PO‘IPU — Kaua‘i Realtor Hannah Sirois recently closed on the Ka Lae Kiki estate on the Poipu oceanfront for $10.5 million.
Sirois Kaua‘i, a partner of Corcoran Pacific Properties, sold the property that Los Angeles developer Lowry McCaslin purchased more than 60 years ago for his family and was destroyed by Hurricane ‘Iwa in 1982.
According to a Wall Street Journal article that named the South Shore estate the 2020 House of the Year, the house was rebuilt after the hurricane.
The property was originally listed at $18.5 million, and received accolades from the Wall Street Journal because of the feelings the property evokes, Sirois said.
Ka Lae Kiki estate became the highest single-family residential sale in Po‘ipu. The previous high was a four-bedroom home with ocean views that sold for $8.3 million at Kukui‘ula.
Designed by James Morton, who designed the Kiahuna Plantation and developed a knack for creating properties that “rested” and didn’t overpower the real estate.
“Ka Lae Kiki evokes the feeling of solitude, an ideal tropical oasis without the fluff,” Sirois said. “His design gently unveils the setting and presents astounding views up and down the coastline.”
Built to last
The saltwater pool that extends out in the Pacific Ocean is the only original feature, the article states.
The current home, which was transformed into a 3,324-square-foot home completed in 1999, has its foundation raised 13 feet above sea level, and has 92 concrete columns to support the structure, which is in compliance with updated hurricane standards.
The property has four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and cost $1.3 million to build.
The story
behind the estate
The story behind the Ka Lae Kiki Estate and the fact the property hadn’t been on the market in over 60 years only added value, Sirois said.
“Ka Lae Kiki allowed for any prospective purchaser to consider the fact that a property like this is rare,” Sirois said. “And (a property like this) seldom trades.”
The authentic nature of the property is another appealing factor to why this estate has received so much attention on the open market and from national publications.
“The addition of an authentic story to due-diligence materials and the marketing of real estate at this level demystifies the property and affords a sense of place,” Sirois said. “The context allows for any prospective purchaser to understand and connect with the property.”
Working from home
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the course of the economy, and has altered the landscape of recent buying trends.
“The trend toward remote work changed the playing field, and beautiful places like Kaua‘i and other small towns as far away as Maine morphed into Zoom-towns (not boom-towns) seemingly overnight,” Sirois said. “Across the state, Realtors have seen a surge in demand sparked by the insatiable allure for our climate, culture, peace and way of life.”
Whether in a pandemic or not, the market always remains in a state of flux, and can be altered by several variables.
“What can I say here that I haven’t said before?” Sirois asked. “Not much. We’ve always experienced supply issues on Kaua‘i when coupling this fact with historically low interest rates and a wonderful place to call home.”
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
Can you give any names of the millionaires that have purchased a home in Poipu. $18.5 million dollars. I wanted to know if they live here year round or just stay here for the summer. I’ve never met a Kaua’i millionaire.
this is front page news? another billionaire buys here, moves their kids into their covid fear bubble, hires a surf coach, a chef, and is a kamaiiana. haha we aint havin it no more, we will let you know this face to face in the sand, at the store, and wherever we see you, you stand out like sore thumbs, we know who u are. In the meanwhile I hope you will all take note of how Dr. keanu sai has exposed the flaws in hawaiis title insurance system, . Every single deed here is flawed, those who notarized the originating documents have been clearly identified by courts as being insurgents, and that renders everything they executed null and void in a court of law. Guess what, thats every deed in hawaii from the overthrow. except kuleana’s. So hahaha, you paid 10 million for a defective deed with a title chain break and your realtor pocketed 300k knowing your deed is printed on charmin toilet paper. Watch Dr. Sai presentations on title insurance to the maui county council, then ask your broker why this is not disclosed on the sellers real property disclosure? the realtor has material knowledge of this yet they are all in violation of disclosure laws as they NEVER disclose this MATERIAL FACT. Trust me, Jim Pietsch, chicago title, Security title and all the other rip off artists are squirming. Their businesses will be crushed if native hawaiians will for ONCE , yes you hawaiians, get up off your okole’s and for ONCE in your lives, come together in unison and take a stance here. Go after the reltors and make sure they have all Dr Sai data so they can disclose it to buyers, the title insurance industry in Hawaii will explode soon. as those title insurance companies, will cease to write any business here that exposes them to liability for breaks in the title chain ! You will cause all sales here to immediately cease, no title insurance , no mortgage, simple. No disagree, no fight amongst yourselves, Your culture and lands have been stolen , packaged and sold, and a hundred million pairs of tourist feet have trampled your home lands,while you got paid 14 bucks an hour to kiss their okoles and carry their bags to their rooms. Mililani trask told you, you didnt listen. . Further you live in the worst lands in Hawaii. While people use ag lands meant for food production for vacation rentals and gentrified beyonce like estates. Then folks like Hannah Sirois sell your home lands off to people who simply dont deserve them nor do they fit in, nor do they belong here under the current system which screws you and your culture to the wall of the haole implant. Now its so bad the sales made by a haole realtor of YOUR aina is front page news? AUWE. I dont own anythigng here, but I aint havin the one percenters. , you can buy sticks and bricks but you never gonna blend. beat it. Trust me….we know….were over it. BEAT IT.
What an obscene waste of money and continued act of unlawful occupation this is, selling stolen property!
It is predictable that 2021 will be remembered for the extreme hurricane season and high tides along with disastrous flooding in Hawai’i nei….
No insurance company will cover these properties and the land should be converted to shoreline preservation instead.
The septic system is illegal and hence the house should not be sold at all. Null and void due to fraud and collusion….. but such arrogance and denial by the buyers and sellers is also pure DISRESPECT.
Returning the land and sea to the lawful Hawai’i National Subjects is in progress both in the International Court Level and most importantly the Spiritual Level….. Kahunas are working 24/7 to right the wrongs of greedy foreigners. Our own people are highly educated and informed…. experience of 129 years of Aloha Aina Organization and resistance to being plundered and pillaged is coming to fruition to the return of Hawai’i INDEPENDENCE.
Read, watch and listen @
HAWAIIANKINGDOM.ORG
The pool has been leaking into the ocean for years. There’s a bunch of dead coral out front there. New owners should be required to tear the pool out
How wonderful…affordable housing for local residents.
Hey Hannah- Thanks a lot for all the years you’ve spent helping to turn this exquisite island into an overpriced haven for soul-less non-residents. Why are you even here? When you first moved here years ago, did you see Kauai as a place you could make a fortune off of no matter how it affected everyone else here who actually love this place? Sleep well, knowing that those of us who actually treasure this paradise hold you in such contempt.
Is the pool even legal? How can it be built on the reef? Planning department should look into it. Or do you guys just turn a blind eye to the rich?
Where do you expect people from Silicon Valley like Mark Z and Jack Dorsey to spend their money. Kauai. The whole country is going to crap. Should have voted TRUMP
Amen
Truth
The world of full of greed – the garbage sadly has traveled to the island. Selfish greed… everywhere.
Ask yourself when was the last time you did something kind and didn’t brag about it. THE WORLD NEEDS TO WAKE UP. All the bad that has happened is destined to continue until mankind changes.
Realtors don’t give a damn about anything other then their bank accounts. Don’t be fooled. Building their homes off your wallet. They walk around wirh their fat guts and Hawaiian apparel. They came from places that rats run away from like New York City and California…. now like cheap whores selling an island that they have nothing to do with they should be forced to go back to their dirty homes in mainland.
Don’t be fooled by ignorant Whore realtors.