Was Oprah's Home Spared From Maui Wildfires? What We Know

Table Of Content

• Latest Entertainment & Arts
• Hawaii wildfires threaten Oprah’s Maui estate, other A-listers’ homes
• Oil and gas companies are swimming in so much cash that they’re cutting back on borrowing at a faster pace
• Owner of viral red house thinks this is why it survived Maui wildfires that turned everything else to ash
• Oprah’s Legacy in Maui: Beyond the Walls of Her Estate
• Gérard Depardieu reportedly in custody for questioning on sexual assault allegations
• Coral reefs are Hawaii’s ‘rainforests of the sea.’ What happened to them after Lahaina wildfire?
• The land also came with a 12-room bed-and-breakfast on 17 acres.

It is unclear what the land is used for, and she did not respond to Insider's request for comment about its status. In March 2023, Maui Now reported that Winfrey spent $6.6 million on 870 acres of land in Kula. Its goal is to help the people of Maui rebuild after the wildfires that left at least 115 people dead and thousands of structures damaged or destroyed, Insider reported. The damage has been valued at as high as $5.5 billion by the National Centers for Environmental Information. But in the midst of the Maui wildfires in August that devastated areas like the historical town of Lāhainā and killed upwards of 115 people, Winfrey's relationship to Hawaii has been reexamined by some critics. Oprah Winfrey has been a part-time resident of the Hawaiian island of Maui since 2004 when she purchased around 100 acres in its upcountry region.

Latest Entertainment & Arts

With each new acquisition, she adds another layer of exclusivity and tranquility to her Hawaiian hideaway, creating a truly one-of-a-kind sanctuary where she can escape the hustle and bustle of her busy life. Over the years, the media mogul has embarked on an ambitious land acquisition spree, gradually expanding her Maui empire by purchasing several adjacent parcels. "It's almost like buildings have been specifically targeted with pinpoint accuracy..." they wrote. Large bush fires on Maui have caused power outages, mass evacuations and extensive destruction to the historic resort town of Lahaina. The fires broke out early last week and spread rapidly on hurricane-driven winds from a passing storm.

Hawaii wildfires threaten Oprah’s Maui estate, other A-listers’ homes

She owns various properties on the island, including 870 acres of land in Kula that she purchased for $6.6 million in February. Most of Vierra’s family has been staying in hotels, an initial boon to the disaster response in a community where demand for housing was already extremely high before 12,000 people lost their homes in the fires. The foundation committed $50 million to the effort, its single largest grant from its Maui Strong fund, which it opened immediately after the wildfires.

Oprah silent amid Maui fires as desperate Hawaii residents beg celebrity billionaires with homes on the island - Daily Mail

Oprah silent amid Maui fires as desperate Hawaii residents beg celebrity billionaires with homes on the island.

Posted: Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Oil and gas companies are swimming in so much cash that they’re cutting back on borrowing at a faster pace

As the fires broke out, Winfrey and her Hollywood peers spoke out to raise awareness and voice support for Maui residents. “Fast X” actor Jason Momoa recently shared a set of informational photos from environmental non-profit Āina Momona. Supporting and, you know, people are just bringing what they can and doing what they can,” she told the BBC.

Owner of viral red house thinks this is why it survived Maui wildfires that turned everything else to ash

Lana Vierra misses the swing set at her Lahaina home, which was reduced to ashes in the wildfires that swept through her community last summer. Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson are teaming up to provide financial aid to those who have been affected by the historic Maui fires that ravaged the Hawaiian island earlier this month. At least 114 people have died in the Maui wildfires that started last Tuesday.

Oprah’s Legacy in Maui: Beyond the Walls of Her Estate

Barry Probst, a therapist whose family has lived on Lahaina for four generations, said the absolute best case scenario is that he and his wife would rebuild and move into a new home in 2026. They are lucky to stay in a second bedroom of a condo owned by good friends, who spend half the year in Hawaii. He’s used the funds he received from the People’s Fund of Maui to twice pay for repairing his car and also to complete an intensive training on trauma treatment he hopes to use to help others in the community.

She has generously supported various charitable organizations, educational institutions, and community projects aimed at uplifting the island’s youth and underprivileged populations. According to Hawaii Magazine, the property is said to boast stunning ocean views, lush tropical gardens, and a sprawling main house with multiple guest cottages. Some reports even suggest the presence of a private beach and a farm, adding to the allure of this secluded paradise. A grandmother of four and a mother of five, Vierra had lived in the home on a corner lot since 1991. She and ten family members, including a baby less than one year old, were displaced in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. In the weeks that followed, she and her adult children applied for and received many different kinds of assistance, including from the People’s Fund of Maui, an initiative set up by Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson.

Her celebrity friends are now accustomed to receiving random baskets of fresh produce right from her garden. Oprah’s house Maui, which she reaches by her private jet, of course, covers an incredible 163 acres. Winfrey, who owns nearly 1,000 acres across Hawaii, recently drew backlash for launching a fundraiser for wildfire victims despite having a net worth of about $3 billion, according to Business Insider. She and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson donated $5 million each to the fund, the outlet reported. Following the devastating wildfires that affected the area, West Maui is set to reopen for tourism on Oct. 8, according to ABC News. This decision on behalf of the governor has not been popular with residents, an online petition against the reopening garnering thousands of signatures, Forbes reported.

After all, true beauty often lies in the unveiled landscapes that surround us, waiting to be explored and cherished. In the world of fame and fortune, privacy is a luxury that often comes at a premium. Celebrities and public figures constantly find themselves navigating the delicate balance between their personal lives and the insatiable curiosity of fans and media alike. The media has been abuzz with speculations about the whereabouts of Oprah Winfrey’s luxurious Maui estate. While the talk show queen has remained tight-lipped about the exact location, various reports have surfaced, providing tantalizing clues. As Oprah’s Maui empire continues to grow, it’s clear that her passion for the island and its stunning landscapes knows no bounds.

On Instagram earlier this month, Winfrey, who owns more than 1,000 acres of land in Maui, promised to “make a major donation” to help the island recover. She said they are extremely grateful to everyone who donated and for the mutual aid efforts that were set up immediately after the fires. They will need that money — and more — to rebuild, though those plans are still very distant. Over many years, the disaster response community has grown to trust direct cash transfers like these as a very useful tool, said Shannon Doocy, a professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Despite initial fears of misuse, she said, research has shown cash transfers overwhelmingly benefit the intended recipients who spend it on essentials like housing and food. Wind-whipped wildfires raced through the heart of the island of Maui, killing 53 people, forcing evacuations and gutting much of the historic town of Lahaina.

According to Oprah Daily, Winfrey’s Maui estate now spans an impressive 163 acres, encompassing a diverse array of landscapes, from rolling hills and verdant valleys to breathtaking ocean vistas. CNN reported that Winfrey had previously opened a private road to her property to help those escaping a previous brush fire in 2019. In its latest update, county officials said that the fire around Lahaina—which spanned an estimated 2,170 acres—was 85 percent under control, with multiple fire crews monitoring it.