How Kamabesu got her name
Kamabesu (pronounced Ka-MA-ba-sue) is named after the 4 sisters of Joe and Paula Tarta. The first two letters of their girls names create the villa's name: Katie, Maggie, Betsy and Susan. Kamabesu Villa is a place where families feel welcome and comfort is primary. Like her namesakes, the four sisters whom inspired this house, Kamabesu embodies casual sophistication.
Our Story
The Tartas began visiting the tropics 25 years ago and over time fell in love with the beautiful island of St. John. After many seasons to the same spot, Fish Bay, the Tartas purchased Kamabesu focusing on it’s transformation into a tropical paradise.
Joe & Paula, parents to the Kamabesu girls, have invested their hearts and are happy to welcome you to their home. They are both avid gardeners and believe a vacation home should be more comfortable than the one you left. Paula hand painted the details in all the bathrooms including the 6 foot Palm tree and international phrases for “Water is Precious.” Joe’s hands-on approach to the garden has fortified the house with a wall of plantings offering privacy and beauty to all guests. Like the girls themselves this house caters to different personalities.
Katie
Katie is the island girl. She and her husband, Bryan, manage the property and live in the apartment beneath the rental level with their new baby and two dogs (Bones & Lil' Joe). Bones is a 15 year old Island Retriever and seemed to come with the house. Lil' Joe showed up 2 years later is their second baby. He is a black lab, rotti mix and while his looks may add an element of security to the property he is a softy inside. Bryan is the resident architect and has overseen the construction of the new pool and 2 bedroom addition. Katie's hospitality approach to life is self-evident from the moment you arrive and Bryanʼs attention to detail makes this house a great place to refuel your engines!
Maggie
Maggie’s sincere commitment to personal growth is evident in the large scale book collection available in both the living room and guest suite. She and her husband, Chris, soon expecting a new baby, like to vacation from their Boston home by cooking outrageously good meals and entertaining friends and family. From time to time you may even encounter a couple of Chris’s latest electronic creations including remote control planes and boats!
Betsy
Betsy, newly engaged, currently is studying for an Interior Architecture degree from Pratt Univ. in NYC. She is known to spend long mornings on the porch pampering her spirit with the breathtaking views of Fish Bay and filling her soul with new wonders from the world of art, architecture and design. Our consummate designer, Betsy’s tastes are reflected in multiple aspects of the house from the hand made Mosaic emphasizing Villa’s name to the Parisian detailing in bedroom # 2.
Susan
Susan, the youngest and most dramatic of the daughters, can’t get enough beach time and has made it a personal pursuit to collect beach equipment in plenty. She is currently pursuing her BFA in acting at Baylor University in Texas and spending holidays auditioning on Broadway. Her new love of all that is Texan has spilled over to the kitchen as well where it is not unusual to find excess BBQ spices & sauce after she visits.
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