HILUXURY – Hawaii Luxury Magazine

We Scoured Three Isles for Sanctuaries That Shine

WHEN IT’S TIME TO GET AWAY, you want to feel like you’re truly … away. These three diamonds in the rough shine on three different islands; each pied a terre will provide you with a genuine take on Big Island, Kauai and Maui’s greatest assets.

BIG ISLAND: INN AT THE MOUNTAINTOP

Winding up Mount Hualalai along Mamalahoa Highway, the air isn’t the only thing that seems to go through a metamorphosis as you surmount the 1,400 foot elevation mark. Swaths of volcanic rock outcroppings give way to verdant fields with lazily grazing cattle; there is shade in the form of towering Cook pines and mango trees. As you breathe slower – deeper – the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, which has taken over the entirety of your rear-view mirror, aides in the lifting of your spirit.

KAUAI: THE VILLA OF ALL VILLAS

When the jetset touches down on Kauai, it’s all about seclusion and opulence. The Garden Isle has some of the most tucked-away, exotic gems in the state; we just happened across this one – the newest on the rental market for in-the-know travelers.

Simply called The Villa, this three-bedroom, four-bath Kilauea home perched on a bluff has everything a Kauai excursion needs. A winding path through your own four-acre meadow to the beach? Check. Pocket doors that slide open on all north-facing walls, so you can absorb Bali Hai and coastal views? Double check. Designer furniture, ultra-modern design touches and a pool with built-in spa? Check. Oh, and yes, there’s the Jacuzzi bathtub with to-die-for views for winding down at the end of a “strenuous” day.

In fact, there’s an added perk to this house that you won’t find elsewhere: It’s managed by Phil Jones of Pure Kauai, who will help you tailor your stay schedule down to the minute – if that’s your wish.

Jones employs a network of private chefs, yoga gurus, surf instructors, hiking guides, nutritionists and more, who can be arranged for weeks prior to your arrival.

And just in case you’re bringing the nanny, personal security or an entourage, the neighboring Lani and Nanea cottages (which are set on their own 50 acres) are equally elegant and available for rent.

MAUI: AN ESTATE FOR A SONG

A seven-acre Shangri-La hidden in the jungles of Maui’s pristine North Shore designed by one of the Bay Area’s most prominent architects might be enough to have some seclusion-seekers signing on the dotted line. But how does your very own nine-hole, par 3 pitch-and-putt golf course sound? Although we’re sure you’re already reaching for your favorite 3-iron, we’ll go on: The four-bedroom Hana Estate includes a private master-worthy bathroom for each bedroom amid its 3,000 square feet. And you most likely won’t need the nearby Hana Airport access – the property has its own heli-pad.

“The overwhelming feedback from our guests is that it’s the ultimate nesting house,” says Brett Christiansen, the estate’s property manager and co-designer (along with sister Neila). “Once you’re here, there’s really no need to leave.”

Design touches include the liberal usage of river stones on bathroom flooring, luscious hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and the over-the-top outdoor kitchen (there also is an ultra-modern indoor kitchen).

Those who have recently bunked here include M.I.A., the rising starlet in the world music scene (who cut many tracks on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack), who set up a full-fledged music studio this summer to record the entirety of her next album.

Will there be the sounds of breaking waves or gate-crashing friends hollering “Fore!” on any of her songs? Come make your own soundtrack at this uncovered North Shore Maui gem.
Not that any of this is necessary.

Kick off your shoes and stroll onto the main floor of Holualoa Inn, and even the most hardened spirits are sure to unravel. It starts when you notice the liberal use of indigenous hardwood flooring, polished to a shine, that serenely reflects the Hawaiian and Buddhism-inspired art tastefully scattered throughout the room. There is a player piano, multiple seating areas (with rocking chairs) that face the 30 acres of coffee and fruit trees belonging to the inn, and of course, an always-fresh coffee tasting area for home brew that makes this region famous.

As your bags are whisked to one of a half-dozen rooms, opt for a soak in the private garden Jacuzzi, followed by a massage in the hale’s bird’s nest, located down the end of a walkway that skirts the roofline. With views that span the entire Kailua-Kona town coast – and catch every mauka breeze – it’s the perfect spot to rejuvenate your body, in hope that it will catch up with your spirit.