A billionaire Russian tech investor tried to dock his massive $195million dollar luxury yacht- but was blocked by handful of residents on the small island of Molokai in Hawaii.
The group of residents along with activists told them there were no alohas for the enormous vessel, it’s billionaire owner Yuri Milner, and its crew from what is known as the Friendly Isle.
Residents said they saw the yacht as a potential threat to the island they call home.
The enormous $195Million yacht with its owner Yuri Milner were not welcomed into the harbor of Molokai in Hawaii
Milner is a billionaire tech investor from Russia and was looking to dock in the harbor but was turned away by a small group of residents
Police and residents gathered at the shore when they saw the 350-foot vessel approaching and swiftly took action- telling the crew they were not welcomed
One resident, Loretta Ritte, told Hawaii News Now ‘We want to protect this space.’
‘All I saw was a possible threat,’ said Hawaiian activist Walter Ritte.
One of the residents was communicating with him via walkie talkie and made the residents concerns heard loud and clear- the vessel was not welcomed.
‘We’re too small to have something as big as this. Especially if it’s someone who has a lot of power because they have a lot of money,’ said Loretta.
It wasn’t a planned protest as the residents have done in the past but rather a spontaneous gathering after a group of residents saw the 350-foot yacht heading for their harbor.
About a dozen people gathered along with police.
‘We want to keep Molokai, Molokai. The Molokai where we still can go out and not be afraid. We don’t have to lock our doors, our cars, we can let our kids go out. So I think that’s what we’re trying to protect, the lifestyle of Molokai,’ said Loretta.
‘We’re a small community. Anyone with that kind of money to buy such a cruise ship could come here and take control of the whole island,’ Walter said.
The amazing yacht has every amenity a billionaire would need including a pool and sun deck
The impressive vessel even has its very own helipad which makes the yacht appear intimidating
Residents have set up protests before on the island when they didn’t allow another large cruise liner to dock
The Rittes said they have no ill will towards Milner, but they are very sensitive about large ships- which often means an influx of tourists, which the residents aren’t too keen on either.
‘I think the threat was just the presence of this large ship there and being able to come and go as it pleased. And just being afraid that other ships could set precedents for more ships to come in,’ said Loretta.
They said Milner and his crew eventually turned around and headed toward Maui.