**A New Chapter**
Several years ago I made a decision that quietly changed the course of my life.
Up until that point I had always owned real estate on my own. But when the opportunity to acquire **Waterfalling Estate** on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii appeared, something about the property felt too special to experience alone. Instead of purchasing it solely for myself, I decided to do something different. I invited a group of friends to join me in owning it together.
That decision marked the moment I became a real estate syndicator, though at the time it simply felt like the natural thing to do.
Not long after acquiring the property, I realized something else.
Owning such an extraordinary place by myself wasn’t actually what I wanted. What made it meaningful was sharing it with friends, with family, and with the people who had chosen to join me on the journey.
Shortly after, another idea began to form.
Because of the wonderful experience we were having together at Waterfalling Estate, and the incredible support I received from this very group, I felt emboldened to take an even bigger step. I converted what had been my private residence and retreat center into a second shared opportunity. That property ultimately became **Hamakua Hotel**, which has now been open for 20 months and will celebrate its two-year anniversary this July.
Looking back, something powerful revealed itself through these experiences.
In many ways we are simply stronger together. Extraordinary places become far more meaningful when they are shared with people you care about. Otherwise, they’re just beautiful properties that sit far away while we admire photos of them.
Experiencing them, and building them together, is where the real magic happens.
Over the past six months, I began exploring what the next chapter of this journey might look like. That process took me across Europe reviewing more than 200 potential properties and personally visiting a dozen of the most compelling opportunities earlier this winter.
What became clear is that the model we developed in Hawaii works far beyond a single location.
It works as a **collection**, and as one heck of an adventure for those of us who have participated so far, along with any new friends who may wish to join the journey.
From that realization, a new idea began to take shape: **Culinary Oasis**.
Not simply a name, but a guiding standard - a carefully assembled collection of awe-inspiring properties where remarkable locations, genuine hospitality, and extraordinary culinary experiences come together under one shared philosophy.
I’m excited to share that the first European property I have placed under contract is **Villa Riviera Resort**, located between Portofino and Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera.
Villa Riviera is a beautifully restored historic **resort** overlooking the Mediterranean. It has two gorgeous villas surrounded by olive groves, an infinity pool facing the sea, and restaurants where guests dine while watching the sun disappear into the horizon.
When I first arrived to tour the property earlier this winter, something familiar happened.
As the sun began to set over the Mediterranean, everything slowed down.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and tuned out the conversation around me. My senses took over. My imagination woke up - the same way it did years ago the first time I watched the sunrise over the cliffs that would eventually become Hamakua Hotel. (I shared both of these experiences when they occurred.)
That moment when imagination takes hold and begins to paint the future, is the one I spend my life chasing. Standing there at Villa Riviera, it happened again.
In that instant I could see the possibilities… the experiences guests would have, the joy it could create for those who share ownership, and the way it could expand the story that began in Hawaii.
In that magical goosebump moment I could see the possibilities… the experiences friends and family would have, the joy it could create for those who share ownership, how much guests would love vacationing there, and the way it could expand the adventure that began in Hawaii.
This is the next chapter of the journey for me, and I cannot wait to experience it and share it with many of you.
In my next post, I’ll share more about the vision behind the brand we are building - **Culinary Oasis.**
