Betty Sakamoto: Aloha, and welcome to Betty’s Real Estate Corner, brought to you by Coldwell Banker Sakamoto Properties. Rory Sakamoto is with me, my husband Roy, in the studio. We’re going to have a little fun today and hopefully share something you haven’t heard before. We’ll also talk about a few properties that are for sale in Kapalua and around the island.
BS: And then we’ll just share a little story.
Roy Sakamoto: Yeah, we always have fun doing the show.
Betty Sakamoto: It is fun.
Roy Sakamoto: Good morning, Maui!
BS: Good morning, Maui.
RS: Remember that old movie? Good morning, Vietnam.
BS: Oh, yes. Oh, my gosh.
RS: You know, Robin Williams?
BS: Yeah, totally forgot about that. Yeah, that was really a powerful movie for its era.
RS: It was. It really was.
BS: That was something.
RS: Good morning, Vietnam.
BS: Good morning, Vietnam.
RS: We actually met Robin Williams at the Ritz-Carlton. Very nice.
BS: Very nice man.
RS: Oh, super guy.
BS: He was great. That was fun. It’s amazing some of the people we’ve met. Burt Lancaster—now that takes a certain generation to know who Burt Lancaster is, but we sure did. And he became a good friend.
RS: A lot of our younger friends don’t know who Burt Lancaster is.
BS: He was amazing. We met him when Roy… Roy got a phone call one night from a good friend who said, “Meet me tomorrow morning, I’m going to play golf with Burt Lancaster, and I’m just trying to get someone else to join us.” Roy said, “Sure, I’ll come.”
RS: Well, yeah, he was a good friend.
BS: But you didn’t believe it?
RS: No, he was a good friend, one of China’s finest alcoholics, yes. He said he was playing golf with Burt Lancaster in the morning. I said, “Yeah, right.”
BS: But he went. When Roy walked into the clubhouse, he said to someone, “I’m here to play golf with Burt Lancaster.” The guy looked out the window, pointed, and said, “He’s on the putting green.” Roy looked, and sure enough, Burt Lancaster was on the putting green. The rest of the day was great.
At some point, I got a phone call saying Burt had suggested, “Let’s have lunch when we’re done. Call your wife, see if she can come over, and I’ll get my girlfriend over too.” And sure enough, we had the best lunch. He was such a gentleman, such a great person. We ended up with a fantastic relationship for many, many years until he passed away.
RS: Yeah. We’d always see him whenever he’d come to Maui—play golf, have dinners, and lunches.
BS: He was great.
RS: He was a super guy. And what a gentleman.
BS: What a gentleman.
RS: One thing I remember, you could never pay him a dinner tab or a lunch tab.
BS: No, I mean, that was really sweet of him.
RS: Yeah. Back in the day, he would always pay. Not with a credit card, but with a traveler’s check.
BS: That’s right. He had piles of traveler’s checks with him.
RS: Yeah.
BS: That was really kind of interesting.
RS: And it’s funny. He would always ask the waiter or waitress, you know, “Do you need ID?” And of course, they knew who he was.
BS: Yes, that’s true, though. I forgot about that, too—that he would always be getting his license out or something for ID. He was so recognizable. I mean, there was no question when you saw Burt Lancaster, who he was. He had big hands, big everything about him. He was pretty amazing.
RS: Very distinctive voice.
BS: Very distinctive voice. Missed him.
RS: Maybe you should tell the story of our dining fiasco at Mama’s Fish House.
BS: Oh, that was even worse. Okay. At some point…
RS: Sorry, Mama’s Fish House.
BS: Yeah. Roy got a call from Burt, and we had arranged to have dinner with them. They had some friends join them, and we were going to meet at Mama’s Fish House. It was fine—it’s kind of a long haul for all of us, but we would’ve gone anywhere. So we headed over to Mama’s Fish House, and when we got there, they weren’t there yet.
We were a little bit early, so we went in, and they had everything set up for Burt Lancaster. They had this great table for him, and they sat us down at the table, and we waited and waited.
RS: And they started bringing out some great appetizers. Some popus.
BS: Yeah. While we’re waiting for Burt. So then, all of a sudden—this predates cell phones, you know—so there’s no way to reach us except to call the restaurant. So they called the restaurant, and then you had to get up and go to the phone. Or did they have a phone they brought around or something?
RS: No, you went up to that.
BS: I can’t remember that part. But anyway, I got on the phone with Burt, and he’s explaining that they had left. They were staying in Wailea. They came up there, and it was pouring rain. It was the worst day. At some point, they made a turn and ended up back in Wailea. So now, they’re exhausted.
They’re wet and exhausted, and they’re saying, “Could you guys just come here?” We’re looking at one another thinking, this restaurant is going to think this was some sort of scam we pulled to get free food. I don’t know. It was really very, very strange. I’m talking a lot of years ago now—this was 40 years ago, plus.
RS: A long time ago.
BS: A long time ago. So it wasn’t like people necessarily knew who we were or anything. So embarrassing. It was horrible. But when we met them, and again, we had such a great evening. We all laughed so hard about it all. They ran up and changed their clothes somewhere because they were soaking wet. Anyway, it was a great, great night, but we’ve always felt guilty.
RS: Yeah.
BS: About the restaurant. That was an interesting moment.
RS: Well, since we’re on the subject of people we know, how about Charlie?
BS: Oh, Charlie Pride. That’s another person we met.
RS: We got to know him really well.
BS: He and his wife, Rozene. And again, what a gentleman. What a lady. They were amazing people. Charlie Pride, you know, he had served in the military. He and Rosina were like teenagers when they started dating. Then he had to go into the military, and any money he got, he sent to her. I guess they were married really young.
RS: Yeah.
BS: Because I think they were already married.
RS: Right.
BS: He would just send whatever money he had. So when he came back, he assumed she had spent it. But when he returned, she had saved every penny. He wanted to start his career as soon as he finished his military service, but he thought he wouldn’t be able to.
But sure enough, she had saved up all this money and set it aside in a place where they were living. And Rozene, she had to be the best wife anyone could ever have. She was priceless.
RS: A lot of people may not know who Charley Pride is.
BS: Well, Charley Pride was one of the top country-western singers of all time.
RS: Oh, absolutely. A Hall of Famer.
BS: He’s a Hall of Famer. His son is also a great singer, but I don’t know if he’s made it as a huge force in country music yet. Charley passed away maybe five years ago.
RS: At the start of COVID.
BS: At the start of COVID, yes. It was horrible. He got sick. He went out one night for an award.
RS: He was receiving a three-time achievement award for country-western music.
BS: Yes. Rozene wouldn’t go because they weren’t supposed to be doing that at all.
BS: She didn’t go. He went, and he ended up getting COVID. He got really sick. They took him to the hospital, and he ended up passing away. It’s strange to talk about, but it was such a time in our lives with these amazing people. They were so fun and so great. To this day, I still talk to Rozene. After Charley passed away, she called me to let me know what had happened. We’ve been trying to get together. I’ve got to get her to come here and bring the family.
RS: I think she’s having her 90th birthday soon.
BS: Yeah, I think so.
RS: Yeah.
BS: Oh, my.
RS: You were out there, what was it?
BS: It was their 50th wedding anniversary in Dallas. That was really great.
RS: I flew over for that.
BS: Oh, and the weather was the worst.
RS: Yeah.
BS: I forgot that day. Roy couldn’t go—we had something else happening—but I just felt like I should go. I went, and it was hard to figure out what to wear because it was going to be a big event. I didn’t have the things they were all wearing, but it was still great to be there and be a part of their lives. It was amazing. Charlie and Rozene Pride. I’ll call her later today.
RS: Good idea.
BS: Check in with her. We were also going to talk about some of the restaurants today. One of the ones I love is Honu. It’s my all-time favorite. They’re open now for dinner only, but they open really early. It’s truly my favorite place in the world. I absolutely love it. The ahi bruschetta they do… I don’t think anyone in the world has ahi like they do. They must try to catch ahi every day.
RS: Really fresh. It’s awesome.
BS: And then there’s Taverna.
RS: Taverna at Kapalua, yeah.
BS: Something’s been changing there a little bit. I think they’ve changed the menu and there are new owners. We had the best dinner there the other day. It’s a place we can walk to pretty easily, but it was so great. We had some friends with us, and everything was just perfect.
RS: Yeah, lots of parking, easily accessible. So it’s a great place.
BS: And close to our office—Coldwell Banker Sakamoto Properties.
RS: Right. We also like going to the Ritz-Carlton.
BS: Well, the Ritz-Carlton has been, for years now, our go-to place. We usually go to the bar area, Alaloa Lounge. They have entertainment there, and the food is really great. We’ll often pick up a few people when we go there. Their burgers are absolutely fabulous.
RS: The Smashburger.
BS: Exactly. You could share it between four people, and they also have sushi.
RS: Awesome sushi.
BS: All their sushi is absolutely awesome. They have a great sushi chef there. What’s his name? Do you remember?
RS: Naoto.
BS: Naoto?
RS: Yes.
BS: I’m not so good at pronouncing their names, but he is really great. I’ll make sure we get something really good.
RS: Another great sushi place is Japengo at Kaanapali.
BS: Oh, Japengo. Great. Yeah, that’s been a really great place for us too. It’s the place we like taking people.
RS: A good friend of ours is a sushi chef there – Masa.
BS: Oh, yes. Masa.
RS: Masa Hattori.
BS: One of the best sushi chefs.
RS: Awesome. Really awesome.
BS: He’s really awesome.
RS: And the outdoor seating there is great. Japengo at the Hyatt.
BS: Japengo at the Hyatt is great.
RS: Yeah, it’s like dining on a patio.
BS: Yes, it is.
RS: With great ocean views, sunsets, everything.
BS: Everything is good there. But what about you? Do we need to talk about real estate today?
RS: Well, it’s Betty’s Real Estate Corner.
BS: I know. Just thought I’d bring it up a bit.
RS: We can talk about anything.
BS: We could.
RS: We have offices in Kapalua, so maybe we should focus on condominiums today. Specifically, condominiums in Kapalua.
BS: That’s a great idea.
RS: Here’s one listed by Mary Anne Fitch from our office. It’s at The Ridge. It’s a one-bedroom, two-bath, unit number 22-23 at The Ridge. The views are amazing, and the apartment is really well done. It’s listed at $1,395,000. The Ridge is one of the best-constructed buildings on Maui.
BS: Another great one is at The Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton has some spectacular condominiums and a rental program that is second to none. This one is unit 11-2628, and you can actually split it up to keep a hotel room for yourself if you’re in town. Then there’s also a one-bedroom, one-bath.
RS: Right.
BS: They’re spectacular. They take care of all the furnishings, and everything is well-managed. The Ritz-Carlton ownership is really great.
RS: A lot of people don’t realize there are apartments at The Ritz-Carlton that you can purchase. In today’s uncertain world, where some condominiums may face restrictions on being rented, the Ritz-Carlton is zoned as a hotel, so that’s not an issue. We have a two-bedroom, two-bath listed at $3,250,000. It’s easy to show if it’s not occupied.
You can reach me at Roy, 808-870-7060, or Betty at 808-870-7062. You can also visit our website at SakamotoProperties.com.
BS: Perfect. Another thing to mention is that the Ritz-Carlton is a five-star resort, so your condo will be rented, which keeps people coming.
RS: It’s five-star. A lot of people might think the Ritz-Carlton is a bit hoity-toity and unfriendly, but quite the opposite is true. There’s a genuine spirit there that you don’t find in many hotels across Hawaii. The employees are always smiling and willing to help. It’s fantastic.
BS: I agree. At the Ritz-Carlton, you pull up, and the valets are there. After you’ve been there a couple of times, they know who you are. They take your car and keep it right there. When you come back out, it’s always waiting for you. It’s the aloha spirit. It’s second to none. Absolutely the best.
RS: They have nightly entertainment, as Betty mentioned. Starting at 6:00, there’s a sunset ceremony at the Aloha Lounge, followed by live music, usually from a Hawaiian entertainer. So, check out the Ritz-Carlton and also the apartments available there.
BS: Another property I wanted to mention is at The Ridge. Ray Chen has a listing there—unit 1722, on the second floor. It has dramatic, spectacular views, which most units there do. It’s a one-bedroom, two-bath condo. They offer access to Kapalua Tennis, golf, and special rates for owners when they play golf. It’s a great place.
RS: Here’s another one: The Bay Villas at Kapalua. These were the original condominiums built at Kapalua, right on the ocean. There are about 166 units there.
BS: 166 units.
RS: Right. Anyway, unit 3B2 is listed at $1,735,000. It’s in building 33 at The Bay Villas. Robert Bryan from our office has that one listed. Again, you can always contact us at Roy at 808-870-7060 or Betty at 808-870-7062.
BS: Or you can stop by our office seven days a week. If you’re in Kapalua for any reason—whether you’re coming in for Sunday brunch or taking a walk—just come by. Our doors are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, and you’ll always find someone to talk to about the market or real estate.
There’s always an agent available, and it’s a great opportunity. We love it when people stop by to chat. Sometimes, they’re not quite ready to buy this year, but they want to meet someone and learn about what it takes to own a property in Kapalua.
And sometimes, we’ll have someone who comes by, likes the idea, and then brings in their parents. The parents end up making the first purchase. It’s been fun, especially when families do that. But the key is just to come and see us. I love when someone stops by just to hang out for a bit. Don’t you?
RS: Absolutely.
BS: It’s perfect.
RS: Like Betty said, we’re open seven days a week at 700 Office Road. Office Road is the main drag in Kapalua, and you can’t miss our big Coldwell Banker sign. Come on in. We’d love to talk story.
BS: If you’re coming down the road and you reach the Honolua store, you’ve gone too far. You can park there if you want, or just turn around, come back, and park in front of our office. There are also some great restaurants nearby. Do you know the one that’s opening up now?
RS: Well, we have The Pour House.
BS: The Pour House is there.
RS: And Sansei.
BS: Sansei is there.
RS: Soon, we’ll also have a small deli-style restaurant called Sale Pepe.
BS: That should be really spectacular.
RS: It’s going to be awesome.
BS: Yeah. I mean, we love the food out there anyway, but this is going to make it harder. We can pick up food to take home for dinner.
RS: That’s right.
BS: Perfect. That sounds great.
RS: Speaking of Sale Pepe, they just reopened their main restaurant in Lahaina in the industrial area.
BS: I’ve heard that. Where is that located?
RS: Right where the butcher shop used to be, in the industrial area.
BS: Oh, yeah.
RS: It’s right across the street from the florist we use – A Special Touch.
BS: That’s right. One of the best florists anywhere. If you want something special, call “A Special Touch”. It sounds silly, but it’s true. They’ll come up with something really great, and when you want the best, you know they’ll do it. They’ll even do something small, something you can pick up if you want. They are the best, the best people ever. Now we’re down to just a couple of minutes left, so we’ve got a lot of time here.
RS: Okay. We have another great condo to mention. It’s a three-bedroom, two-bath called Golf Villa, unit 2053, listed by Jesse Wall from our office at $2,490,000. It’s in a great location right on the golf course, right on the number five tee. The original two-bedroom floor plan has been modified to create a three-bedroom. It’s next to one of the pools. Great views and location.
BS: Another topic we were going to discuss today is some of the local charities, like the Maui Food Bank, that have been trying to raise funds, especially after a very difficult couple of years. We talked about Hale Makua and their expansion plans coming up. I’m sure there will be a fundraising event for that.
RS: There’s a lot more to come regarding Hale Makua’s expansion, so stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted. Maui Food Bank is definitely a very worthwhile cause.
BS: And don’t forget about the Lahainaluna High School Foundation. They’re raising funds for scholarships and other initiatives to help kids heading off to college. They do a lot of good work in the community.
RS: Speaking of Lahainaluna, the band is also doing a fundraiser to replace instruments lost during the Lahaina fires. Hopefully, we can work with the Lahainaluna High School Foundation on that.
BS: I think we can. Contributions can be made through the Lahainaluna High School Foundation website, and while I don’t have the phone numbers right in front of me, we’ve only got another minute left here, but it’s really important. The kids need their replacement instruments, and they have such a great band that plays at many of the games. This really matters to the young people of Lahaina.
RS: What’s amazing is that other high school bands on Maui, like Baldwin Maui High, King Kekaulike, and Kamehameha, have also raised money to help replace instruments for Lahainaluna’s band members who lost theirs. It’s a great community effort. These high school kids are fantastic.
BS: It’s great because the kids are… I think we’ve hit the one-minute warning. Just to let you know, we’re about at the end of our show, but I think we’ve covered a lot of topics. If someone is listening and paying attention, we’ve got Danny Couch coming back on, and we love Danny. Here he is, Danny Couch.
RS: Aloha.
BS: Aloha.
