Hawaiians unite to buy back land from billionaire in a move never seen before

Throughout the generations, the local Hawai people took part in the territory of the ancestors and on the Molokai Island, where one -third of the island has. billionaire investment company Guoco GroupThis physical distinction is very clear.

At the western end of the island, the prickly wire fences and the “No Permissible entry” signs keep people away from the Molokai Farm, which extends more than 55,000 acres, as they are almost abandoned like a ghost town. Not only a farm, but with the worsening remains of the dreams of capitalists – a high -level club, a GLAMP facility, a restaurant, a golf field – left behind by wealthy businessmen who bought and sell the farm for years.

The existing owner, Guoco Group, Molokai Ranch bought it in 2005 With 2008 plans to build 200 luxury houses, but after the Molocai community opposed the development, he closed the operations in 2008. The company launched the farm in 2017 A price of 260 million dollars. Since then, the earth has been sitting in limo and owner of foreign billionaires Not for more than ten years.

After the negligence of the farm by the landowner Molokai Heritage Foundation Hawaii was founded to return its territory to Hawaii’s hands. The group expects a benevolent buyer to buy Molokai Ranch in the hope that everything will be different. Instead, the community adopts an aggressive approach, gathering together with the collective target to take back the land to handle, protect and entrust the land.

Molokai Heritage General Manager Kawaipuna “Puna” Kalipi, Molokai Heritage General Manager Kawaipuna, born and raised in Molokai, “Puna” Kalipi, “This global thing that takes place all over the world that returns to domestic communities.” “So we knew that we had a lot to learn, as well as having this deep, deep -seated desire to make this great effect.”

Considering how much the array of the landowners affected them to the inhabitants, action is necessary. The problem with Molokai Ranch is not just about land. “They also have critical infrastructure such as water system and affordable housing.” He said. “There are residences that are molding, which is disintegrated, that no one cares to repair.”

Land incorrect management also causes other problems. The red dirt deposit from the worn slopes of Western Molokai enters the ocean after a severe rain and can turn water to red Kill the coral reefs and block fish paper.

Lack of management threatens the livelihood of Molokai residents.

“If our reef dies, we lose it as a source of food.” He said. It is also concerned about how the negligence of the soil affects deer populations, because finding food elsewhere and “damaging the ecosystem of the whole island”.

Kalipi said, “Molokai Keiki, who lives, loves and cares about these lands, is the best officials for this land.” He said. “It is the most logical for us that these parcels are the great landowners who have melted to the ocean every year.”

This is a great initiative. If it was successful, it would be one of the largest land purchases in Hawaii. Larry Ellison’s purchase of approximately 90,000 acres On the island of Lanai. This time he would return to the land people. With the purchase, the purpose of the group is to restore the health of the island to return to the land to Aina Momona (abundant land).

Land chief

When Molokai Ranch went on sale at 2017, the inhabitants of Molokai made a unity march Healing past wounds This was dividing the people of the island. Dozens of years of landowners, who pushed them for further development, sometimes caused conflict against each other.

Zhantell Lindo, a generation descendant of Molokai, who was on the Board of Directors of Güven, described society as “healed people”. “All of hatred, anger and injustice has overcome and created a new Aloha -centered approach,” he said. He continued: “We are not because we forgot all the injustices and really harmful things, but rather we rise on them.”

For local Hawai people, the connection to the soil is deep. The earth is Aina or is fed. It is a painful relationship that is painful in a painful way when it is physically broken. “Our people of Hawai are very attached to the place where they were born and here.” He said. Without it, there is a “disconnection”, he continued. “Like being an orphan.”

This deep connection was caught in the Hawaii proverb, “He was caught in Alii Ka aina, that Kauwa Ke Kanaka”, that is, “The earth chief is human servant.” He speaks to Kuana (responsibility) that the people of Hawai, who are respected and sacred as a sacred thing, are not as a part of the West. He also talks about the mutual nature of the relationship, because as long as the land looks at the soil, the land will deal with people.

“What MHT is trying to do is to make sure we reset, and it is to look at it as a part of the land, as a part of who we are, as another creation and to look at it as an extension of what we put to make money.” He said.

Rise like a wave

Molokai Heritage Trust is progressing in a thoughtful way in his efforts that have allocated years for discussion and research and achieve 501 (c) (3) 501 (C) (3) profit -free status.

The organization still has big questions to answer. For example, how will $ 260 million rise? “We looked at partnerships with the state and partnerships with the state,” Kalipi said, “Blue carbon.” He said. Maui District A solution passed This year, Molokai Heritage Trust’s “efforts to recover the ownership of the lands of the ancestors in Molokai” can potentially bring millions of dollars.

Maui District Council Member, representing Molokai’yi representing Molokai’yi Molokai’yi Maui District Council member, “Our Cup Aina ‘s no one of our community said no, and now this generation kuluea, recovery, restoration and abundance is to understand what we mean.” “Aina back is not only possible, it is not possible.

He consulted the community to create a state of trust, regulations, values ​​and a mission declaration, and tries to determine how the organization will look at the soil to avoid repeating past damages by allowing retreat.

So it takes the time of trust. The farm is still on the market and the potential of another recipient to capture it is always a possibility, Kalipi said that the group “does not allow external pressures to direct us”. If this was, the group is sure to stop whatever it was.

Trust has not yet started a public campaign for land acquisition, because it is still ready to invest in planning stages. Currently, how the restoration looks and how to achieve this, such as stopping erosion and creating a permanent affordable housing, it is organizing active discussions with the community. He meets experts and organizes focus groups.

Lindo, repetitive donations are still encouraged through the website, because “we are alive and continue to grow.” He said it was difficult to ask for money, because “against our nature as people from Molokai”, but especially the group recognized it as a necessary step at any time.

When the time is correct and the community is ready with it, trust that rely on their relationships and the ability to clearly achieve the target of purchasing the land will continue.

Kalipi, SFGATE, “For those who think it is impossible to buy Molokai Ranch, we remind them that Molokai never accepted ‘impossible’ when it comes to Aina. This island protected and landed again in Hawaii.” “Our Cup [elders] He passed the prophecy of Pakui: ‘Haule Ka Lani, Haule Ka Niaupio, Hoale Ka Lepo Popolo.’ The heavens will fall, the high born will fall, and the dark world – ordinary people – will rise like a wave.

“Today, this prophecy is living with us. The land workers are rising once again. This is our moment to take action from defense, to fulfill the prophecy, to the cup, the past and present and future generations.”

Editor’s Note: SFGATE accepts the importance of active signs in the Hawaii language. We cannot use them due to the limitations of our publishing platform.

The story is updated.

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