steveadl wrote:
- Secondly, can someone explain to me why this rumour mill is still going on? We have a direct statement from Marty saying he is the buyer, plus an official statement from the White House saying there is no comment as Obama is not in any way involved in the transaction.
Hi Steveadl,
I'm of the opinion that just because the White House said "the President is not party to the transaction" doesn't mean he won't end up with Pahonu. At my age I've learned to always read between the lines when it comes to politicians, and at this point I'm leaving it open to any possibility.
Regardless, I was happy and encouraged that someone in the (semi) public eye purchased Pahonu because there's perhaps more of an opportunity to see photos, hear news about it, etc. than if it was purchased by a corporation or a random private citizen (present company excluded of course!) Hopefully the Hawaii news outlets will stay on the story and keep us updated.
Politics aside, the Nesbitts (and Obamas) seem like good people and it'd be nice to see that wonderful property fully enjoyed by a family and come alive again.
308GUY wrote:
Just thought I'd share this tidbit of info that CalHwy sent me after he had toured the estate, and found that it was going to "another" bidder:
Hey 308GUY,
Did CalHwy happen to find out what the bloody cement slab is in the turtle pond? I pm'ed him last week but he hasn't picked it up. Thanks!
I'm with you guys.....if Pahonu is still standing for another day then I don't really care who owns it.
Having said that I don’t think the place is a good fit for Obama (assuming this theory is proven down the road) because of the security issues and the close proximity to public beaches and parks. I would think that he would want to get out of the public eye when he retires, but living there you will have all of us MM fans, plus political fans (and others) wading in the tidal pool waiting for a sighting. I don`t know if Marty even knows how many of us make the pilgrimage to Pahonu and peek over the fence so that might come as a bit of a shock....Eve is giggling right about now.
Waimanalo is a quiet area full of locals and I think many are very concerned about the possibility of Obama living there not because of his political views (for some that will be the case), but the additional attention he would bring to the Pahonu and the area.....loads of curious people hoping for a pic will come and take away some of the peace and privacy that makes the place so special. Also the security would be a nightmare when he is in town as Pahonu is on the highway so think of the congestion that would form when checkpoints are put up etc.....it doesn`t make sense and it`s really not fair to inconvenience so many people for one household....yes he is the President, but.......I think a place in a gated community away from all the cars and public would be a smarter and more considerate choice, but who am I to make that decision for either one of them. It’s their right to buy whatever home they want and this one is a gem. Again, if Pahonu has a chance at a second life, then that will be the sacrifice that some will have to deal with on a daily basis and for us, just when we are on holidays, so I`m okay with one of them living there, but for the neighbors trying to get to work or enjoy some quiet time on the weekend they will disagree and I get that too.
I think the confidentiality agreement/secrecy between the parties only makes the public more interested in knowing the details and players behind the deal. As F.J. was saying you have to take anything a politician has to say with a grain of salt so who knows if the Obama’s will own it down the road or not....time will tell. I’m still interested in who is behind Hoaloha Holdings.
Maybe there is more to the story or maybe it just a simple business decision between two friends/business associates to loan the money to Marty and nothing more. It’s none of our business, but curiosity can get the best of us (at least for me) and when you put Pahonu and the President in the same equation, I’m interested in the answer!
We haven’t heard anything from Marty/Waimanalo Paradise LLC on his intentions for the place so we are actually assuming the Nesbitt Nation will live there and maybe the President down the road. Marty is a smart businessman and is no stranger to real estate deals, so maybe he sees Pahonu as a fixer upper with great potential to flip and make a million or two. In my opinion, Pahonu would’ve sold quicker and for more money if Eve would’ve fixed the place up and staged it. A few of her reasons might’ve been privacy issues and/or lack of funds, both are guesses and not proven. Getting back to Marty, he has taken out close to a million more on the mortgage, so maybe he fixes the plumbing, electrical, landscaping, paints the place and adds some some staging furniture and attempts to flip it. He might also be a huge fan of the show (he’s the right age, so is the President) and this would make a great trophy house or project for a multi millionaire to fix up and enjoy and/or rent out so we shouldn’t rule that out yet. We assume that he won’t allow the place to be used in tv (i.e. HFO etc.), but we might even have a better chance of this happening with him than with Eve. He won’t be there year round, so why not have the place pay for the upkeep. We also can’t rule out the possibility of the place (or part of it) being levelled down the road to make room for something bigger, maybe he might hold it and subdivide years down the road.....lots of options.The next year or two will be very interesting at Pahonu and I’m sure we will get some clarity on the direction Marty is taking Pahonu during this time.
308GUY wrote:
Just thought I'd share this tidbit of info that CalHwy sent me after he had toured the estate, and found that it was going to "another" bidder:
Hey 308GUY,
Did CalHwy happen to find out what the bloody cement slab is in the turtle pond? I pm'ed him last week but he hasn't picked it up. Thanks!
Hi, I had checked the Magnum Mania website and found that the cement slab was a water distribution box. Hope this helps,
308GUY wrote:
Just thought I'd share this tidbit of info that CalHwy sent me after he had toured the estate, and found that it was going to "another" bidder:
Hey 308GUY,
Did CalHwy happen to find out what the bloody cement slab is in the turtle pond? I pm'ed him last week but he hasn't picked it up. Thanks!
Hi, I had checked the Magnum Mania website and found that the cement slab was a water distribution box. Hope this helps,
Thanks Diandra,
I did see that in the concrete slab thread, but I thought CalHwy might have been personally told by Eve or Mary what it is so the answer could then be "carved in stone"
308GUY wrote:
Just thought I'd share this tidbit of info that CalHwy sent me after he had toured the estate, and found that it was going to "another" bidder:
Hey 308GUY,
Did CalHwy happen to find out what the bloody cement slab is in the turtle pond? I pm'ed him last week but he hasn't picked it up. Thanks!
Jack: It was never mentioned in his messages with me.
Haven't heard anything further since he informed me that the deal went to another buyer.
I've also sent several pm's, with no response.
He was very forthcoming with me, and did eventually reveal who he was, and how he could be in a position to even consider the purchase, but he expressed his preference to remain "anonymous" and I respect that. If he's still checking in here, he'll explain what he wants/needs to, but I will say that from what I gathered, he stays extremely busy most of the time.
As for the "slab"......the water distribution box seemed like the most logical explanation to me, especially looking at the diagrams that were provided in the other thread. I could also imagine something having to do with the sea turtles, since that is supposedly why the tidal pool originated, but the configuration of the slab, just doesn't look to me like it would have much use in regard to holding turtles! JMHO
I'm personally waiting of this ad to pop up on Craig's List:
"Cozy one bedroom guesthouse available on quiet secluded beachfront estate in exchange for looking after estate security and performing a few odd jobs now and then. Vehicle and other benefits also included, inquire in person at 41-505 Kalanianaole Highway."
Some old footage outside Pahonu prior to the clear cut on the left side of the gate. It will be interesting to see if the Nesbitts do something on the right side or leave it for more privacy. The road is a bit higher on the right side allowing for a better view in so I think they will leave it or even add more plants.
There will always be the Magnum spirit, regardless of who lives there. I realized this the other day when I was watching a Youtube video of somebody filming at the beach (briefly showing the boat house, then the turtle/tidal pool). I could hear the sound of the ocean and, rather subdued like in the distance, the barking of dogs and, every after a few seconds, Magnum yelling "Higgins!" I could almost feel poor TM being chased by the lads. I found this hilarious, I thought the video had been modified. A few seconds later, I realized there was a Magnum episode that had begun to play in the background on my computer! I don't exactly recall the episode, it starts with Thomas sneaking in the wine cellar where he is surprised by the dogs.
I spent the next few minutes laughing... I was really fooled because the DVD volume was not very high, so it really sounded like the chasing was going on on the estate while the video was taken...
Well, so much for my latest Magnum moment, thought I'd share it
made it out to the estate last week for maybe 3 hours and was a fun time, weather was great, slight chop on the water side that settled down nicely into the turtle pond. I had never been there before so took my time, at one point had the entire place to myself for over an hour and even then was more locals passing thru for a swim when there was company, etc. Not one person even glanced at the property other than to toss their gear on the wall. Made me laugh having read this entire thread, maybe 2 or 3 hours reading it and chasing all the links, people on this board from all parts of the globe that would love to just get there to see it and the locals either have not a clue or could not careless about the history. Was all ages of 'passerbys' as well, not kids that would/may have no idea based on timelines.
That said I am in Cali now and will be for a while, have not had a chance to download any of the pics/vids from any device yet, this trip seems to have morphed into a month long extravaganza. Love to say I am retired but still a (partially) young buck half way to being to travel at whim. Bring it on.
Regardless I'll post more when time permits, the place is run down, I didn't do anything illegal so nothing earth shattering to report. The brush whacked away from the guest house gave a clear view from the shriners side behind the guest house and could clearly see, and have pics, of those tacky looking white carports as was surmised in earlier pages. It is a one car it looks. Sorry if anything is a repeat as have not had time to read all pages between my earlier post,I think page 123ish and now.
There was service vehicles there the entire time I was there, took shots of them as well, had clear view of them from the water side at the main gate/ocean side. Did not hear any work being done but lotsa conversation. Was just slightly outta earshot for detail on words, had I known I would have brought a sound amplifier to hear the exact words being said, as there was lots. As if the planning stages for something. Planning to level it, install cameras, or bring it back to glory would have been interesting to know. I was literally standing on the wall with my ear to the fence jockeying for position to make out the words. Covering one ear to the water side, as ambient wave noise making it even trickier. What a sight that musta been, no wonder Eva thinks Magnum fans are kooks, she is right. Only more comical sight would be me doing the same with a parabolic dish pointed at the conversation and headphones on.
Swam for over two hours in the pool, brought a mask and snorkel and few schools of fish and some live coral at the opening in the middle of the "turtle" wall made for some decent fish views. Pretty good pull dragging you right out the opening the day I was there. I am a decent swimmer so let it pull me out and then fought back quick to get back in and over, might have caught some by surprise. Did me actually. Took the obligatory water box pic and as a bonus of me right in the water box pic. Took some underwater vid of the base of the box and swished some sand away to see how deep that thing goes and it is solid, no end in sight with hand digging that can be verified.
All in all great trip, I will go again if going there is an option next time out that way, sat in the same spot as the opening when Magnum was killing some beers all jacked up, Mac's Back maybe? Neat experience for a fan to say the least and recommend anyone interested get out there and spend some time there with the future unknown on the property, continued water access or not it wouldn't be the same if the buildings were leveled I think we all agree on that!
While there the Island Hoppers painted chopper did a flyby which I thought added to the thing, camera was not around at the time, too bad. Pilot stayed well into the water however, I expected a closer flyby. Perhaps not fans or pilot following local aviation distances.
Dead tired, did not go over this post for grammar/context/continuity/spelling, so sorry if riddled with errors, I have an IQ over double digits, I promise. I think.....
cement slab is in the turtle pond? I pm'ed him last week but he hasn't picked it up. Thanks!
JMHO
