• Home
  • Deals
  • COVID Travel
    • COVID Travel Guide
    • Vaccination Passports
    • Travel After Recovery From COVID
    • Kauai Resort Bubble Options
  • Southwest
    • Latest Updates: SWA Hawaii
    • Southwest Hawaii Deals
    • Southwest Inter-Island Flights
    • Southwest vs. Hawaiian
  • Categories
    • Hawaii Deals
    • Hawaii Airline News
    • Travel Tips
    • Culture and Events
  • Top Picks
    • 25 Ways to Save on Hawaii Car Rentals
    • Free/Cheap Parking Waikiki
    • Jellyfish Warnings 2020
    • Frugal Hawaii | 15 Ways To Save
    • Hawaii Sunscreen | New Law + Health and Safety Updates
  • Kudos
  • Win Free Trips

Beat of Hawaii

Cheap Flights to Hawaii | Hawaii Travel News

Magnum PI Home Set to Become Obama Hawaii Retreat?

May 7, 2020 by Beat of Hawaii 70 Comments

MagnumPIhouse

Before Rob moved to Hawaii, his weekly dose of Aloha in the 1980’s was watching Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. Rob wanted that life here in the islands, wearing the famous Aloha Shirt like Magnum did, and living in that oceanfront home. When Rob drove by its location at Waimanalo, he would always try to take a peek. Now the home that served as the fictional “Robin’s Nest,” is back in the news and may be getting a presidential makeover.

It’s being rumored that the property will be a retreat for President Barack Obama who grew up here and his family. The current neighbors know what is going on and have signed an agreement to stay quiet. We’ll pretend to be private investigators like Magnum today, and present the facts, and only the facts. But we do think we are on to something here.

After the property sold a few years ago, the registered owner became Waimanalo Paradise.

What’s newsworthy here it that behind the name is longtime Obama friend Martin Nesbitt. If that name is familiar to you, it’s because Nesbitt served as the treasurer for two Obama presidential campaigns and is on the former president’s foundation board. Another name listed in state records for Waimanalo Paradise is Kevin Poorman, who also has an Obama connection. He is president of the Obama Foundation Board.

So why would these two men need confidentiality agreements signed by neighbors? Unless of course, the whole idea for Waimanalo Paradise was to be a part-time residence for President Obama. It makes sense that is what is happening and the secrecy behind it. What better outcome for the property to replace its former cool Magnum with one cool former president, who probably never dreamed when he was growing up in Hawaii, that famous residence would be his.

Former Robin’s Nest, however, will have a whole new look.

Most of it has been leveled for a new future here in the islands. The original 8,500 square foot home on three acres of oceanfront land, was built in 1933, and sold for $8.7 million in 2015 to Waimanalo Paradise. Up until 2015, any residence over 50 years old needed a historical review before it could be demolished. That’s no longer the case unless it is on the national historical register or in a historic district.

A new generation, and some of us oldies, now have a brand new Magnum, P.I. to watch on television.

That show was recently renewed a third season and is filmed in Hawaii. If you’ve seen both the old and new, which is your favorite? I think any show filmed in the islands is a good thing for all.

 

Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.

Filed Under: Culture and Events

Subscribe to Free Updates

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Comment policy:
* A "please" or "thanks" is required for a reply.
* No profanity, rudeness, personal attacks, or bullying. Stay on travel - not politics.
* No links or UPPER CASE text.
* No duplicate posts or using multiple names.
* Use a real first name.
* Comments edited/published at our sole discretion.
* Beat of Hawaii has no relationship with our commentors.
* Please read https://beatofhawaii.com/comment-policy/

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Comments limited to 2,000 characters.


Please, use first name and last initial only.

* Denotes required fields. By commenting you agree to our Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. P.K. says

    September 26, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    I think Barack needs to pay for a restoration of the historic site he just demolished, kick his friends out, and make a public apology to the state of Hawaii. How dare he demolish Robin’s Nest. Man, I’ve loved him for years, but I’m done now. Whoa.

    Reply
  2. Richard S says

    May 18, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    As they say, there goes the neighborhood…..

    Reply
  3. Bob J says

    May 18, 2020 at 10:31 am

    what about the public beach right next to it? That’s one of the most popular local beaches along with the lagoon?

    Reply
    • Nancy L. says

      January 11, 2021 at 7:14 am

      Why not refurbish property to former grandeur? What a shame.

      Reply
  4. AMelia A says

    May 17, 2020 at 5:05 am

    Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  5. Leigh Anne W. says

    May 10, 2020 at 9:11 pm

    I have been driving past this property a handful of times every week, for years. I believe most everyone knew this was happening when former President Obama’s close connection was said to be the new owner, in 2015. Doesn’t look like anything from the original Magnum PI estate is left. Pillars for the foundation are poured and it looks like it will be a very large beachfront estate, and I am happy for them. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches on Oahu, IMO.

    Reply
  6. marge s. says

    May 8, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    we come to hawaii every year and ride by this place just to see a glimpse of magnums house went by in feb of this year and saw it was leveled wont bother to waste the gas to go by anymore should have been left as a tribute to magnums show

    Reply
  7. Dave R says

    May 8, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Nice for Obama. Sadly, he turned out to be just another aloof, out-of-touch politician who got elected on promises, kept very few of them, and rode off into the sunset to enjoy his millions of $$. Basically a decent guy? Probably. But still another member of the entitled elite.

    Reply
  8. Nancy M says

    May 8, 2020 at 11:04 am

    Thank you for the update.
    You said much of it has been leveled. Does that mean all the main house or just the outbuildings? Is a new home being built yet?
    I hope you will keep us posted.

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      May 8, 2020 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Nancy.

      That’s all we know at the moment. We’ll get over there and let you know more as soon as we can travel. 🙂

      Aloha.

      Reply
    • Leigh Anne W. says

      May 10, 2020 at 9:13 pm

      I don’t believe anything is left from the original estate, except maybe the entrance area?

      Reply
  9. Carolyn G says

    May 8, 2020 at 9:33 am

    I guess I can still be surprised…it makes me sad that even in these times when we can see how fragile life is and the importance of kindness to one another, that some feel compelled to put such negativity and hate out into the world.

    This family has deep ties to and love for Hawaii (and definitely vice versa.) I think that if they have as much right as any of us to the Aloha and joy and especially the community that Barack’s grandparents raised him in. I know personally that when you are born and raised in the islands, no matter where you may end up living and working Hawaii is always the home of your heart, and you pass that love and respect on to your kids as well.

    Reply
    • Rich says

      May 8, 2020 at 11:03 am

      As a Kama’aina I can see no reason to say Obama should not come back to Hawaii. Ignoring the politics, I would have seen more merit to this if he had given Honolulu the benefit of a Presidential Library but I guess Chicago is where his real heart lies.

      Reply
    • Erin G says

      May 8, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      I agree with everything you said, Carolyn!
      I can’t imagine that the Obamas would not be wonderful stewards to the property and a great asset to the community!

      Reply
  10. Michael M. says

    May 8, 2020 at 4:39 am

    I think I’m going to be sick!

    Reply
  11. Carol says

    May 7, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    Never missed the old Magnum. Tried watching the new, but it does not capture my interest like the original. Maybe if I wasn’t such a fan, it would .
    Now Hawaii 50, because it’s the next generation, I enjoy watching it.

    Reply
  12. Erin G says

    May 7, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    I think that is awesome that President Obama May be moving there. I would love to have him and his family live in my community.
    Thanks for this interesting article. I hope you can update us!

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      May 7, 2020 at 4:28 pm

      Hi Erin.

      Thanks.

      Aloha.

      Reply
« Older Comments

Subscribe to Free Updates

Most popular on Beat of Hawaii

  • Win A Free Trip to Hawaii Sweepstakes Win a Free Trip to Hawaii Sweepstakes

    569 Comments

  • Southwest Hawaii Update Southwest Hawaii Expansion Continues | New Flights $99

    1,656 Comments

  • Cheap Flights to Maui How Do Hawaii Residents Honestly Feel About Tourists

    617 Comments

  • Vaccination Passports For Hawaii Travel Starting in 3 Phases

    597 Comments

  • Why Hawaii Travel Will Rebound First Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii in 2021

    4,644 Comments

  • Kauai Resort Bubbles Kauai Not Reopening Travel Soon + Kauai Resort Bubbles And More

    493 Comments

Home » News » Culture and Events » Magnum PI Home Set to Become Obama Hawaii Retreat?

Beat of Hawaii was featured in

TripAdvisor
Budget Travel
Frommer's
USA Today
NBC News
The Seattle Time
ABC News
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Privacy
  • Disclosures
  • Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii

Copyright © 2021 · Beat Of Hawaii. All Rights Reserved.

sponsored