H
awaii's allure for the rich and famous remains strong, with a constant rotation of celebrity owners. This summer has brought new listings to the market, including Roseanne Barr's 46-acre macadamia nut farm on the Big Island for $1.95 million and Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo's Kailua beachfront retreat on Oahu for around $5 million.
Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan continue to expand their holdings on Kauai, while Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison remain among the most prominent celebrity landowners in Hawaii. The sale of Barr's farm raises questions about whether it will remain a working property or be converted into a lifestyle estate.
Other celebrities are also cashing out, including Clint Eastwood, who has kept a lower profile on Maui in recent years. In contrast, some owners like Zuckerberg and Bezos are investing even more deeply in the islands, sparking community debates over land use and access.
The reasons for celebrity departures vary, but often include the challenges of maintaining large estates from afar, exhaustion from constant travel, and the weight of public scrutiny. Even for the wealthy, Hawaii can be a difficult place to hold onto long-term due to practical realities like property upkeep and isolation.
As one celebrity exits, another usually takes their place, drawn by Hawaii's unique blend of beauty, privacy, and exceptional properties. However, these transactions also raise larger issues about land use, culture, and community in the islands.
Each new purchase or sale sparks questions about how it affects Hawaii, from the transformation of farmland into lifestyle estates to the impact on local economies and property values. The concentration of wealth among a small group of individuals has become a growing concern, with just 37 wealthy individuals controlling over 218,000 acres statewide – more than 10 percent of all privately owned land.
The constant churn of celebrity owners in Hawaii raises questions about what this means for the islands' residents and visitors alike. Does it make the islands feel more glamorous or less welcoming?
