House: 4,832 SF, 3 bedroom, 4½-bath
3 car Garage, Port Cochere.

By Island Virtual Tours

Featured In:
Ilbagno June 1999

Magnificent Great Frigates and lithe Tropicbirds beckon the owners of this Pe'ahi, Maui home to come fly with them. Perched atop a 220' high cliff this custom home with attached garage merges with the native vegetation by means of muted colors complimentary to the sea cliffs and surrounding area: The Owners were emphatic that the residence not compete with Maui's spectacular northern coastline.
A Port Cochere at the central entrance creates a shelter from Pe'ahi's nightly showers. Hala (pandanus) trees etched into the entry glass doors connect the house to the numerous native hala trees found throughout the 5.3-acre property. A sculpture from the owner's collection greets arriving guests on a granite-topped built-in table with site-specific down lights.

    From the entry visitors venture straight ahead into the main living space, or left to the two bedroom/two full-bath guest wing. Floor-to-ceiling fixed glass windows in the living, dining, and kitchen areas protect those spaces from being impacted by Maui's powerful Tradewinds and allow the landscape to dominate the interior. Multi-slide doors are utilized on the lee western living wall and open to incorporate a covered lanai into the living space. Neutral furnishings were chosen to compliment the light sand-colored stucco, honor natural materials, and to reduce competition with the native Hawaiian vegetation and the outstanding sea views beyond. "Beaches" granite counters, flagstone floors and baseboards, and tongue and groove cedar washed a pale off-white balance the high ceiling and living space with the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. The Owners are at ease entertaining large groups in this home:

    A granite-topped cooking counter with bar seating placed at an angle manages traffic flow from the living space to the kitchen/dining area. Siematic kitchen cabinets lend a sophisticated appearance to the overall space.
Tucked to the east of the entry on the opposite side of the wall oven is the powder room in contrast to the rest of the house scheme - with a deep brick-red marble counter, a hand-painted faux wall, and mirrors and custom lights to accentuate the surprise. Scroll-shaped handles on the fixtures add a playful touch to the room. Across the hall lies a centrally located pantry/utility/laundry room, which can be accessed quickly from the kitchen. Just beyond is the master bedroom, with hala trees framed in the east window.

    Kama'aina style is projected throughout the house with inside-to-outside relationships. Standard sliding glass doors on two sides of the master bedroom open to cool the house on windless nights and during southerly "Kona" conditions, and custom sliding wood shutter doors control intense morning sun. The ocean peeks into nearly every space in the house, including the master bathroom. A large spa tub separates his' and her's closets, sinks, toilets, and custom-formed curved glass showers. A White-Tailed Tropicbird etched into the glass sores over the bathroom bay window.
Both guest bedrooms are provided exterior access to private lanais. Entry to the guest wing is also achieved from garage, with a second walk-through door between the workshop and storage room providing additional access to the makai lanai.
A subliminal yet ever-present awareness of the environment is exuded throughout the house, and integrates construction subtleties to create a dramatic affect that is virtually invisible to all that enter.