Molokai remains one of the least developed of the main Hawaiian Islands but developers have other plans for it. The island’s largest landowners plan to sell 200 luxury estates in this remote and beautiful isle. Molokaʻi (also Molokai), the fifth largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago has become a topic of hot debate.

Molokai, 7,800 populations, heart beats to a slower pace of life. Molokai had 76,000 tourists in 2006 only 1% of Hawaii’s visitors.

Annie Van Eps, 59, an art gallery manager who moved from California five years ago says:

I’m a haole (a Hawaiian-language term commonly used here for Caucasians), and it’s hurting me because they’re giving us a bad name,” Van Eps says. “When you bring in rich haoles, there are problems. They’re rude, they honk, they just don’t fit in

Opponents of the proposal say Molokai needs to guard its stoplight-free rural lifestyle and scarce water more than it needs 200 millionaires and 100 more jobs.

Aversion is increasing against rich people from the mainland, whose purchases in new subdivisions have driven the house price to $500,000, way out of range for longtime residents.

However, John Sabas, vice president of Molokai Ranch, says the cattle operation is losing money and needs to sell land. To win community support, the ranch is offering to give control of 51,000 of its 65,000 acres to a land trust for conservation, and to reopen a resort that closed in 2000 with the loss of 100 jobs.

This community needs to be applauded for its efforts to retain its natural resources in lieu of cash.

Source: USA Today63290