Since 2000, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and his wife, Lynne Benioff, have bought more than 600 acres of land in Hawaii worth nearly $100 million. Much of the land is in and around Waimea, a rural agricultural town on Hawaii’s Big Island
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The land buying increased after 2020, when the couple began purchasing residential, commercial and agricultural properties in Waimea. KQED found that Benioff had bought at least 38 parcels through six anonymous limited liability companies, or LLCs, and one nonprofit. The properties included more than 580 acres in Waimea and about 25 acres at beach resorts.
The purchases attracted attention because Waimea has a close-knit community and a large Native Hawaiian population. Residents worried that wealthy buyers purchasing large amounts of land could increase competition for property and make it harder for local people to afford homes.
The uncertainty also led to speculation about Benioff’s plans. Some residents believed he could be preparing a Salesforce facility or bringing engineers to the area, while others thought the purchases were connected to his charitable work. Benioff later rejected the idea of a Salesforce facility in Hawaii.
Land donated for affordable housing
A major part of the land purchases later became connected to affordable housing. Benioff and his wife donated 282 acres to the Hawaii Island Community Development Corp. (HICDC), an organisation that develops affordable housing on the Big Island.
In June 2024, they donated another 158 acres to the organisation for the same purpose. The two donations brought their total contribution to 440 acres.
The land is part of the Ouli Project in Waimea. The project will begin with 43 self-help affordable housing units and will include single-family homes, parks and community spaces.
HICDC Executive Director Keith Kato said the project would help meet the need for affordable housing on Hawaii Island.
“Our goal is to move quickly as affordable housing is needed today for low to moderate-income residents on Hawaii Island,” Kato said. “Without the Benioffs’ donations, none of this would be possible today.”
The Benioffs also said they were pleased that HICDC could use the land to address the housing need. “We are so pleased that HICDC is able to use this land to support this important need,” they said in a statement.
