The Beauty Of Black Point: Cool Breezes With Private Ocean Views

By Lisa Lee

Nestled beneath Diamond Head and hidden from the eyes of passers-by lies the lushly landscaped community of Black Point. Resting on cliffs that lead down to the ocean, these exclusive homes are cooled by sea breezes and steps from the beach.

Originally named Kupikipikio by the ancient Hawaiians for its turbulent waters, Black Point has long been home to prominent kama‘aina families and celebrities. The first luxury homes were built in Black Point in the 1920s, and a mix of bungalow-styled homes and estates date back to the 1930s. Some offer ocean views, while others face the neighborhood and mountains. Each home is as unique as the hilly, terraced neighborhood known then as Kahala Cliffs subdivision. Many of the original homes have been remodeled or built anew.

Black Point is where famed Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and goodwill ambassador Duke Kahanamoku built his home. It is also where the heiress Doris Duke established her Shangri La estate in 1937. She chose the then-undeveloped location to overlook the surf break where she enjoyed swimming and surfing with Kahanamoku and friends.

Doris Duke’s mansion sparked interest in the Eastern side of Diamond Head, but it wasn’t until the late 1950s and early 1960s that many of the homes in the area were built. Most people are surprised to learn that the gated community of Black Point began in the 1960s as an artsy, bohemian community.

Today, Black Point remains highly desirable with very low turnover due to its limited number of properties. Currently there are five active listings in Black Point, ranging in price from $2.988 million to $7.495 million. Only one home has sold there in the past six months.

Bernie Tong, a partner at Prudential Locations and a Fine Homes Premier Specialist, describes how the homes in Black Point reflect their unique location and orientation on the cliffs, as well as the owners who have built and inhabited them.

“Take this home, for example,” she says of her current listing on Black Point Road. “It was originally built in 1927 by a sea captain, so it has charming character that you don’t typically see in Kahala and Black Point homes — beautiful Ohia poles, high ceilings, doorways that are curved in 1920s style. The original home featured a “crow’s nest” on the roof so the Captain could watch ships come and go. This property was built before any of the surrounding homes, so it had the best views.

That crow’s nest has since been replaced with the spacious second floor and a second master suite. “Now, you can relax in the Jacuzzi here, listen to the waves and watch for whales. The entire second level is trimmed in Koa, reflecting the Hawaiian history of this property.

The star attractions of this home remain the sweeping views and sound of the surf rolling in. The upper lanai offers a 180-degree-plus view that spans the ocean, Koko Head and the mountains. The master suite on the lower level has double doors that that underline this Original Grand Master Suite.

Like many homes in Black Point, this home has a fun history.

“Next door was Duke Kahanamoku’s house,” Tong says.

“There is still a gate in the backyard between the properties, which was put there so that if Nadine Kahanamoku ever needed help she could come through the gate. And my clients bought the house from Tom Selleck’s make-up artist. He lived here in the 1980s during Magnum, P.I. days. Many of the actors and Selleck himself spent hours at this grand home”.

Indeed, one wonders what the next owner will bring to this unique home and to the Black Point neighborhood.

For more information on this home, call Bernie Tong at (808) 306-0430. To reach Prudential Locations, call 377-4646.