Home of the Week: Hale Kahakai ‘Beach House’

This past Sunday’s hotly anticipated premiere of Mad Men opened with a picturesque shot of Don Draper relaxing on one of Hawaii’s perfect sun soaked beaches. The stunning oceanfront property the Draper’s vacationed at reminded us of our newest ‘Home of the Week’. Take a peak at one of Hawaii’s finest homes.

This past Sunday’s hotly anticipated premiere of Mad Men opened with a picturesque shot of Don Draper relaxing on one of Hawaii’s perfect sun soaked beaches. The stunning oceanfront property the Draper’s vacationed at reminded us of a new trophy property that had popped up on our radar recently that has even attracted attention from the likes of the Wall Street Journal.

Listed by Anne Hogan Perry with Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, our latest “Home of the Week” is more than just a home; it’s a living breathing work of art in the heart of paradise – North Shore Oahu. I can go on for days about the 101 feet of unspoiled coastal frontage, top of the line technology, incredible living space and priceless subtle touches like doors imported from Japanese temples and the 800 year old Buddha in one of the ponds, but we all know that no one can convey what a ‘home’ truly means more than those who call it their home themselves!

In their own words, here’s what the owners of this fabulous $22 million property in Oahu have to say about what makes our ‘Home of the Week’ so special:

This house was built based on a concept of an integration of structural and architectural design integrated with décor, ambiance and visual necessity. The seamless integration of outside/inside living both in physical reality and visual representation was top of mind throughout all aspects of the creation and construction. Architectural elements, of both antique Chinese and Japanese origin were collected over a period of four years prior to the actual construction of the house with deliberate purpose and functionality.

Much of the art and koa furniture was commission by Hawaii’s premier artists and woodworkers specifically for the property by the owners. This home was designed and decorated with attention to every detail with the goal of remaining sensitive to that which is culturally and aesthetically in harmony with the island.

The stone on the floors though quarried in Italy, presents the natural softness of sand. The koa wood used extensively throughout integrates the warmth in both its color and feel of the forests. The modeled exterior of the house was purposely taken from the Honolulu Museum of Art as was the long sweeping roof line with its soft green ceramic tiles. The coral (legally mined from the Philippines) embedded in the concrete pillars was modeled after the signature Vladimir Osipoff style used in both the Outrigger Canoe Club and the Pacific Club. The woods selected in each building represent a contrast in sensibilities. The main house contains Koa floors and cabinets, the guest house Mango wood and the apartment is done in white-washed oak. The only exceptions are the Spa Bathroom and Powder Room off the Grand room, both of which utilize antique Chinese cabinets as the base for vessel sinks.

The swimming pool was designed as a natural extension of the house with the pillars reaching from the roof down into the water wrapping the pool around the corner of the house and seeming to float above the landscaping through its infinity edge. It was strategically placed on the garden side of the house for maximum privacy offering an alternative to the waters of the ocean on the beach side of the house making it both private and secure.

The landscaping contains many native Hawaiian plants with special attention to salt tolerant foliage that maintains itself through the local seasonal conditions. Both the main house and guest house ground floors open to provide a seamless inside/outside ambiance in which to enjoy the gardens and ocean.

What you hopefully get from reading the owners’ account of all the thought and hard work that went into planning the construction of this masterpiece is that they created a truly capitivating compound that epitomizes luxury and attention to detail, while also being mindful of the islands’ history – creating a zen like oasis that serves as a living testament to Hawaii’s beauty. Click here to learn more about this home on coldwellbankerpreviews.com.

Gustavo Gonzalez

Senior Manager, Content & Multimedia at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. In his role he manages content strategy and execution across several platforms. He’s held other roles within the Marketing Department ranging from Previews & Product Development to the day to day management of the coldwellbanker.com redesign. Besides being a marketer, Gustavo is a filmmaker, musician and writer.