HAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHA: Shadenfreude was never as sweet as with the news that the owners of one of the gaudy obnoxious gated homes in Tom and Bonnie McCloskey’s and Justin and Michelle Hughes’ land-raping “Kealia Kai” ag subdivision are apparently being forced to auction it off for a pittance.

The Concierge Auctions’ Kaua`i Luxury Auctions web site says the auction for the home at 4380D Paliku Place- which was previously offered for $9,995,000- has a “reserve” of $2,000,000 and gives a pre-sale estimate of $3,000,000-$7,000,000 although there is no minimum bid..

In this market it could well go for a song.

The development became a symbol for everything Kaua`i people hated in the 90’s when the Colorado developer came here and bought the entire Kealia Ahupua`a for a ridiculously low $17 million- or less since that was only the asking price- while the community and even county and state government was considering how to purchase and preserve it as a park.

Although the land had long been thought to be Hawaiian “crown” land- or stolen land as it is known in kanaka circles- that had merely been leased to Makee Plantation by King Kalakaua in the 1880’s, no one ever challenged the sale or deed.

McCloskey tried to turn the entire makai-of-the-highway portion from Kealia to Anahola into a private beach community and block all public access.

The Sierra Club and a group called “Friends of Kealia” threatened a lawsuit and McCloskey agreed to move the homes back from the edge of the bluff to a place inland enough so that they could not be seen from the beach areas.

But he did that in exchange for a promise from the Sierra Club and the group that they would go away d not try to stop him from doing anything else he wanted to in Kealia, a decision many decried since the only ones with deep enough legal pockets to challenge him was the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, as EarthJustice was called at the time.

The project went forward due to the greasing of the wheels by friend of the McCloskeys, then-Mayor Maryanne Kusaka who had been rumored to have been given a plot and home in the subdivision although no evidence could ever be found of any corrupt transaction.

Could this be the house that was built for her but had to be withdrawn not just because of the scrutiny but due to Kusaka’s losses in the ill-fated renovation of Coca Palms, as PNN has exclusively reported?

Maybe, maybe not- we’ll probably never know for sure. The current listed owners are Patricia Dzubera and Richard E Nelson of 2115 S Ocean Blvd Apt 16 Delray Beach Fl 33483-6487.

According to many who have seen the area in mauka Kealia McCloskey has developed it into a series of luxury lots and homes raping the land there and getting out from under the grubbing and grading ordinance under the guise of an Agricultural Conservation Plan that was approved by the East Side Soil and Water Conservation Board which gives votes to its members like McCloskey based on the acreage each members owns.

Traditional access to the mauka area in Kealia- including access to the Waipahe’e Slippery Slide via the “landing strip” past the Spaulding Monument- has been eliminated by McCloskey after the planning department under Kusaka failed to require any in exchange for the subdivision.

The web site for the auction- replete with pictures and descriptions of the house and views- advertises:

Premier Estate Residence on nearly Six Oceanfront Acres, & Adjacent Five Acre Homesite

Selling at auction to the highest bidder on March 8th and located in the secluded subdivision of Kealia Kai, this exclusive property and premier homesite are pure tropical luxury living at its finest, offering residents unsurpassed privacy, extraordinary panoramic views and convenient beach access. From the breaking waves on white sand beaches to the deep blue ocean and vast skyline, Kealia Kai, nestled between the Aliomanu Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is the gateway to the North Shore, one of the most popular and pristine areas of Kauai.

Nestled between the Aliomanu Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this private, premier property in Kealia Kai is perched atop Paliku Point (Paliku means “vertical cliffs”), offering stunning panoramic views. From the breaking waves on white sand beaches to the deep blue ocean and vast skyline, Kealia Kai is the gateway to the North Shore, one of the most popular and pristine areas of Kauai. Pure tropical luxury living at its finest, this secluded subdivision offers residents unsurpassed privacy, extraordinary views and convenient beach access. Follow Kauai Path, winding along the shoreline, south through Kealia and to Kapa`a, and north to Donkey Beach.

Recognized as one of Hawaii’s finest architects, Alwyn Trigg-Smith blends contemporary design with a hint of tropical style in this luxurious property, resting on nearly six oceanfront acres. Offering three en suite bedrooms, two flex rooms, two half baths and a detached guest house with full bathroom, kitchen and garage, the layout is both expansive and functional.

You can click here to view the area on google maps.