. The controversy prompted Hawaii lawmakers to pass a new law requiring landowners to pursue mediation before filing such lawsuits, placing the cost on the plaintiff to protect Native Hawaiian landowners.
Despite these legal changes and public outcry, Zuckerberg has quietly continued to expand his holdings. The latest acquisition, a 1,000-acre parcel valued at roughly $65 million, was finalized without much fanfare. Additionally, permits have been filed to construct three multi-million-dollar buildings on the estate. These include large dormitory-style structures featuring 16 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and a 1,300-square-foot open-air lanai. The estimated construction costs for these new buildings exceed $30 million—nearly equal to Kauai’s entire yearly public infrastructure budget.
Today, Mark Zuckerberg’s Koʻolau Ranch stands as a testament to the immense influence of private wealth on the cultural and physical landscape of Hawaii. While the estate boasts advanced sustainability efforts and high security, it also embodies a complex and ongoing struggle over land, heritage, and community identity on the island.
How much land does Zuckerberg own in Kauai? More than 2,300 acres — about three times the size of New York’s Central Park. His recent $65 million purchase is just part of an estate worth hundreds of millions, reshaping Kauai in ways many find unsettling.
As this private empire grows, so does the conversation about the balance between progress, preservation, and respect for the native people whose roots run deep in Hawaii’s land.
Inside Koʻolau Ranch, a world of luxury and security unfolds. Drone images and local reports reveal an ultra-modern compound hidden beneath dense forest canopy. The estate includes two enormous mansions connected by underground tunnels, several guesthouses, a gym, and futuristic treehouses suspended in the jungle. At its core lies a 5,000-square-foot underground bunker equipped with blast-resistant doors, a secret escape hatch, and multiple panic rooms. The property is heavily fortified with security cameras, motion sensors, keypad-locked gates, and all workers are required to sign strict non-disclosure agreements.
Though Zuckerberg’s representatives promote Koʻolau Ranch as a model of sustainability — with orchards of macadamia nuts, turmeric, and ginger, along with donations to local nonprofits — the estate has sparked significant controversy. Many Native Hawaiians view the project as a painful symbol of displacement. In 2016, Zuckerberg filed lawsuits targeting the descendants of 14 small Kuleana land parcels embedded within his estate. These parcels, often less than an acre, hold deep cultural and ancestral significance, and the lawsuits, pursued through a legal process known as “quiet title,” were widely seen as legal bullying. Many families claimed they were unaware they even owned land until served with court documents, and most lacked the resources to fight back.
Public backlash was swift and fierce. Activists denounced the lawsuits as “legal stealing,” and a petition to halt Zuckerberg’s land acquisitions gained traction. Under mounting pressure, Zuckerberg dropped the lawsuits in 2017 and expressed a desire to make amends. However, the damage to community trust had already been done. The controversy prompted Hawaii lawmakers to pass a new law requiring landowners to pursue mediation before filing such lawsuits, placing the cost on the plaintiff to protect Native Hawaiian landowners.
Despite these legal changes and public outcry, Zuckerberg has quietly continued to expand his holdings. The latest acquisition, a 1,000-acre parcel valued at roughly $65 million, was finalized without much fanfare. Additionally, permits have been filed to construct three multi-million-dollar buildings on the estate. These include large dormitory-style structures featuring 16 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and a 1,300-square-foot open-air lanai. The estimated construction costs for these new buildings exceed $30 million—nearly equal to Kauai’s entire yearly public infrastructure budget.
Today, Mark Zuckerberg’s Koʻolau Ranch stands as a testament to the immense influence of private wealth on the cultural and physical landscape of Hawaii. While the estate boasts advanced sustainability efforts and high security, it also embodies a complex and ongoing struggle over land, heritage, and community identity on the island.
How much land does Zuckerberg own in Kauai? More than 2,300 acres — about three times the size of New York’s Central Park. His recent $65 million purchase is just part of an estate worth hundreds of millions, reshaping Kauai in ways many find unsettling.
As this private empire grows, so does the conversation about the balance between progress, preservation, and respect for the native people whose roots run deep in Hawaii’s land.