Noname

 

Entry and koi pond

Entry and koi pond

NOT A VACATION RENTAL

Summary
    is a nature-lovers sustainable retreat located in a lush, verdant and less developed area of Maui’s green and natural North Shore.

The entire home is comprised of three stand-alone wings, separated by a koi pond in the middle. The wings are connected by a partially enclosed raised walkway that crosses the pond. It is quite an exotic way to get from one room to another!


Is the North Shore for you?
Find out here: Should I Stay on Maui’s North Shore?

3,000 sqft interior living space. Indoor/outdoor living areas/lanai. Two acres of tropical gardens. Natural, off-the-beaten-path, private setting. Off the grid and ecologically sound.

This unique Polynesian and Bali-inspired home is perched on a hillside overlooking acres of tropical flowers, native plants and abundantly fruiting trees. “Eco” isn’t a marketing tool here – it is the way of life for the family who have lived in this home for the past 14 years.

Central covered walkway

Central covered walkway

VERY IMPORTANT
This is an off the grid alternative home in a natural-state/somewhat rugged tropical permaculture gardens and is not suitable for everyone. Environmental sustainability is not for show here, it is a lifestyle that you will be adopting during your stay. Electrical generation and hot water are entirely by solar. The systems are sized for the home, though guests will need to ensure they are not wasteful by turning off lights/appliances and unplugging your portable electronic devices when not in use. There is a backup generator that can be started to produce electricity if the solar energy is accidentally consumed. The house and grounds are also not appropriate for the those unaccustomed to rugged landscape without protections that may be required in areas where you come from. Hazards such as the shallow koi pond are not fully fenced off and are accessible from many areas of the house and grounds. If you have any questions about limitations, phobias around critters, insects or wild nature please talk to us in more detail about to see if this is the best place for you – we want to make sure it is perfect – and if not, we have plenty of other options to share 🙂

Details
  &nbspa is the inspired creation of one of Maui’s premiere sustainable construction architects. Masterfully designed from his personal connection to this special piece of land, and with his understanding what was important to create in a home to be shared among himself and his extended family.

    is a remarkable integration of private and shared living areas centered around bringing together family and close friends.

Living room to lanai

Living room to lanai

Authenticity and a focus on a connection to the 'aina is immediately apparent to everyone who sets foot in this home. There are no faux finishes or facades. What you find are abundant use of wood and other natural materials. Exposed plank and beam ceilings, Indonesian bankarai floors, ohia posts, koa build-ins, mahogany doors, bamboo railings. Indonesian ironwood shingles and vertical plank cedar siding protect the home from the elements naturally. Real, solid, earthy, quality.

As you can see in the photos, there is no shortage of windows – even the corners of the rooms are windows. There is also no shortage of glass above doorways or in ceilings. This intentional design around panoramic viewing brings in ample natural light and the surrounding lush tropical landscape.

Kitchen from entry

Kitchen from entry

Handsome sliding mahogany panels, custom built for the five-star Stouffer Wailea resort are also incorporated throughout the exterior walls of the home. Opening louvers allows air to flow freely, while sliding the panels aside on their tracks invites the gorgeous tropical setting inside to join you. High vaulted beam ceilings and the open construction keep the house cool and comfortable in all weather.

Living room

Living room

Living Areas
  Le’a was built around family and friends enjoying one another’s company alongside the unique sights, luscious scents and relaxing feeling of North Shore Maui’s Garden of Eden-like environment.

Indoor and outdoor living and dining areas flow into one another with perfection. The open and spacious main living area is quite intentionally subdivided with fuzzy lines between the several seating areas, casual dining areas and open kitchen. The result: inviting interaction and comfortable use of the whole space, by the whole family.

Glass and mahogany sliding panels open wide to seamlessly invite the covered lanai to become part of your living, dining and relaxing. This is what living in paradise is all about!

Living room from benches

Living room from benches

Like much of the house, the open window-filled kitchen is functionality delivered with earthy zen simplicity. The commercial quality stainless sink and range sit modestly in custom designed natural-finish concrete and stone countertops. Custom wood cabinetry contains all the dishware, glassware, cookware and utensils you might need. A custom-built propane fridge keeps your food fresh while not using any electricity. A large reach-in corner pantry is stocked with the basics and ready for your own personal additions. (Tip: Mana Foods is close, and the best natural foods store on Maui.)

Kitchen dining area

Kitchen dining area

Three bathrooms (one in each wing) provide two custom designed deep soaking tubs. Both tubs are uniquely built in flush with the floor; both have showers (one is a double.) The tub walls can also open up to the outside gardens so you can enjoy an outdoor shower or tub on a whim. Or if you want a genuine outdoor shower experience, the third shower is completely outside surrounded by a bamboo screen for privacy.

Soaking tub and shower

One of two soaking tubs – this one with dual showers.

Four bedrooms have king beds. Three of these also have private lanais. (see floorplan below.) Three other bedrooms have mahogany slider doors in the walls that open them up to the outside gardens. Bedroom #2 also boasts a Wood fired cedar hot tub off of its private lanai. The hot tub is also accessible from the yard for other guests to use without having to pass through the bedroom as well.

Wood-fired cedar hot tub

Wood-fired cedar hot tub

True Green Off The Grid Living
No pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used, and sustainability was the first thought in every aspect of construction and maintaining the land. The house is self-sufficient and off the grid.

Koi pond from walkway

Koi pond from walkway

Open air tropical breezes cool the home to perfection. The permaculture grounds and ecosystem have been carefully designed and balanced to minimize insects. Considering how open and integrated with the outside the home is, very few insects come inside. It is incredible the amount of time and balance the owners have made to achieve this.

Guests who will enjoy the property are those who find themselves living a green lifestyle. There is plenty of power to use appliances, TV, Internet, lights, etc. but there is not power to needlessly waste. The owners have put together some common-sense tips in their welcome/info folder that tell you how to be sure your usage is in balance. (There is also a generator for backup power if you find yourself exceeding the solar production.)

Herb gardens

Herb gardens

Internet is via wireless link and is fine for web browsing, email, etc. but will not fast enough to stream NetFlix, etc. There is satellite TV and a large video library. There is also a great local video store five minutes away.

Grounds & Gardens
There is a small stream, and there are paths through the fruit trees and to scenic vistas. Everywhere you look, jungle vines creep, ferns unfurl, and flowers brighten. Several native species of trees like koa and ohia are beginning to form a canopy. Rainbow eucalyptus, with their gorgeous almost painted shades of green and brown trunks, stand tall among the competition.

Rainbow eucaliptus

Rainbow eucalyptus

There is a diverse virtual forest of trees here – and many of them bear absolutely delicious fruit! Trees/fruits include: coconut, mango, avocado, banana, papaya, starfruit, tangerine, tahitian lime, lilikoi, oranges, grapefruit, macadamia nut, longan, taro, guava, suriname cherry, kukui nut, coffee and pineapple. Less exotic (but equally delicious) herbs and vegetables are also planted in closer proximity to the home (and kitchen!)

The biggest papayas you've ever seen grow here!

The biggest papayas you’ve ever seen grow here!

Visitors are encouraged to fully enjoy the gardens. In fact the owners have created small signs throughout the gardens pointing out what is what. A picker for higher hanging fruit is also among the many thoughtful necessities provided 🙂 – (if you have not yet experienced picking a meal off of trees as you stroll through tropical gardens, you’re in for a real treat!)

Steps cut throughout the hilly areas

Steps throughout the hilly areas

Privacy
The property is very private, and is rented to only one family at a time regardless of how many bedrooms you are using. The only other home on the property is the caretaker’s cottage which is private and separate from the main residence.

Tadpoles

Tadpoles

Critters
A young pet tortoise roams the grounds next to the koi pond. Countless varieties of birds, toads, giant African snails, adorable geckos and a host of other creatures call the gardens and wooded areas home. Geographically speaking, this is the edge of the rainforest – so you’ll encounter plenty of “wild creatures.” Lucky for us in Hawaii, we don’t have snakes or many other deadly creatures to worry about.

More photos below the map.


View Kuiaha in a larger map

 

 

Living room

Living room

 

Lanai & living room from kitchen

Lanai & living room from kitchen

 

Living room & dining table from kitchen

Living/dining area from kitchen

 

Dining table

A dining table.

 

Dining table

A dining table.

 

Dining table

Open living area

 

Dining Options
The house is typically configured with an open floorplan living/dining/kitchen/lanai setup where casual tropical-style indoor/outdoor dining is enjoyed. If you would like formal dining, there are two options that can be set up prior to arrival upon request. First option is a table in the living area can be expanded to seat 10 at the main table, while still affording seating for the balance of your party at the smaller tables. A second option is that bedroom #1 can be set up as a dining room instead (seats 12 – pictured above.)

One of two formal dining options.

Optional: One of two formal dining options.

 

View from living room toward lanai

View from living room toward lanai

 

Living room from lanai

Living room from lanai

 

Sliding mahogany louvered doors

Mahogany panels incorporated throughout the exterior walls of the home – open louvers or slide completely open.

 

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #1

 

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #1

 

View from bedroom

View from bedroom

 

View of koi pond from Bedroom 1

View of koi pond from Bedroom 1

 

Bedroom #2

Bedroom #2 w/Hot Tub

 

Bedroom #2

Bedroom #2 w/Hot Tub

 

Wood-fired cedar hot tub

Wood-fired cedar hot tub

 

Bedroom #3

Bedroom #3

 

Bedroom #4

Bedroom #4

 

Bedroom #4

Bedroom #4

 

Bedroom #5

Bedroom #5

 

Second upstairs bedroom

Bedroom #6

 

Second upstairs bedroom

Bedroom #6

 

View from upstairs bedroom

View from bedroom #6

 

Bedroom #7 - Two Twins - (attached to BR #6)

Bedroom #7 – Two Twins – (attached to BR #6)

 

Bedroom #7

Bedroom #7 – Two Twins – (attached to BR #6)

 

Second bathroom with custom deep soaking tub

Second bathroom with custom deep soaking tub

 

Bathroom

Bathroom

 

Third bathroom with outside shower

Third bathroom with outside shower

 

Outdoor shower

Outdoor shower

 

Driveway

Driveway

 

View of house through red ti

View of house through red ti

 

View of house from hill

View of house from hill

 

House from hill

House from hill

 

View of house from side

View of house from side

 

Front

Front

 

Front entry walk

Front entry walk

 

Front entryway

Front entryway

 

Entry and koi pond

Entry and koi pond

 

Many large koi make their home here

Many large koi make their home here

 

Pineapples

Pineapples

 

Bamboo shoot

Bamboo shoot

 

Multiple varieties of bamboo

Multiple varieties of bamboo

 

Interesting flowers everywhere

Interesting flowers everywhere

 

Interesting flowers everywhere

Interesting flowers everywhere

 

Red ginger

Red ginger

 

grounds

Grounds

 

Grounds

Grounds

 

Grounds

Grounds

 

Grounds

Grounds

 

One of many hibiscus varieties on the property.

One of many hibiscus varieties on the property.

 

One of many hibiscus varieties on the property.

One of many hibiscus varieties on the property.

 

Grounds

Grounds

 

Papaya

The biggest papayas you’ve ever seen grow here!

 

Ti & ferns

Ti & ferns

 

Palms

Palms

 

Breadfruit

Breadfruit

 

Srarfruit

Srarfruit

 

Lilikoi

Lilikoi

 

Signs point out what's what

Signs help you find yummy treats!

 

Floorplan

Floorplan

 

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