Private 7BR Polynesian and Bali Inspired Estate - Verdant Haiku

Haiku estate description

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

Details
Hale Le’a 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.

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

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.

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 Areas
Hale 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!

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.)

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!

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.

Four bedrooms have king beds. Three of these also have private lanais. (see floor plan 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.

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.

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.)

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.

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!)

Visitors are encouraged to fully enjoy the gardens. In fact the owners have created a map in their welcome/info folder that points out locations of trees, herbs and vegetables. A fruit picker 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!)

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.

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.

IMPORTANT
Please understand that this is an off the grid alternative home in a natural-state/somewhat rugged tropical permaculture gardens. Environmental sustainability is not for show here, it is a lifestyle that you will be adopting during your stay. 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. Electrical generation is entirely by solar. the system is sized for the home, but you will need to ensure you 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 produce any surplus electricity you may need. If you have phobias around critters, insects or just wild nature. If you have any questions 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!