Marc Benioff, the CEO of the powerful San Francisco based software enterprise Salesforce, is buying large chunks of Hawaiian land on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Benioff is making the purchases in the small rural mountain town of Waimea. The town has a population of roughly 10,000 and a strong Indigenous Hawaiian culture.
Photo by Michael Olsen on Unsplash
Famous for its agricultural industry and ties to rodeo culture, Waimea is a far cry from the beach and surf culture of the North Shore. It’s also a departure from the norm for billionaires and their Hawaiian estates.
For many locals, Benioff’s land grabs have spawned a lot of questions. As property rates and costs of living skyrocket, people want to know more.
More on the Waimea Purchases
According to a report from NPR, Benioff has bought 38 parcels of land since 2000. This is more than 600 acres, including ocean side properties and his newest ventures inland.
22 of the parcels are in Waimea. This makes up a huge chunk of this sleepy agricultural community.
Photo by Meina Yin on Unsplash
Several independent LLCs and non-profits purchased the parcels. None were directly linked to the billionaire, however, they can be linked to his offices in San Francisco.
Although details on what Benioff intends to use his properties for remain a mystery, he has donated several parcels to local nonprofits, affordable housing organizations, and local schools.
The billionaire has a deep appreciation for Hawaii and Hawaiian culture. Benioff has been a longtime resident of the islands.
During the opening ceremonies for San Francisco’s tallest building, Salesforce Tower, Benioff asked Indigenous Hawaiian friends Anna Akaka and Danny Akaka Jr. to give their blessings. This is just one of many occasions Benioff has brought Hawaiian culture and traditions into his work.
Other Billionaire Land Purchases in Hawaii
For decades, local Hawaiians have seen the super-rich buying land on their islands. Rent, land, food, and other prices have skyrocketed in recent years, leaving locals and indigenous people in vulnerable situations.
Benioff is one of a long list of billionaires who have bought land on the Hawaiian Islands. Familiar names such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison, have staked their claims on the islands.
The Hawaiian islands check every box for being an island paradise, but for most locals, the dream is far from reality. How the islands will cope with over tourism and over development will be hard to predict.