The Robin Masters Estate (Pahonu)

[NotthatRick]

I’m posting a drawing from the environmental report for the sea wall repair at Pahonu. It’s a topological map that shows a lot.

https://ibb.co/kJSCcvs

The vertical dotted line through the middle shows the recent property division. That line is also the rough location of the drain easement from the highway to the exit by the beach gate.

The dotted line running through the tennis court across the property is the limit of construction relative to the mean high tide line. Almost the entire boathouse and part of the tennis court are not buildable according to current code. The part of the main house by the sea wall was also in that prohibited building zone.

Some other interesting details: the low point of the property, which is at approximately the bend in that vertical dotted line, is just 4 feet above the current mean high tide line. That’s the mean high tide. King tides or the like would rise higher a few times a year. Think south Florida tidal flooding. This clearly explains why the lower portions of the sea wall are being raised.

The main house was mostly at an elevation of 10 feet. The area of the driveway and garage was about 2 feet lower. That’s why there are those steps up just inside the entrance doors by the driveway to the arched portico and front courtyard.

The boathouse and tennis court are at 8 feet, and the gatehouse is also at 10 feet.

Amazingly, the lower right corner of the property shows the elevation at 22 feet right at the corner of the wall.



Edit: I just realized this is my 1000th post!

Congratulations on your 1000th post! And once again thanks for all the interesting information.

[Pahonu]

I’m posting a drawing from the environmental report for the sea wall repair at Pahonu. It’s a topological map that shows a lot.

https://ibb.co/kJSCcvs

The vertical dotted line through the middle shows the recent property division. That line is also the rough location of the drain easement from the highway to the exit by the beach gate.

The dotted line running through the tennis court across the property is the limit of construction relative to the mean high tide line. Almost the entire boathouse and part of the tennis court are not buildable according to current code. The part of the main house by the sea wall was also in that prohibited building zone.

Some other interesting details: the low point of the property, which is at approximately the bend in that vertical dotted line, is just 4 feet above the current mean high tide line. That’s the mean high tide. King tides or the like would rise higher a few times a year. Think south Florida tidal flooding. This clearly explains why the lower portions of the sea wall are being raised.

The main house was mostly at an elevation of 10 feet. The area of the driveway and garage was about 2 feet lower. That’s why there are those steps up just inside the entrance doors by the driveway to the arched portico and front courtyard.

The boathouse and tennis court are at 8 feet, and the gatehouse is also at 10 feet.

Amazingly, the lower right corner of the property shows the elevation at 22 feet right at the corner of the wall.



Edit: I just realized this is my 1000th post!

Congratulations on your 1000th post! And once again thanks for all the interesting information.

Thanks for the congratulations. I may be a little slower at it than some. It took me almost 11 years to reach 1000 posts.

[Gorilla Mask]

Hey Panohu, Felicitations ! For these 1000 posts, always featuring the best of informations and cultural concerns !

You're a real well of knowledge; thanks again !

[terryfromkerry]

Yes indeed, congrats Pahonu. Always interesting and engaging.

[eagle]

I may be a little slower at it than some. It took me almost 11 years to reach 1000 posts.

I’ve been here about 8 years and have a little less than half that.

[Pahonu]

Thanks everyone! Kind words. I feel a little better now eagle.

[Capa150]

Huh that map shows two flights of stairs on the guest house? Why are there two flights side-by-side?

[Pahonu]

Huh that map shows two flights of stairs on the guest house? Why are there two flights side-by-side?

The stairs to the left go up about five or six feet to the lanai. Those are the ones everyone is familiar with. Most people don’t realize they don’t go up a full story because the lower floor of the boathouse is partly below grade except on the beach side. Ever notice the small window on the side right near the ground? See image below.

The second stairs on the drawing to the right and slightly closer to the water go down from grade about 3 feet to a door to the storage area of the boathouse. It is just a typical door size that no one notices. The big double doors are on the beach side and allow larger water related equipment to be stored below. That storage area is about twice the area of the lanai above and four times the size of the small enclosed space upstairs.

I tried to explain it in an earlier post, but if you think of it as the guest house you will likely be confused. What the structure actually is, is a large garage for water related equipment with a lanai and small room on top. It’s primary purpose is storage by the water, hence the ramp from those double doors down to the sand. Upstairs is just a nice place to get out of the sun plus a small room with a bathroom for convenience.

https://ibb.co/zGVxkgG

I circled the elements I mentioned. To the left is the small window near grade that opens to the storage area below. Moving right is the stairs down to the lower level. All the way to the right is the door to the lower level. There’s also another small window to the lower level to the left of the door.

[eagle]

What the structure actually is, is a large garage for water related equipment with a lanai and small room on top.

And Magnum's guest house.

j/k...

It’s primary purpose is storage by the water, hence the ramp from those double doors down to the sand. Upstairs is just a nice place to get out of the sun plus a small room with a bathroom for convenience.

https://ibb.co/zGVxkgG

I circled the elements I mentioned. To the left is the small window near grade that opens to the storage area below. Moving right is the stairs down to the lower level. All the way to the right is the door to the lower level. There’s also another small window to the lower level to the left of the door.

Thanks for this -- that's really cool. Do we have any actual photos inside the actual boat hose? I seem to recall that there was one episode filmed inside the boat house, correct?

[Pahonu]

What the structure actually is, is a large garage for water related equipment with a lanai and small room on top.

And Magnum's guest house.

j/k...

It’s primary purpose is storage by the water, hence the ramp from those double doors down to the sand. Upstairs is just a nice place to get out of the sun plus a small room with a bathroom for convenience.

https://ibb.co/zGVxkgG

I circled the elements I mentioned. To the left is the small window near grade that opens to the storage area below. Moving right is the stairs down to the lower level. All the way to the right is the door to the lower level. There’s also another small window to the lower level to the left of the door.

Thanks for this -- that's really cool. Do we have any actual photos inside the actual boat hose? I seem to recall that there was one episode filmed inside the boat house, correct?

There’s some debate about whether the scene from Who is Don Luis Higgins? is actually the inside of the boathouse lower level. It seems like it could be but I recall someone saying the set dresser, Rick Romer, said on his blog that it wasn’t. There’s also a Hawaii Five-O episode that might show the space but it’s also uncertain.

What I find intriguing about the Don Luis Higgins scene is that Magnum walks right up to the double doors of the boathouse and almost no one seems to notice that it’s the same structure shown repeatedly as the guesthouse. This is because they filmed him approaching it from a unique angle and keep the shot pretty tight, not showing any familiar parts of the structure. The scene then cuts to an interior shot that is the uncertain location, possibly the actual boathouse lower level?

[Maitai]

Just saw this during my online news review.....

Hawaii beach property linked to longtime friend of Obama bypasses coastal protection laws: Report

https://www.foxnews.com/us/hawaii-beach ... ction-laws

[Pahonu]

Just saw this during my online news review.....

Hawaii beach property linked to longtime friend of Obama bypasses coastal protection laws: Report

https://www.foxnews.com/us/hawaii-beach ... ction-laws

The full article jointly published by ProPublica and the Honolulu Star Advertiser is already being discussed here:

http://magnum-mania.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4169

[JosipCro]

Hi everyone, something ...

https://www.propublica.org/article/obam ... -loopholes

[T.Q.]

I haven't been following this story at all really.

I had heard originally that they had to keep Robin's Nest foundation.

Was this true?

The shape of the new house looks similar.

[Pahonu]

I haven't been following this story at all really.

I had heard originally that they had to keep Robin's Nest foundation.

Was this true?

The shape of the new house looks similar.

I agree, the the new house is quite similar in shape, also in size, and positioning to the old house. I'm not sure if they ultimately kept the old foundations, but it was a requirement of the demolition permit to do so. Rembrandt's Girl posted those. These houses are also being built higher to meet coastal flooding regulations, so I'm guessing they kept the old slab foundation sections as footings and poured newer foundation walls above them. I believe they filled in the other sections of foundation that were basement. They could do the same above those.


One of the issues I have with the newspaper article is the conflation of Marty Nesbitt subdividing the property and requesting permits to reinforce the sea walls, and Eve Anderson getting a 55 year lease to keep the sea walls on public land. I question using the term "loophole" to subdivide the property. Subdivision is quite a common occurrence for economic reasons and, given the size of the property, seemed quite likely in this case. Using the same term about applying for permits to reinforce them also seems wrong. He is following the process for doing so, including paying for a massive environmental study, and hasn't even been approved yet. Mrs. Anderson getting what the article said was a relatively rare easement grant might fit into the category of loophole. Her being a former state legislator also points in that direction, unfortunately, and paying tens of thousands of dollars as part of it doesn't look good either. I'll reserve judgement. Placing Obama's name in the title of the article is just speculation at this point and an attempt to grab readers with the headline, as KHale pointed out.