"Billionaires' Ownership of 11% of Hawaii's Private Land"
Ultra-rich investors, including Larry Ellison and Oprah Winfrey, have acquired a significant portion of Hawaii, with just 37 billionaires owning at least 218,000 acres, equivalent to 11% of the state's private land. While some billionaires have deep ties to the community and contribute to local causes, tensions have risen between Hawaiians and wealthy out-of-state landowners, leading to a proposed bill to ban non-Americans from purchasing land in Hawaii. The extensive land ownership has sparked concerns about the state becoming a playground for the rich, with some billionaires focusing on luxury developments while others aim to preserve and conserve the land.