Bidding Opens For Classic Kahala Mansion

Commercial Realtor Douglas Pothul’s Kahala mansion has been on and off the market since he vacated it in 2005 and undertook a series of renovations, most recently in 2009. Now he is offering the Aukai Avenue estate with what he refers to as a “fresh approach,” consisting of both traditional listing with Mary Worrall Associates Sotheby’s International Realty and a “sealed bid sale.”

Bids submitted for the home will be opened at the company’s Kahala office on May 10 at 2 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. Meanwhile, traditional cash or finance offers for the property are also being entertained. The owner reserves the right to reject any offer and no upset price for the sealed bid sale has been published.

Information on placing a sealed bid can be accessed at kahalamansion.com, or interested parties can contact Mary or Beth Worrall Daily at their Kahala Sotheby’s International Realty office. They will hold open houses at the property every Sunday and by appointment for qualified buyers up until the day the bids are opened.

Located at 485 Kala Place/4503 Aukai Avenue, the home was built by well known Hawaii developer Sheldon Zane and is in “like new condition,” according to Beth Worrall Daily. “Zane built the house for himself and his wife Gwen, and, as a developer and builder, thought of every little detail….from a water softening and purification system to an elevator. Construction and materials are of the highest quality. Zane even commissioned renowned Hawaii artist John Young to design special wallpaper. ”

The two story concrete, reinforced steel and wood structure includes approximately 8,789 square feet of interior living space and garage area on a 10,905 square foot fee simple lot. The home has been updated several times since it was built. Designed to accommodate family living as well as entertaining, the home includes four bedrooms/baths, three on the second floor and one on the ground floor, which is currently utilized as a exercise room. All bedrooms are spacious and have connected interior bathrooms; the master suite/wing of the home occupies the entire mauka section of the second floor and opens out to one of the home’s five lanais. Also on the upper level are a family room and media room. On the ground floor are another family room and wood paneled office/library. The oversized kitchen is designed for gourmet cooking with extensive food preparation space.

The landscaped property fronted by stately Italian Cypress trees includes a large swimming pool and heated spa.

“This is a well thought out floor plan,” Worrall-Daily said. “The home could easily accommodate a multigenerational family with its distinct living spaces and would work equally well for people who want to be able to entertain house guests without sacrificing privacy. The architecture and design features are classic and timeless.

“Interested parties can contact us if they want to receive a comprehensive packet of information on the property, which includes all details…title search, termite inspection, everything needed to conclude any standard real estate transaction. In order to obtain the 170 page packet, prospective buyers and/or their real estate agent will need to sign a confidentiality agreement.

We suggest that interested parties and real estate agents review the web-site first and decide whether they want to pursue acquisition of the property with a standard offer or through a sealed bid. The bidder whose offer is accepted by our client will be contacted immediately following completion of the opening of all sealed bids on May 10.”