His bags are packed and he's ready to go. Washington Place will
enter new era after
Gov. Cayetano leavesAfter the Cayetanos move, the
home will become a museumBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.comGov. Ben Cayetano is just days away from being the last governor of Hawaii to live in Washington Place.
Cayetano said yesterday that most of his belongings have been moved, and he and his wife, Vicky Cayetano, will soon move to his new home, with its commanding view from Diamond Head to Koko Head at 1926 Okoa Place.
First lady Vicky Cayetano led a project to preserve and protect the historic Washington Place, which has been home to Hawaii's governors and to Hawaii's last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. It will become a museum.
When the Cayetanos move out, the next governor, Linda Lingle, will move into a $1.3-million, three-bedroom mansion built with private funds behind Washington Place, across from the state Capitol.
Cayetano yesterday said he hopes to be out of Washington Place by Monday and plans to spend at least one night in the new mansion, before turning it over to Lingle, when she becomes governor Dec. 2.
The new Cayetano home on Waialae Iki Ridge was owned by the Tom Gentry Trust and the 2.6-acre property was bought by the Cayetano's in 1998 for $900,000.
"There is a still a lot of landscaping I am going to be involved with. I am looking forward to it," Cayetano said.
State of Hawaii
