Uproar About Oprah Winfrey's 'Private Road' in Hawaii Divides Fans

Newsweek

a day ago

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Oprah Winfrey has come under fire again, despite refuting a viral social-media rumor that she kept a private road closed during tsunami evacuation efforts in Hawaii.
What began as a logistic concern has since evolved into a broader discussion about non-Indigenous billionaire land ownership on the islands.
On Wednesday morning, a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The alerts prompted evacuation efforts from Russia to Hawaii.
Winfrey, who has lived part-time on Maui for over 15 years, owns more than 2,000 acres on the island, including a farm on the slopes of dormant volcano Haleakalā and a private road—now at the center of the controversy.
In a statement to Newsweek on Wednesday, a spokesperson said: "As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false."
Oprah Winfrey waves to crowds at the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding at The Gritti Palace hotel on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy.
Oprah Winfrey waves to crowds at the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding at The Gritti Palace hotel on June 26, 2025 in Venice, Italy.
Luigi Iorio/GC Images
A spokesperson has since provided further background regarding the road, which belongs to Haleakalā Ranch.
"While she has the right to improve and use the road, it's an easement, but it is owned by Haleakalā Ranch. Opening the road ultimately falls to the landowner (Haleakalā Ranch), which they were quick to do when the warning was issued to evacuate, working with local officials and Oprah's Ranch," the spokesperson said.
Still, online discussion has shifted from the specifics of emergency access to the ethics of land ownership itself—particularly by non-Indigenous billionaires.
The controversy echoes sentiments raised during the devastating August 2023 wildfires, when Winfrey and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson launched the People's Fund of Maui. Critics at the time questioned why two wealthy celebrities were soliciting donations from the public instead of contributing more from their personal fortunes.
Her spokesperson said: "Ms. Winfrey personally donated over $25 million in wildfire related efforts, in addition to creating a path for others to support the wildfire relief efforts through the People's Fund of Maui.
"Through that fund, nearly $60 million was distributed to over 8,100 residents as direct cash relief to serve as a bridge to support for those impacted," the spokesperson added.
This time, the discourse centers on colonization and land rights.
"I feel like criticism of Oprah should be more than access to a road and should also focus on why she or anyone not Indigenous to Hawaii would have a road," posted @abolitionistdoc, whose Threads post garnered over 27,500 views.
In response to another user who said, "She bought the land and built a road. Not that complicated," @abolitionistdoc replied: "It's not complicated but you may be missing the point: Colonization."
Another user, @allisonmizer, posted: "Just a reminder, Oprah is a billionaire and much like all billionaires our society worships, she does. Not. Care. About. You. (Or me.) PERIOD," with the message amassing over 159,000 views.
Others stepped in to defend Winfrey.
"Oprah is a good person. She's always had a good heart. No rich person has or will ever do anything for me or my family. I'm not expecting that, but I do admire her for her generosity," said Cody Keene.
"I know Oprah opened up her road to help evacuation efforts, but also, like, why do billionaires need private roads?" asked Carly Civello, whose post received over 275,000 views.
"She can have a private road on her own property. She also has security. Why is this an issue for anyone?" added Carolyn Anthony.
The situation has reignited complex questions surrounding land ownership in Hawaii.
Deepak Sarma, a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Case Western Reserve University, told Newsweek that the issue highlights long-standing tensions in American history stemming from colonialism.
"The issue of land ownership in Hawaii exemplifies so many different issues that have plagued America since its inception by colonial settlers," Sarma said.
Hawaii's annexation and the 1993 Apology Resolution acknowledged the harm caused by colonization, continue to raise questions about who has rightful claims to the land.
Sarma also drew comparisons to Indigenous land rights in the continental United States and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, where the legacies of colonization remain unresolved.
Sarma questioned whether public figures should own land vital to local communities—either in emergencies or simply for public enjoyment—and cited Vinod Khosla's controversial blocking of public access to Martins Beach in California as another example.
When landowners are among the wealthiest people in the world, Sarma added, the optics become even more complicated—especially in cases like Oprah Winfrey's, where a celebrated advocate for marginalized voices now faces scrutiny herself.
"Does she seem like a hypocrite? Or does celebrating her now seem somewhat counterintuitive for the throngs of her supporters?" Sarma asked.
The broader debate around Indigenous rights is not new. The wildfires that destroyed Lahaina in 2023 left many working-class families homeless, while developers rushed in to snap up properties—often at the expense of Native Hawaiian communities, who were disproportionately affected.