A little over a decade ago, tech billionaire Larry Ellison made headlines when he acquired Lānaʻi for $300 million. He reportedly bought the island for less than what David Murdock, the island's previous owner, had hoped to sell it for — but it was still a much steeper price than what William G. Irwin paid in 1909. Irwin, then one of the wealthiest businessmen in Hawaiʻi, bought the island for just $1.
Host Russell Subiono and producer Savannah Harriman-Pote set off to find a 100-year-old receipt — and ended up unraveling a story about big businesses, legal battles and land conspiracies.
Listen and read the full story here.
This Is Our Hawaiʻi is produced by Hawaiʻi Public Radio, a member of the NPR Podcast Network, with support from PRX and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
This podcast is hosted by Russell Subiono and produced by Savannah Harriman-Pote, with assistance from HPR staff: Ananddev Banerjee, Taylor Nāhulukeaokalani Cozloff, Bill Dorman, Sylvia Flores, Casey Harlow, Sophia McCullough, Liberty Peralta, Krista Rados, Emily Tom and Jason Ubay.
Mahalo to PRX's Mike Russo for his continued support. Logo design by Kristin Lipman.
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