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Highlight of the story: Mark Zuckerberg's Koʻolau Ranch in Kauai is expanding. The estate features tunnels and a bunker. It also faces criticism from Native Hawaiians over land disputes. Zuckerberg dropped lawsuits in 2017. He continues to develop the property. New construction includes a large dormitory. The estate's scale raises concerns about private wealth influencing public resources. This expansion is ongoing.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s growing real estate empire in Hawaii has taken on a near-mythical status. What began as a $100 million land deal in 2014 for 700 acres on Kauai’s lush North Shore has since ballooned into a sprawling 2,300-acre estate known as Koʻolau Ranch—a high-tech fortress blending privacy, luxury, and controversy. Tunnels, treehouses, and a doomsday-ready bunker
According to permits, drone footage, and insider reports, Koʻolau Ranch houses more than just mansions and guest lodges. The estate features underground tunnels connecting multiple residences, treehouses suspended in the jungle canopy, and a 5,000-square-foot subterranean bunker equipped with blast-proof doors, panic rooms, and secret exits. Advanced surveillance systems and strict NDAs reportedly protect the enclave. A green facade amid deep-rooted controversy
Zuckerberg’s representatives have promoted the estate as a model of sustainability, with working orchards of macadamia nuts, ginger, and turmeric. However, many Native Hawaiians see the development as a symbol of displacement and gentrification. The backlash began in 2016 when Zuckerberg filed lawsuits to acquire ancestral land parcels known as Kuleana lands, granted to Native Hawaiian families in the 1800s. These lawsuits—filed through a legal process called quiet title—sparked outrage. Activists accused Zuckerberg of using legal muscle to force out families unaware they even held claims to the land. Under mounting pressure, Zuckerberg dropped the suits in 2017, stating his intention to “make things right,” though critics say the damage to community trust remains. Legislative pushback and quiet expansion
The public backlash prompted Hawaii lawmakers to pass new legislation requiring landowners to seek mediation before legal action in such cases—shifting legal costs to the plaintiff. Despite the new rules, Zuckerberg continued to grow his estate quietly. His latest purchase, a 1,000-acre parcel valued at $65 million, was finalized without fanfare. New permits indicate Meta's founder plans to construct three more multi-million-dollar buildings on the site, including a 16-bedroom, 16-bathroom dormitory-style facility with a large open-air lanai. A private empire rivaling public budgets
The estimated $30 million construction cost of the new structures rivals Kauai’s annual public infrastructure budget. Observers argue that while the estate’s ambitions are cloaked in green language, the growing footprint reflects a deeper shift: the power of private wealth to reshape public landscapes.