The Robin Masters Estate (Pahonu)

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Jaybird · #196 Post by **Jaybird** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:02 pm

The beaches on that side of the island are losing sand. In Lanikai, next to Kailua, sand had to be trucked in to save what is left of the beach. Some of the "beachfront"homes only have a beach at low tide. I would guess that the estate has the same problem. When I am there in 2 1/2 weeks I will check the tide tables and try to make it at low tide.
From what I've been told, it was much better back in the 80s...beach all the time. I forget what the supposed reason was, probably something to do with the Army Corps of Engineers. Some harbor was built or enlarged and the problems began.
Nontheless, that part of Oahu is gorgeous. Beautiful beaches, water sports (not great surfing) plus you are a short, 20 minute or so, drive to the airport and the restaurants in Honolulu. Didn't TS own a home in Hawaii Kai or Portlock that he sold a few years ago?

Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:47 am

Jaybird wrote:From what I've been told, it was much better back in the 80s...beach all the time. I forget what the supposed reason was, probably something to do with the Army Corps of Engineers. Some harbor was built or enlarged and the problems began.

Funny you mention it. When I was there a few years ago, I was surprised how small the beach was based on my impressions from the show - I wasn't there at high tide either.

Perhaps there was just a whole bunch more sand there back in the day, which gave more dry beach. Or maybe just tricky filming? They certainly were able to make the driveway seem much longer than it is in reality, maybe they did something similar with the beach.

Sam · #198 Post by **Sam** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:10 pm

Hi Pahonu...Welcome to the forum.I don't know if you've seen this or not but here is a sketch with the house dimensions.You can also find the gatehouse and boathouse on page 2 and 3.To access the page,clink on address and enter the address.

Thanks to RC for helping me relocate the page.

http://www.honolulupropertytax.com/Form ... Mparent=20

mjsauer · #199 Post by **mjsauer** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:09 pm

James J. Walters wrote:I've wondered about that scene as well. It's definitely not the Anderson Estate, though. The estate doesn't have any brick work like what is seen in that shot. Plus, you never see that brick, or steps, again in the show.

It might be the same place where they filmed for Mai Ling's uncle's house, with the outdoor garden, but that's just a WAG.

My Guess is this is at the old Marks Estate - where they filmed exteriors of the KKC in the first year or so of production.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2001/0 ... ory10.html

golfmobile · #200 Post by **golfmobile** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:20 am

Couldn't be the old Marks Estate unless that estate has a sand backyard or something. The estate is far from the beach, off the Pali Highway.

But also look at the scenery behind TM. The foliage is that thick now, but it wasn't during the filming of the show during the 1980s, plus that background looks like rocks of a cliff or hill. Such geography isn't along the beach wall or cyclone fence at the Anderson Estate. Also the wall to the left (as you approach the estate gate from the beach -- behind Higgins in the second picture) is wrong (compared to the Anderson sea wall -- around which TM sneaked in the first episode when he broke into the estate grounds).

Right, guys?

golf

paperwar · #201 Post by **paperwar** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:24 pm

Great 3d-model. Back in 2000 i did exactly the same work and created a 3d-model of the estate where you can walk through.
I also draw several years ago a map of the whole estate, but cannot upload a pic.

PW

#202 Post by **J.J. Walters** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:51 pm

paperwar - http://www.imagechicken.com/ .

Pahonu wrote:By the way, I believe the Five-O episode "Stranger in His Grave" shows the estate and the interior of what is the northeast corner of the first floor.

Thanks!

How odd, this is one of two HFO episodes that John Hillerman appeared in!

paperwar · #203 Post by **paperwar** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:07 pm

James, thanks for the link. I am out of town for one week and try your link for uploads.

thanks a lot

PW

Pahonu · #204 Post by **Pahonu** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:24 pm

Sam,

Thanks for the info. James also clued me in to that website. My model is surprisingly close to the dimensions shown. I understand, however, that these sketches for taxation purposes can be quite rough as compared to construction documents. So I am not too concerned my dimensions are not exactly the same. They also mistakenly list the main house as one story!

Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:42 am

Pahonu wrote:Sam,

Thanks for the info. James also clued me in to that website. My model is surprisingly close to the dimensions shown. I understand, however, that these sketches for taxation purposes can be quite rough as compared to construction documents. So I am not too concerned my dimensions are not exactly the same. They also mistakenly list the main house as one story!

Fudging the details could help reduce the taxes on the place, but knocking a floor off the house is a bit extreme!

Anybody have a clue how much the taxes are on the Estate? Even if you could scrape together enough to make a purchase, I bet the taxes would be a killer - especially with all that beach front.

Jaybird · #206 Post by **Jaybird** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:41 am

Well, I stopped by on October 12th and 13th. It was great driving on the highway and stopping by all the filming locations. I walked out onto the pier but TC must have been off flying a client around the islands. Took a peak inside the gate but couldn't see much. Above the fence was green netting effectively preventing any fans from snooping. It did seem that some kind of rehab project was underway inside the estate.
Waimanalo Beach Park provided the great views that one sees in many scenes. Kapiolani Park, between Diamond Head and Waikiki looks just the same as in many episodes. I never made it to the tidal pool. I was dry and didn't feel like getting wet swimming around some rocky areas to get there. High tide! My guess is that the beach is much smaller than it was just 25 or so years ago. Waikiki Beach is certainly smaller than when I first was there in 1959! Anyway, it was great seeing what I did see and I could feel the connection, especially driving on Kalanianiole Highway. Next year I make it to the tidal pool regardless if it is high tide or low tide! Hawaii was great but, like the show, all good things must come to an end. I will remember the mid 80s daytime temps as winter approaches, that's for sure.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:31 pm

James J. Walters wrote:Go get 'em Jaybird!

Pahonu, your 3D model looks GREAT so far! Very nicely done!

Impressive!!!!

golfmobile · #208 Post by **golfmobile** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:09 pm

Has anyone ever done a floor plan of where the soundstage rooms would be if they were in the actual building(s)? Based on what other rooms, doorways, doors, halls, etc., are seen in the show, where would each particular room be placed -- Higgins' study, the different "living rooms/parlors" shown, upstairs bedrooms, etc.? Wouldn't that be interesting to try to create? I'm not expert enough with all the rooms shown in eight years of the show, but if rubberchicken can cover the entire island, surely someone who architectural/engineering talent could come up with a potential floor plan.

golf

IKnowWhatYoureThinking · Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:27 pm

Golf, I'd love to see that as well. I think a floor plan of the estate, in some kind of model, would be great. I know I am not the one that can pull it off though.

Pahonu · #210 Post by **Pahonu** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:36 pm

I actually created floor plans, elevations, and site plan of the Anderson Estate on AutoCad before I began the Sketchup model. Unfortunately, there are many areas of the home that are just never seen in MPI or H50. The area to the left of the main entrance in the courtyard behind the arches is speculative on my drawings. It is probably the kitchen area, given the rooms on the seawall side are probably the dining room, living room, library, etc... so it would be adjacent.

Much can be gleaned from watching H50 which shows many shots of the real interiors. One episode, for example, showed the kitchen with a vent covering its window, which I guess is the vent on the far left of the arched corridor, to the left of the single door. Other areas of the first floor near the drive are also unknown, but the set decorator blog mentioned the one-story projection on the right of the courtyard is a trunk room. Though I've never seen it, that makes sense given its use of vents rather than full size windows. This implies it is some kind of utilitarian space such as a bathroom, closet or utility room. In contrast, the large glazed doors and windows on the seawall side imply living spaces requiring more light (not to mention the view!)

The upstairs is even less clear. Only the open stairhall and balcony as well as the bedroom by the seawall have been shown clearly. However, the tax record states there ar five bedrooms on this level. The bedroom near the top of the stairs has been shown in two different episodes, and each time it was different. This is all to common in TV and film production. It is exactly what they did on MPI. Walk through one door and appear through another onto a soundstage or a completely different room in the house.

This is the problem with that request. The rooms shown in MPI simply wouldn't fit in the actual structure. This is true of the main house as well as the guest/boathouse. The show also suggests the home is much bigger than the mainhouse on the estate, as well as the size of the property itself. Sad but true!