14 Celebs Who Were Criticized For Visiting Hawai‘i

University of Hawai‘i law professor Kapua Sproat told the Guardian, “This is the face of neocolonialism. Even though a forced sale may not physically displace people, it’s the last nail in the coffin of separating us from the land. For us, as Native Hawaiians, the land is an ancestor. It’s a grandparent. You just don’t sell your grandmother.”

State Rep. Kaniela Ing also said, “Zuckerberg is saying he wants to respect the local culture and Hawaiian values but … I was always taught that if there was a dispute with somebody, you go and knock on their door, sit down, and you kukakuka [discuss] and you hooponopono [make it right]. You don’t initiate conversation by filing a lawsuit.”

Hope Kallai, one of Zuckerberg’s neighbors, told the outlet, “We have been waiting for contact. He’s kind of in a bubble. It would be much better if we could sit in a circle and talk. He talks about building bridges and not walls. He built a 6-foot wall.”