After being on sale for a year, billionaire David Murdock landed a deal to sell the island of Lanai.

"We were just waiting on the fence for more than a year to see which way the island would go," said long-time Lanai newspaper writer Alberta De Jetley.

After more than 25 years of ownership Murdock inked a deal with Oracle co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison.

And the two are apparently moving fast.  According to papers filed with the Public Utilities Commission, Murdock’s company Castle & Cooke hope to close the deal by June 27.

"He just had it in his mind already what he was going to do to Lanai already it was unbelievable," said De Jetley, emotional about her first meeting with Murdock more than a quarter of a century ago.

De Jetley now writes for Lanai Today.  She said Murdock arrived as the pineapple plantations were going downhill, along with the rest of the limping economy, and redeveloped, bringing resorts, golf courses and jobs. 

It was a move, that for many residents to this day, has earned their undying support.

"It was because of Murdocks deep pockets that were were able to ride the ups and downs," she said.

But De Jetley believes it's been an tough endeavor for Murdock.  She told KITV even after cost-cutting, Murdock, who called her right before Wednesday’s sale announcement, was losing 10 million a year on the island.

"Who in their right mind done that?  He really loves this island.  He really loves Lanai," she said.