Barefoot Hawaii Luxury in Kauai’s Tropical South Shore

Winner of The Wall Street Journal House of the Year 2019, this outstanding three-year-old residence in Kukui‘ula, one of the most exclusive communities in Hawaii, is on the market with Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in the islands. 

Located in historic Koloa, on the South Shore of Kauai, and designed by multi-award-winning architect Bing Hu, and with interiors by Mary Philpotts McGrath, a leading exponent of island style, this five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath property can accurately be summed up in one word: spectacular.

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From its prime position high on its own gated hillside peninsula, it rewards its owners with unbroken views over the Pacific, along miles of golden coastline, and of Mount Haupu.

Ownership also brings other benefits, namely membership of The Club at Kukui‘ula with its rich array of amenities, which include an 18-hole Tom Weiskopf golf course—the only private range on Kauai—a spa, and a 10-acre (4-ha) organic farm that supplies the kitchen, and where residents can also gather their own flowers, fruit, freshly laid eggs, and vegetables.

The residence is a collaborative project between the owner, the architect, and the interior design team

Susan Higgins, realtor at Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, says that quality of life in Kukui‘ula is incomparable. “It’s luxurious yet relaxed, and it’s a great place to raise a family. People who have a second home here appreciate the fact that their children can play safely outdoors and the range of activities they can enjoy together.”

Located on one of the largest plots in Kukui‘ula, at 1.5 acres (0.6 ha), the home has 5,516 square feet (512 sq m) of interior living space, and a further 2,323 square feet (216 sq m) outside. Listed furnished, it includes some wonderful examples of contemporary art and notable pieces of Hawaiiana.

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“The residence is very much a collaborative project between the owner, the architect, and the interior design team,” says Higgins. “What they have created is a tropical, contemporary home, using natural materials such as sliced lava rock, sapele wood, and travertine. The interiors are regal, with soaring ceilings, warm woods, and the highest-quality appliances and fittings. It is simply stunning.”

Zackary Wright, executive director of Christie’s International Real Estate in Asia and North America, adds: “This exceptional property exudes the heartfelt Hawaii hospitality so abundant at Kukui‘ula. The contemporary open design will appeal to anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle and a oneness with the incomparable natural beauty of Kauai’s sunny southern shore.”

Highlights include gardens planted with night-blooming jasmine, anthuriums, and palms, and an immaculate lawn that takes residents to a yoga pavilion, a firepit, a beautiful swimming pool, cold plunge pool, and hot tub. There is also a private cottage with its own lanai and a small kitchenette.

Privacy and hospitality
The main home itself is breathtaking. An expansive living area overlooks the pool and ocean, and there is a restaurant-grade kitchen with a double oven, butler’s pantry, solid sapele cabinets, honed granite worktops, and high-end appliances.

The interiors are regal, with soaring ceilings, warm woods, and the highest-quality fittings. It is stunning

Each of the five bedrooms has walk-in closets, its own lanai, en suite bath and outdoor shower. All are lovely, but the jewel among them is the master suite. Occupying one side of the home, its amenities, including a large Jacuzzi, would rival a spa.

“The owner wanted an adaptable interior space that would host intimate family dinners and larger parties. He also wanted the home to provide privacy for members of his family when they came to stay,” says Higgins. “In response, the design team created a gorgeous indoor–outdoor residence. Doors can be folded away to allow an uninterrupted walk through, or closed to create a more intimate environment.”

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What stands out is the quality of the materials, the skill of the craftspeople and, of course, the design. “There’s a fluidity of form that elegantly integrates tropical style with modernity, and brings together all the comforts of luxury living,” says Higgins. “It is one of the best examples of a Hawaii contemporary home that I have had the pleasure of marketing.”