Pu’uhonua Estate    –   300 Kepa Road, Kula, Hawaii

A Private Estate Compound on 16.47 private acres on the slopes of Haleakala in Upcountry Maui.

• 5,374 square feet,     5 bedrooms +  4.5 bathroom main house built in 1926
• 1,832 square feet,     2 bedrooms +  2 bathroom cottage built in the late 1970’s
•  500+ square feet,     1 bedroom   +  1 bathroom cottage
• Garage with Studio apartment above

Recently Listed for $6,900,000

An elegant estate property tucked away at the end of a lane in Upcountry Maui where the climate is mild and the views are spectacular. The sweeping entry driveway is edged in glorious jacaranda trees with their vibrant purple blooms. Built in 1926, this grand estate is steeped in Maui history and has been the site of many wonderful island gatherings. The tranquil estate includes 16 acres of beautiful upcountry land, 8 of which are manicured and planted with gardens of protea, day lilies, azaleas, fruit bearing trees, exotic palms, a Japanese garden and rows of orchid greenhouses.

Walk along the tree lined paths from the 5,000+ sq.ft. main home as you step back into time with a paneled library, formal living and dining rooms, butlers’ pantry and grand staircase that leads up to the upper floors with period fireplace and chandelier. This is the ultimate restorationists dream…

Next stop is the 1 bedroom, 1 bath cottage, with a free standing garage building and studio apt above, then down the drive to the 1,832 sq. ft. 1970’s home with vaulted ceilings and wood floors at the bottom of the manicured lawn. Walk past the protea beds and lush Hawaiian gardens up to another house with the garage building at the edge of the entry with a 3 bedroom, 1 bath apartment located above.

This historic residence is going to require some modernization, but over 11,000 square feet of total living space in an ideal location presents an exceptional value. An ideal setting for a private Bed and Breakfast, or a Treatment / Rehabilitation Center. 

Introducing You to Upcountry Maui

Locals know to escape the heat, head to the rolling hills and expansive pasture land of Kula, and the quaint communities beyond of Ulupalakua and Keokea. Kula means “open country”, and this loosely designated area that sits between 1000 feet to 8000 feet elevation, is known as the “breadbasket” of Maui. The “farm to table” phenomenon has catapulted many gardens and farms into creating some outstanding farm tours and tasting opportunities of their locally made products. Known for its tropical gardens, lavender, protea, sweet Maui onions, goat cheese, coffee, carnations and orchid for leis, cattle, and Kula is known for generations of old farms, cowboys, and artists.

Relaxed and slow-paced, the regions farming and ranching history and shear isolation, with no direct public road connecting it to South Maui, helps to maintain the quiet vibe we know and love as Kula. This is the perfect location for someone looking for privacy and elegance to recover in serenity.  With amazing views of the ocean below and a cool breeze, this part of your Maui stay will be a welcome reprieve from the busy tourism hubs of Kihei and Wailea below.

We’ve seen celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood and Steven Tyler become a part of the Maui community – a quick flight to L.A. – but secluded from the fast-paced tinseltown.

Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi and the History of the Storybook Estate

His influential role in politics, combined with luck and astuteness (not to mention TIMING…) in real estate investing and developing, coupled with a reputation for a particularly fair and generous way of treating others, Yokouchi was one of the most sought-after and best-connected people in Hawaii in the Democratic years.

Since as far back as the mid-1960’s, he was at the center around which power gravitated on Maui. Every major politician and businessman on the island stopped by his office, teed off with him on the links or shared aloha in the community. Officials and community leaders describe him as “incredible guy,” “generous and humble person,” “gracious gentleman,” “great man” and “Maui’s last hero.” He never graduated from college, missed fighting in the war and spent nearly two decades as a baker before he hit it big in real estate. We look around today and see a plethora of realtors, but back in Pundy’s day, the idea of getting rich buying and selling Maui land was novel.

In 1960, Pundy got his real estate license and opened Valley Isle Realty and within just seven years, the office members held some heavy positions in both community and politics. Things began happening for Pundy very fast; in 1970 Yokouchi began buying and selling large tracts of land making a lot of money – both on and off the record. By 1977, Pundy and his wife had expanded their portfolio and were living in this 16-acre spread in Kula, after selling their old, modest Wailuku house.

Maui looks the way it does today because of Masaru Yokouchi Lahaina Town, Ka`anapali and Makena all owe their development—and to a considerable extent, their controversy—to Yokouchi. To speak of him without acknowledging his role in these developments is to dishonor the man and his achievements.

The president of Valley Isle Realty, Kaanapali Kai Inc. and his own foundation, also is chairman of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center,” Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi died at the age of 81. Articled fled the press full of details about Yokouchi’s standing as Maui’s greatest patron of the arts. He served for 12 years as chairman of the state Foundation on Culture and the Arts and raised $32 million to get the MACC built. His influence, generosity and fundraising were so prodigious that the MACC—which he chaired from its 1994 construction to his death—would never have been built without him.

These stories illustrate the variety and complexity of the world in which Pundy did business. He’s contributed to the make-up of Maui as a whole and a figure to be remembered.

Big Opportunities in Investing in Specialized Rehabilitation and Addiction Treatment Centers

Modern Rehabilitation Centers have been reinvented into to private experiences with individualized care to treat mental and substance abuse.  Consider places like Cliffside Malibu, or Monarch Shores in Orange County, California. Consider a premier destination for alcohol rehab and drug addiction treatment and luxury rehabilitation on Maui. With the opiod crisis and mental health on top of mind, this climate and the need for expanded access and luxury care creates opportunity for investors. A private estate where people can come – privately – to get well.

Building Calm into Your Day by Harvard.edu

Maui is a wealthy beach community but it’s also a relaxing and serene hub for nature lovers, adventurers, and soul searchers. The magnificent landscape of mighty Mt. Haleakala crushed against the shoreline and the breathtaking Hawaiian sunsets are just some of many elements that make the natural beauty of Maui something one doesn’t easily forget. In a sense, Maui is the ideal location for luxury rehab centers.

The time to turn a blind eye to an ever-growing problem is diminishing

State governments aren’t paying to build more methadone clinics and there’s little money available in the non-profit sector for them either. Still, the number of programs has nearly doubled in the last 10 years, largely thanks to private investment, which is a positive development. A detox setting or a rehab program has a much wider stream of potential where revenue, can be covered by insurance, and people are willing to pay for it if they have the resources to pay for it to get better.  The real questions are about occupancy rates, insurance reimbursement and unlimited potential as the future demand for detox and treatment is inevitable.

With big private equity money moving into the drug rehab space  –  they can afford to purchase larger facilities. Larger campus type rehab facilities with economies of scale; a kitchen and crew, a groundskeeper, an executive director, and etc. If the healthcare system is heading into single payer or “in network” then the out of network PPO policies (which are lucrative) will be harder to land. It’s predicted that the larger drug rehabs will have an easier time of transitioning to an in-network type of an environment because they will have the economies of scale.  Take a look at this article from Modern Healthcare.com about the incline in investments in this sector just over the past year.

Specialized Treatments, on-site care and staff dedicated to the well-being of their clients with amenities that could include:

• Luxurious bed and bathroom accommodations
• The option for private rooms and private bathrooms
• Five-star, farm-to-table dining
• Holistic therapies such as yoga, massage, and acupuncture
• Sports such as tennis and basketball courts
• Art therapies such as writing, painting and reflecting
• Picturesque views and serene surroundings
• Top-notch service catering to all comforts
• Gyms, pools, and tropical gardens

A perfect palette to realize a long-term substantial investment. It’s going to take some cash to overhaul the space, but the owners are motivated and this is a one-of-a-kind legacy property in a dynamic location.

Give me a call and we can discuss how to make it yours.

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