Mark Zuckerberg sued native Hawaiians for their own land | AJ+

Summary

The video explores the ongoing land battle in Hawaii, highlighting the struggles of native Hawaiians to retain their ancestral lands against powerful interests, including tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg. It discusses the history of land loss dating back to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the use of legal processes like Quiet Title to force native landowners to sell. Through personal accounts, the video showcases the emotional and cultural impact on Hawaiians as they fight to preserve their land, identity, and heritage amidst growing commercialization and outside influence in their paradise home.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zuckerberg has built a 700-acre property in Kawaii, Hawaii, attracting controversy due to its impact on native Hawaiians' land rights.
• 😀 A century-long battle over Hawaiian land ownership began when American plantation owners overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.
• 😀 Zuckerberg's construction of a wall around his property has sparked anger among native Hawaiians who still own land nearby.
• 😀 Native Hawaiians, like Shannon Buckner, own ancestral lands called 'kuliana,' which are passed down without clear deeds or wills, leading to legal complexities.
• 😀 The Quiet Title legal system allows wealthy buyers, like Zuckerberg, to sue native landowners, forcing them to sell their land at auction for minimal amounts.
• 😀 After public backlash, Zuckerberg apologized for suing native Hawaiians and pledged to find a better approach, but many feel the damage is already done.
• 😀 Some native Hawaiians have been unknowingly deceived into selling their land to Zuckerberg's company, leading to feelings of betrayal and anger.
• 😀 The issue of land loss in Hawaii is part of a larger historical context involving American plantation owners, who have long targeted native Hawaiian lands.
• 😀 Radio host Kaulani Mahuka blames the Hawaiian state for facilitating land grabs by wealthy individuals, using tools like Quiet Title to strip land from native Hawaiians.
• 😀 Native Hawaiians advocate for sovereignty and want visitors to Hawaii to respect their culture and stop moving to the islands, as land and housing have become scarce.
• 😀 The introduction of a bill by state representative Kaniela Ing aims to force buyers using Quiet Title to mediate with the families before acquiring lands.
• 😀 Some native Hawaiians have resorted to occupying their kuliana lands to preserve their heritage and resist the ongoing loss of ancestral land to outsiders.

Q & A

What is the core issue highlighted in this video?

The core issue is the ongoing battle over land ownership in Hawaii, particularly the struggles of native Hawaiians to retain their ancestral lands in the face of powerful outside interests, including billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg.

How did Mark Zuckerberg become involved in the land dispute?

Mark Zuckerberg became involved after purchasing 700 acres of land in Hawaii in 2014. He later built a large wall around the property, leading to legal disputes with native Hawaiians who own neighboring parcels of land, which were inherited through generations.

What is 'kuliana' land and why is it significant?

Kuliana land refers to small, individually owned parcels of land passed down through generations of native Hawaiians. It is significant because it represents the cultural and legal responsibility to maintain Hawaiian land ownership, even if the land lacks formal documentation.

What is 'Quiet Title,' and how does it affect native Hawaiians?

Quiet Title is a legal process through which a buyer, such as Zuckerberg, can sue the owners of land without clear title documents, forcing them to sell their land, often at a fraction of its true value. This practice has been used to strip native Hawaiians of their ancestral lands.

What is the impact of Zuckerberg's wall on the local community?

Zuckerberg’s wall, intended for privacy, has become a symbol of tension and injustice for the local community, attracting more attention to the land disputes. It has also exacerbated feelings of frustration among native Hawaiians who see it as a physical barrier to their ancestral land.

How did Zuckerberg respond to the backlash over his lawsuits?

After facing criticism, Zuckerberg apologized and dropped the lawsuits. He promised to engage with the community to find a better approach, though many feel that the damage had already been done.

What cultural significance does the taro plant have in this land dispute?

Taro, or 'koo' in Hawaiian, is sacred to native Hawaiians. It plays a central role in Hawaiian culture and creation stories. It is also a staple food. The loss of land used for cultivating taro is deeply symbolic of the broader struggles native Hawaiians face to preserve their heritage.

What has been the response from native Hawaiians regarding land sales to outsiders?

Many native Hawaiians feel deceived and angry when they discover that their land, which was sold under misleading circumstances, ends up in the hands of wealthy outsiders, including billionaires like Zuckerberg. They are determined to preserve their cultural and ancestral connections to the land.

What does radio host Kaulani Mahuka say about the role of the Hawaiian state in land disputes?

Kaulani Mahuka criticizes the Hawaiian state for facilitating land grabs by wealthy landowners. She describes the state's involvement as aiding outsiders in acquiring Hawaiian land, often using legal processes like Quiet Title to displace native Hawaiians.

What actions are being taken to address the land issue in Hawaii?

In response to the uproar over Zuckerberg's actions, state representative Kaniela Ing introduced a bill that would require mediation before pursuing Quiet Title. This bill aims to protect native Hawaiian landowners and address the legal systems that have historically disadvantaged them.