Motivational Thought Of The Day: Move To Kauai

“Thoughtfulness” is not often the first word that springs to mind when describing a stunning luxury property. But that’s what listing agent Neal Norman responds when asked his first impressions of this gem in Hanalei on Kauai’s North Shore. Norman, who has been a broker in the area for approximately 35 years,” notes, “the home was designed with an attention to detail and comforts that we don’t often see, even in high-end homes. Everything from what’s obvious in all the finishes, like the beautiful appliances and countertops, to what is subtle, like the craftsmanship detail and hardware.”

Norman also was struck by the “spaciousness of the site plan, which is felt as soon as you enter through the gate” of the property. The home “sits on two lots put together, which were combined to over half an acre of land. To have a large home of this size and still the space for a beautiful pool, lawn and exquisite landscaping is special.”

The home at 4421 Malolo Road in Hanalei Bay was built in 2022 and designed by noted architect Kevin A. Clark; it features 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths spread over roughly 5,800 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space. It’s very private, a refuge of manicured gardens, custom pool and spa and handcrafted lanai, with views of waterfalls and mountains. The property is tucked away behind walls of custom moss and blue lava rock and entry is via a handcrafted tropical hardwood front gate. A major plus: the beach and the town are a few minutes’ walk away or bike ride away.

The large, elegant kitchen has white marble counters and top-tier appliances―Sub-Zero, Miele and Wolf―plus there is a built-in gourmet Kalamazoo outdoor grill. An airy great room’s oak floors, vaulted ceilings and disappearing glass walls continue the indoor/outdoor theme as do big windows and decks and garden, waterfall or mountain views from every room. Each of the four bedrooms have private bathrooms with marble countertops; the primary suite adds in a secluded outdoor shower garden equipped with a pair of showerheads.

Nature played an important role in architect Clark’s design, who cites the home’s “relationship to the indoor/outdoor experience” as a highlight and singles out the lanai in a “sheltered part of a large garden, a wonderful, serene place to be, especially during rain.” (Nature gets an assist from a smart home package with a Lutron HomeWorks QSX light/shade automation system and 40 SunPower panels with Tesla Powerwall backup and a copper roof and copper rain gutters.)

Clark, who considers himself “old-school” and draws by hand, says the Hawaiian plantation-style house has an understated elegance but at the same time, it is “a very livable home … human-scale to it, comfortable.” Norman echoes that, pointing out that Clark’s “amazing floor plan creates transitions of the different spaces that are so smooth … just gives the property such a natural flow.”

Zooming out, Norman feels that “Kauai’s North Shore offers an incredible balance that I think is hard to find elsewhere. As the oldest of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai offers a rugged beauty in its beaches, mountains and waterfalls that is unsurpassed.” Plus, “the neighborhood speaks for itself. Hanalei has all the magic one could want out of an ocean-side community: A vibrant town center that might fit your vision of the quintessential surf town offering a blend of surf shops, art galleries, restaurants, food trucks and gift shops. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world.”