The owners of this beautiful home were both raised in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. Rob is a native Hawaiian, and 6th generation descendant of Englishman Robert Holt, who sailed to Hawaii in 1820. At a young age, Rob was a surfboard shaper at Lightning Bolt shaping for legendary Pipeline Master, Gerry Lopez and eventually founded the popular surf company, Local Motion. Rob currently is a top producing realtor at East Oahu Realty. His wife Annie was born in Bermuda, but moved to Hawaii as a very young child. She is an interior decorator, and prides herself in mixing Hawaiian-style in with various other compositions to create an eclectic island blend. She may not have been born in Hawaii, but it is truly part of her being. Annie also partners with Rob in his real estate designs and ventures. After raising their children, Rob and Annie decided to share their home with people from around the world so that others could experience a truly one of a kind island way of living. Rob and his beautiful wife, Annie, have been together for 45 years, and married for 35 years and counting.

Rob Burns purchased this house in 2003

We chose this property and built this particular style home on the last 'never built on' lot in the Koko Kai area of Portlock because we love the area. We have lived in the area for years before purchasing it and waited for the perfect place to build our 'dream home'. The nuances of the area and lot location are key to the living conditions and home we desired. In Hawaii, there are many micro-climates in each area. To build the open-air Hawaiian style house we wanted, we HAD to build in this area because it is not too wet which creates additional spin-off problems with insects. Although both Rob and his wife were both raised in Kailua, they prefer the weather conditions on the leeward side of Koko Kai/Portlock. This property has favorable offshore winds that enhance an open air style of living, keeping it cool, dry and mildew free. 'It's very sunny here yet cooled by the trade-wind breezes'. The weather conditions can't be changed and structures can be altered to enhance the living experience. Also key to his wife wish is #1 'it has to be quiet' and that it is. The leeward side of the island has many advantages; we enjoy predominantly offshore trade-winds, incomparable sunsets, and is consistently sunnier than the windward or mountain areas of any island. Koko Kai/Portlock projects outward into the deep blue sea giving it additional climatic benefits like being away from the often cloudy Ko'olau mountains & traffic noise. We call our home 'Blue Hawaii Kai' because it is a part of the community of Hawaii Kai but is out in the deep blue sea in the prestigious area of Koko Kai.

The Hawaii Kai area has every amenity one would need, including all kinds of shopping (including Costco), medical services a mile away, restaurants (the original Roy's restaurant started here in Hawaii Kai), golf course, surfing and ocean activities. In fact, one could even stay here in Hawaii Kai and never go out to 'Honolulu' if they wanted to.

The home has unique design benefits that enhance the living weather than most locale. The design provides a seamless transition from outside to inside and vice versa. For this style of living a drier weather is preferable. Letting the trade-winds in and out is key to air flow. The breeze needs to be dry so the home was designed to allow the predominantly E/NE trade winds to blow gently through the entire home, thus needing no air conditioning. The weather is the best on the island, cool and dry in the shade and sunnier than most areas every day because it's located out into the deep blue sea and away from the major mountain chain. The interior courtyard is open to nature and this is totally unique by allowing balmy winds to flow throughout the entire home. The same winds directly permeate and cool the living area, kitchen, office and dining area. It's fascinating to see the rain falling right inside your house in the courtyard and no one gets wet! The open air courtyard has a zen-like fountain, sliding glass walls into the living room, leaving our home the most unique truly Hawaiian experience you will ever have.