A crowd of up to 400 Molokai residents walked or rode in boats Saturday to Laau Point to protest plans to develop million-dollar estates in the southeast corner of the island.

“It was the biggest march we’ve ever had on Molokai,” said Hawaiian rights advocate Walter Ritte, who was reached by cellular phone Saturday afternoon.

By 2:30 p.m., most of the estimated 300 to 400 people who had participated in Saturday’s protest starting at 7 a.m. were leaving Laau Point.

A few planned to continue an occupation, which started on Sept. 13, of a beach area at Laau Point.

Protesters built a 16-by-24-foot Hawaiian hale as symbol of their protest of the proposed development.

Molokai Ranch owner Molokai Properties Ltd. has applied to the state Land Use Commission to have 613 acres near Laau classified from agricultural to rural to allow development of 200 two-acre residential lots.

Protesters object to the development, according to Ritte, because they believe it will impact traditional fishing grounds and because of the social impact of 200 wealthy families moving to Molokai with values and attitudes that can clash with the lifestyle of residents.