Liliha Street’s Million-Dollar Baby

I adore the character, charm and history of old homes, particularly those done in the Craftsman style, and this well-maintained Liliha St. residence, which was built in 1914, is one of the best examples of Craftsman style I’ve seen on the island. The five-bedroom, three-bath home in the Puunui neighborhood was purportedly built for a physician of the royal family, and later owned by an Admiral. For 65 years, the residence belonged to a local family (the family matriarch, now in her 90s, still lives next-door), who, over time, divided the once one-acre property into six parcels, all of which have been built upon.

Most recently, the home has been owned by listing real estate agent Matthew Oshiro and his wife, who have spent the past nine years giving it some much-needed TLC, including new Pella windows, plumbing, roof and electrical upgrades. The couple was careful to maintain the home’s classic architectural details, many of which date back to the original design. The stained-glass windows flanking the front door, for example, are original to the house, as are the wood wainscoting, coffered ceiling, ohia-wood floors and built-in buffet in the living and dining rooms. The kitchen may need a few upgrades, but there’s a great deal of potential there, thanks to its charming, retro touches, two enormous butlers’ pantries and spacious layout (there’s currently room for an eat-in table).

The original master bedroom, a sprawling space even by today’s standards, is downstairs off the living room, but is currently used as an office. There are three nicely sized bedrooms upstairs, two of which offer stunning views of downtown Honolulu and the Pacific beyond. Unusual for the Island, the home also has a partially finished basement with another possible bedroom and bathroom, and an expansive storage space.

Money talk: The home was recently reduced to $1,299,000.

Contact: Listing agent/owner Matthew Oshiro with H&K Associates, Inc. 808-258-7046, mattoshiro@hotmail.com.