A bit hyperbolic there. The road didn’t cut across an island; it went from Ulupalakua to Kihei; nearly a straight line that cut out about 30 miles of travelling. It was voted closed because idiots who lived upcountry didnt want any tourists from Kihei driving into their area. What it did was punish those who worked in the resorts but couldnt afford to live nearby. Oprah bought the road because it was offered to her when the residents voted it closed.

Tl;dr: Oprah is a piece of shit but Kula residents are bigger pieces of shit