It was a call to who will own the lands of Kauai in Hawaii when Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan settled it to court in December 2016 against hundreds of Hawaiian locals for 13 parcels of lands that went back to the 1800's. But last Friday, the Facebook founder dropped all charges stating that he "did not take the time to fully understand the quiet title process and its history before we moved ahead."
In 2014, the Zuckerbergs bought 700-acre waterfront estate on Kauai for $100 million and hoped to acquire the other 13 lands and sell it to the highest bidder. According to his letter to The Garden Islands, he believed that there were no inhabitants and the title of the land was unclear.
"There are also several kuleana across Pila'a. Some belong to descendants of Manuel Rapozo, and others have had no inhabitants for many decades. Over generations, there are not always clear records of ownership, and many families with a stake in these kuleana may not even be aware," Zuckerberg wrote.
What was meant to be clarity over who owns a land, turned into a court settlement and ire from the locals. "In Hawaii, this is where it gets more complicated. As part of Hawaiian history, in the mid-1800s, small parcels were granted to families, which after generations might now be split among hundreds of descendants. There aren't always clear records, and in many cases descendants who own ¼ percent or 1 percent of a property don't even know they are entitled to anything," Zuckerberg took to Facebook.
After talking the issue out, Zuckerberg dropped the legal actions over the court. "We understand that for native Hawaiians, kuleana are sacred and the quiet title process can be difficult. We want to make this right, talk with the community, and find a better approach.
"The land is made up of a few properties in Waipake, Pila'a, and several kuleana within them. As this community knows, the history of this land is complex. Many of you have shared your families' stories, and we want to honor their history.
Upon reflection, I regret that I did not take the time to fully understand the quiet title process and its history before we moved ahead. Now that I understand the issues better, it's clear we made a mistake."
Zuckerberg and his wife will continue to speak with Hawaiian community leaders for them to understand further the land. They also thanked the community members for welcoming him in Kauai.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
