The Robin Masters Estate (Pahonu)

[KENJI]

Hi V.S.,

IF Mrs. Anderson actually did remove the sand I can think of two reasons:

1. To keep us out and reduce the amount of people who set up camp in the tidal pool area for the day which in turn gives her a bit of peace and quiet. I would love to go inside the place like anyone of us, but it is her home and it must be pretty annoying to have people sneaking shots of your own private space for over 30 yrs. I don't think many of us would put up with it.

2. I've noticed boards at the bottom of the chainlink fencing on the wall and was thinking the sand was getting so high, that the ocean was actually going over the wall and doing some damage to the vegetation etc.. The boards would help a little bit in deflecting the waves back down into the tidal pool side. The boards could be used for keeping her dogs too. I think this would be her only argument to get the sand lowered off the wall and that might be a long shot too. The government is pretty strict about things like this, but on the flip side she is a very well connected lady on all levels, so who knows.

Pictures would be the proof needed to point the finger her way, but for now it's just a guess as to what happen.

[Visiting Stewardess]

If it was my home, I'd probably avoid all that by having official public visiting days. Maybe once a month or so. And charge people a small amount to come in, not too much to scare people off, but enough to keep those out who are not genuinely interested.
That way she's have her privacy for the rest of the month and everybody was happy.
Of course all of us who don't live on the island would have to plan their vacations around the opening times... but that's a small price to pay.

[Styles Bitchley]

If it was my home, I'd probably avoid all that by having official public visiting days. Maybe once a month or so. And charge people a small amount to come in, not too much to scare people off, but enough to keep those out who are not genuinely interested.
That way she's have her privacy for the rest of the month and everybody was happy.
Of course all of us who don't live on the island would have to plan their vacations around the opening times... but that's a small price to pay.

I doubt many would plan their trip around specific open days - things like cheap flights and hotel deals tend to trump anything else. People would just visit Robin's Nest when it suits them (or whatever day they can persuade their wives), like they do now. Doubt much would change.

[Visiting Stewardess]

or persuade their husbands.....

Hm, maybe you're right. Then again, people should be aware of this happening, if they buy a property that featured heavily in a popular TV show.
Or buying property at popular tourist locations. I bet living on the curvy part of Lombard Street in S.F. isn't the best spot to set up home.

[Pahonu]

There's also the little fact that she would have no legal right to restrict beach access. Hawaii, like California, requires public beach access with the exception of military installations, and even then sometimes access is granted.

[Visiting Stewardess]

[OT]Really? What about Malibu? Almost impossible to get to the beach anywhere. The most stupid and overrated place on earth.[/OT]

[Styles Bitchley]

Hm, maybe you're right. Then again, people should be aware of this happening, if they buy a property that featured heavily in a popular TV show.
Or buying property at popular tourist locations. I bet living on the curvy part of Lombard Street in S.F. isn't the best spot to set up home.

However, if I'm not mistaken, Mrs. Anderson and her family have owned the property all along. I'm sure in the HFO/MPI days (read pre-internet) there was only a handful of talented investigators who could track down the estate - even at the height of MPI popularity. Now it's a one second google search! Regarding the sand, I have no idea whether the removal had to do with dissuading fans.

Every time I pass by Lombard St. I can't help thinking how weird it would be to own one of those homes. All day long you have a gaggle of people snapping pictures.

[Steve]

However, if I'm not mistaken, Mrs. Anderson and her family have owned the property all along. I'm sure in the HFO/MPI days (read pre-internet) there was only a handful of talented investigators who could track down the estate - even at the height of MPI popularity. Now it's a one second google search!

You got that right Styles. The first time I was there was in September 1987 and I know I drove right past The Estate at least twice if not more times. I had no idea it was there and they might have even been filming as there was a crew filming on Waikiki one day I was there. I can't believe I didn't even notice the Makai Research Pier when driving along HWY 72. When going back in 2007 the instructions of looking for the large tree across the street from the gate got me right to it...........

[Pahonu]

[OT]Really? What about Malibu? Almost impossible to get to the beach anywhere. The most stupid and overrated place on earth.[/OT]

Malibu is like ten miles long! It has dozens of places to get to the beach. Trancas, Zuma, Windward, Surfrider, Paradise Cove, these all have parking lots right next to the sand. Plus there's parking on PCH all over the place. Carbon Beach used to be harder to access because some wealthy homeowners routinely broke the law and put up gates or even hired guards to intimidate beach goers into leaving. But even that has changed in the last decade.

Where were you that you couldn't find the beach? I don't live there or anything, but I have been there dozens of times and haven't had a problem. I even found parking there on Memorial Day weekend once. Lots of traffic, but there's parking around. Maybe you have to walk a little, but the Coastal Commission requires beach access every couple of hundred yards even in residential areas between the municipal, county, and state beaches.

[J.J. Walters]

Couple of questions that I've been meaning to ask for quite some time:

Is it ok to park across the street from the main gate on Kalanianaole Hwy? I didn't see any 'No Parking' or 'Permit Parking Only' signs via Google Street View.



What kind of tree sits directly across from the main gate? The tree is a nice landmark for people to use who are trying to find the estate for the first time. I usually tell people to "look for the large tree", but it would be better if I could tell them what kind of tree it actually is.



The two buildings at Shriner's Beach Club that are next to the estate property line, how long have they been there?



Thanks

[Steve]

Couple of questions that I've been meaning to ask for quite some time:

Is it ok to park across the street from the main gate on Kalanianaole Hwy? I didn't see any 'No Parking' or 'Permit Parking Only' signs via Google Street View.



What kind of tree sits directly across from the main gate? The tree is a nice landmark for people to use who are trying to find the estate for the first time. I usually tell people to "look for the large tree", but it would be better if I could tell them what kind of tree it actually is.



The two buildings at Shriner's Beach Club that are next to the estate property line, how long have they been there?



Thanks

When I was there in 2007 I parked across the street to take pictures of the front gate and I am betting that all of us that have gone there have done the same. I certainly don't recall seeing the guard rail and the barrels that are around "the tree" in the google street view shot, does anyone else?

[Sam]

I haven't been there since 2006 and I don't believe the guard rail was there then..The tree is a "Monkey Pod"

[PhatCat]

It would seem most people park right across from the gate. It's bare on that side of the road now. Must be a lot of Magnum fans out there.

Bill

[J.J. Walters]

Thanks guys!

BTW, forum member Pahonu has finished his 3D model of the Estate. I've added it to the Robin's Nest page. It's really, really well done and incredibly accurate. Again, great job Pahonu!

http://magnum-mania.com/Pahonu.zip

Google SketchUp 8 (free) is required to view the model.

[KENJI]

Brilliant work Pahonu!!!!!!!!!!!!
That must've taken quite sometime to complete!