In the aftermath of Hurricanes Lala and Lowell, ordinary people across the islands are once again digging into their pockets, donating both their money and time to help storm-­affected residents as they try to rebuild their lives.

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In the aftermath of Hurricanes Lala and Lowell, ordinary people across the islands are once again digging into their pockets, donating both their money and time to help storm-­affected residents as they try to rebuild their lives.

It’s been a historic storm season in Hawaii and across the Pacific, with the intense Kona lows that brought flooding in the spring and the latest hurricanes that have battered the islands. And more storms and extreme weather may still be on the way.

After each storm, community-led grassroots efforts have been central to both immediate relief and long-term recovery as neighbors have helped each other out.

But some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people also own homes and property across Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reached out to several to see what, if anything, they are contributing as communities recover, rebuild and brace for the next storm.

On Kauai, where Hurricane Lowell leveled homes and has left many residents still without power, Meta co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, own a sprawling compound. First purchased in 2014, they have expanded the property as they’ve bought additional parcels.

The growth of the large estate generated intense scrutiny from neighbors of the property who questioned Zuckerberg’s land acquisition tactics and secrecy around its development as many longtime island residents are struggling to make ends meet and stay on-island as the cost of living continues to rise.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan said that within a day of Lowell making landfall they donated to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Kauai Strong Fund along with direct donations to other grassroots organizations working on the ground.

The spokesperson added that they have also supported prior flood relief efforts on Kauai, contributed to Maui wildfire relief in 2023 and given money in support of affordable housing initiatives.

HCF President and CEO Terry George said in a statement “we are deeply grateful to Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg for their generosity and longstanding support of Hawai‘i, including their most recent gift of $2.3 million to aid the recovery efforts on Kaua‘i.”

“What makes their partnership so meaningful is not only this specific gift, but the way they have continued to stand alongside our communities over time,” said George. “Lasting compassion is not measured by a single act of generosity, but by showing up again and again when it matters most. As Hawaii continues the work of recovery, their sustained commitment reflects a belief that resilience is built by investing not only in places, but in the people who call them home.”

HCF did not respond to a follow-up query on potential donations other monied land owners and residents may have made after the storms.

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On Hawaii island, where several communities are still reeling from the damage of Hurricane Lala, Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff and his wife, Lynne Benioff, own an ocean-front villa and a large private ranch in Waimea.

A Salesforce spokesperson said that Benioff made a $1 million donation to HCF’s Stronger Hawaii fund after Lala and a $250,000 donation through Donors Choose for schoolteachers impacted by the Kona-low storms to repair or repurchase school supplies and equipment.

The spokesperson also said Benioff has been paying for and donating new equipment for the Hawaii Fire Department, including several fire trucks, boats and aircraft.

Benioff has touted his philanthropy both on the Big Island and around the state, including a $150 million donation — considered one of the largest private gifts in state history by some counts — split between Hilo Medical Center and Straub Medical Center in Honolulu in 2024. Both hospitals have since been renamed to include “Benioff” in their titles.

On Lanai, which is 98% owned by Oracle founder and chairman Larry Ellison, Lowell did significant damage to the island’s port, forcing its closure until the Coast Guard was able to reopen it. As the owner of most of the land and businesses on the island, Ellison is essentially both landlord and employer to the majority of Lanai’s more than 3,000 residents.

Pulama Lanai, the land management company that runs most of the island for Ellison — whose legal residence is in Manalapan, Fla. — did not respond to questions about whether he has been keeping up with the storms in the Pacific or if he has been contributing to storm relief efforts in any way.

On Oahu, Ebay founder Pierre Omidyar lives in Kahala and is among the state’s wealthiest residents. From Honolulu, he launched the digital media outlet Honolulu Civil Beat and the company First Look Media while overseeing the Omidyar Network — a series of charities and other philanthropic endeavors he funds.

The Omidyar Network did not respond to questions about whether it or Omidyar were supporting storm relief efforts either individually or through organizations they support.

Dell Inc. founder and CEO Michael Dell, who owns a home on Maui and also owns the Mauna Lani and Four Seasons resorts on the island, collaborated with Benioff in making storm relief donations, according to a Salesforce spokesperson.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who also owns an estate on Maui, publicly promoted her philanthropy after the deadly 2023 Maui Wildfires and has touted other donations on Maui and throughout the islands in the past.

The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation did no respond to requests for comment on whether it or Winfrey have been monitoring the storm impacts in Hawaii or intend to support relief efforts at any point now or in the future.

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