Photos by Augie Salbosa

Photos by Augie Salbosa

On the main level, the living room, kitchen, formal dining area, great room and master suite overlook enchanting views of the ocean and lagoon-style swimming pool, surrounded by lush tropical landscaping.

Photos by Augie Salbosa

sleek kitchen cabinets from snaidero hawaii were designed by paolo pininfarino of the ferrari designing team.

Photos by Augie Salbosa

a screening room, complete with comfy theatre chairs and a lighted path, boasts a 123-inch screen plus 7-channel surround sound.

Papu Circle home is a serene getaway

Step into another world without ever leaving the island. Perched on a gentle hillside, this secluded three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath oasis on an 8,115-square-foot parcel at Papu Circle delights with textures, sights and sounds.

The journey begins through an intricately carved archway into the courtyard, where sounds from a bronze water fountain greet you at the main level. From there, the parlor, kitchen, formal dining area, great room and master suite await.

Once inside, an eclectic mix of elegance in a roofed area of about 5,000 square feet transports the senses to all corners of the globe using interplay of architecture and interior design. Inferences to Bali and Polynesia are found in a luau-matted ceiling, Tuscany in a rich color palette, and part New England, Asian and Old World charm in its art and furnishings collected during travels. All are complements to the extensive attention to structural detail, including Asian Rosewood flooring, mahogany doors and trim, etched glass windows, integrated sound system and central air conditioning.

Glance outside, and a picturesque vista engages with lava-rock waterfall pool in the fore, accented by a playful bronze fountain statuette, providing ambience of a four-star retreat.

Once in the kitchen, viva Italia! “VIVA” metallic lacquer cabinetry designed by Paolo Pininfarino of the Ferrari designing family in a Dream Blue finish makes the space sleek, sexy and a chef’s dream - as well as a rare find. Exclusive to Snaidero, Pininfarino designs only three kitchens a year. Sub-Zero refrigeration, Wolf cook top and Gaggenau ovens and dishwashers round out the cooking arena.

A walk upstairs finds you in a pocket of Hollywood, with a movie screening room housing a 123-inch-wide screen, authenticated down to a pathway, edge-lit toward its 12 cushy custom theater chairs, complete with cup holders.

(You can almost smell the popcorn.) Also upstairs: a sitting room, refreshment center and two bedrooms, each with a luxury bathroom.

Presented by Patricia Choi of Choi International, this haven earned a Building Industry Association of Hawaii Grand Award in 2006 and is offered at $6.8 million, with furnishings and art available as a separate option, allowing one to simply move right in. Located in an esteemed area of Diamond Head, it overlooks “Shangri-la,” the former estate of tobacco heiress Doris Duke.

Views of the ocean, Diamond Head and the Ko’olaus from the house are reminders that one is definitely in Hawaii. It’s the great escape, right at home.