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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Historic estate
with epic view
is on the blockLetting go of things we hold dear is difficult, but the reward is generally just more storage space. In this case, the payoff likely will exceed $8 million.
California developer Alon Abady, 33, is forcing himself to part with the Sullivan estate on the North Shore.
The 5.2-acre Pupukea estate, developed by Foodland Supermarkets Ltd. founder Maurice Sullivan, sports more features than can fit in one sentence. Among the structures are a 5,700-square-foot, six-bedroom main residence, 2,700-square-foot, three-bedroom guest house, a dozen cabanas, a gym and game rooms, a pool with a 12-person Jacuzzi, cascading waterfall, large circular fountain and a commercial-grade outdoor kitchen.
"It is very sorrowful for me, I love the house," Abady said. His soon-to-be-wife loves it as well, but the extended family includes babies and it won't work for them as a primary residence.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AUGIE SALBOSA
The North Shore's Sullivan estate, shown in an aerial view, is in the foreground in front of the row of trees. It's expected to fetch at least $8 million.
"I bought the house as a bachelor" four years ago, he said. He tries to fly out once a month for a week to 10 days.
The Oakland Raiders were scoreless in the second quarter, causing slight tension in his voice over the phone from California, but the stress melted away as he described his favorite memories of the home.
His niece took her first steps there at 9 months old. After a $2 million renovation project was completed about seven or eight months ago, "we sat in the Jacuzzi and watched the sunset."
Other, more recent ridge-top sunset viewers were attending a "gala showcasing" of the estate on Thursday.
Festooned with fresh flowers and filled with $200,000 in art from the Haleiwa Art Gallery, "it was gorgeous," said Nancy McLeroth, listing agent with Kahala Associates.
"Agents who sold it prior were there and said the property never looked better," she said. Kahala Estates Principal Broker Myra Brandt also represents the resortesque property displayed on the Web at www.sullivanestate.com.
Elvis Presley is said to have stayed at the estate numerous times and its popularity with Hollywood types continues. Abady has rented it to celebrities he didn't identify, but who he said expressed an interest in purchasing it. That nudged him into the idea of selling the estate, he said.
Abady is a developer and investor specializing in large shopping centers, but his mind shifted back to the game. "If they just get on the scoreboard I'll be happy," he said. (The Raiders did put 10 points on the scoreboard, but the Broncos had 31 points and won the game.)
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com
