I heard a couple of months ago that Oprah is building a women's retreat on Mauai. Anyone know more details?

Oprah is building an Oprah retreat on Maui to which she can bring her girlfriends is what I heard.

Oprah purchased a large parcel of beautiful (but rocky) oceanfront land near Hana, on which she's being allowed to build a relatively (for her anyway) small house.

The rest of the property -- so I was told by Hana residents -- will remain as "conservation land" (as it is now -- grazing livestock, but no buildings).

The story of how Ms. Oprah got "allowed" to build anything on that parcel is, I am sure, a whole semester in Politics 101...wish someone could tell us what really occurred.

Topman, I'm sure it is the same story as most places--money and influence.

I remember when she bought the land promising to preserve it and not build. This is what the local news said in Hawaii anyway. ... lets hope she keeps her promise.

We took a Maui ATV tour in July which is located on huge ranch. The tour guides are also ranch hands and told us that Oprah offered the owner some outrageous price to buy a few thousand acres. Apparently the owners are dedicated to preserving the land so it was a no go. Looks like she found a seller elsewhere.

There is nothing unusal about the sale, and no special exceptions were made "allowing" Oprah to build. She pruchased some land and is planning to build on it. Additionally, she has made a comittment to preserve much of the land and the views from it.
http://www.kalanienglish.com/news_mauinews_020427b.html