Large stacking doors open to reveal the spectacular view from this Diamond Head home. A saltwater pool and outdoor entertaining area complete the scene.

The upstairs lanai, just off of the master bedroom, provides a great place to take in the afternoon sun—and perhaps a few passing sail boats.

An oasis lies at the end of a busy Honolulu street. It’s so tucked away, in fact, that the entrance to its neighborhood sits camouflaged by the surrounding, bustling cityscape.

Nestled just below Diamond Head and fronting a beloved surf spot, the home opens almost completely to the ocean. Visitors are treated to views of sailboats passing, paddlers venturing out to meet the waves and cruise ships moving across the horizon. The home is private and tranquil, yet it stands just walking distance from the action. It's the best of all worlds.

The living area showcases plantation-style decor, combining light wall colors and rich, warm wood tones.

It’s also the result of a dynamic collaboration between an astute couple and their equally savvy design/build team. “We have traveled the globe in search of a place where we could settle down when our ‘baby boomer’ years arrived,” explains the homeowner. “Knowing this was a special lot, we took the dive and bought it.”

The lot also came with strict building restrictions, due to its proximity to the shoreline, as well as a height limit for the future roof. The couple’s dream home would have to be built by someone innovative, who could balance their needs with the lot requirements. The homeowners weren’t sure which company would be right for the job, until a chance encounter brought them together with Homeworks Construction.

The master bedroom is an island-style space. Sisal carpet, wood shutters and nature-inspired colors add to the theme.

“My husband was riding his motorcycle through Kahala, and Homeworks was building a home there,” says the homeowner. An astute businessman with a knack for seizing great opportunities, the husband approached the team right then and there. “They were very nice and met with us that very same day on our lot,” she says. Within about four weeks, the couple reached an agreement with Homeworks, and the planning began.

First order of business? Resolve the shoreline setback. The home would need to be built 40 feet from the shoreline. However, the ocean in this location terminates on a rock wall, not on sand. Where, on the wall, was the actual shoreline point? The team conducted seven months of research to determine the answer.

The ocean provides a gorgeous backdrop for entertaining in this custom kitchen. A light fixture, shaped like a canoe, adds whimsy and sense of place.

With the shoreline issue resolved, planning and construction could begin. Having watched a previous home incur extensive damage as a result of 1991’s hurricane Iniki, the couple wanted to take every measure possible to ensure the home’s structural strength and protection from the elements. The flood zone requirements in the area were such that the living areas of the home had to be built 4 feet above ground.

In addition, at the homeowners’ request, Homeworks took extra measures with the foundation. “This was a strong client who understood construction,” says Homeworks co-owner Marshall Hickox. “While some people might go up on post and pier, we went up on solid concrete.” To accomplish this, the team designed a concrete perimeter wall with compacted fill and covered the structure with a concrete cap. With that, a stronger-than-strong foundation was built. It was time to move to the walls.

The master bath lets in plenty of light. Large travertine tiles and tranquil paint colors make the room a luxurious, spalike retreat.

“The homeowners’ biggest concern was that if any type of storm occurred, their home would hold up,” says Hickox. “So the whole first floor on top of the foundation is made of poured-in-place concrete walls.” The team at Homeworks also added extra strapping and tie-downs, creating the strongest roof support system possible. Finally, the home was built with extra-thick plywood and a denser nailing pattern (more nails applied to fastened areas) than required. “Everything in the house is made of stainless steel for corrosion prevention,” Hickox adds.

The result? A seaside structure that’s as solid as they come. To minimize noise, the floors are reinforced with extra-thick plywood, so movement on the second floor cannot be heard by occupants on the first floor. Exterior walls and windows are also soundproof for total quiet when shut. “What’s great is that you have just as much enclosure or openness as you want in the house,” says Hickox.

A two-story lanai, just off the back of the home, provides even more vantage points for enjoying the fabulous views.

In addition to being structurally smart and sound, the place is also beautiful, exhibiting custom touches both inside and out. Off the back of the home, a tightly fenced yard (to keep the couple’s labradoodle secure and happy) is embellished with lush plant life, installed by Reliable Landscaping.  “I love all that grass, and those plants can live right by the rough element of the sea,” says the homeowner. “It’s breathtaking!”

There’s also an outdoor grilling area with bar seating, just steps from the custom-designed saltwater pool and spa. Deep enough to stand in and equipped with an extra-fast heating system, the spa offers a therapeutic end to the husband’s exercise sessions. “I love to sit on the pool step and watch people go by on the seawall,” says the wife.

Almost the entire back wall downstairs is constructed with floor-to-ceiling, custom, plantation-style stacking doors with large windows. The master bedroom, located upstairs, also features a large lanai. Both are designed to maximize the home’s amazing vistas. “I always have a different picture: people walking by or climbing Diamond Head or looking over at surfers, ships and cargo,” says the wife. A custom kitchen and breakfast nook also face the water, while the living room boasts both sun-soaked seating areas and a more private, secluded alcove for reading or lounging. This shaded area provides the perfect place to retreat from the sun and take a nap.

The home is equipped with an elevator and features a custom-made mahogany garage door and gate out front. The front door is also made of custom-carved mahogany, while a combination of wood and fiberglass shutters on almost every window and door invite the natural light in and maintain privacy when needed. Finally, the home’s exterior is coated in a combination of stucco and coral veneer, with board-and-batten on the second floor for a plantation-style look.

When it comes to size, it’s actually hard to believe the home has just three bedrooms. That’s because each bedroom is its own suite, equipped with its own full bathroom. “If you had all the bedrooms occupied with a full group of people, there would be plenty of privacy and room for everyone to do their own thing,” says Hickox. “Every bedroom in this house could be a master suite in any home.”

Other features inside the home work to make it feel larger as well. “For a smaller home, everything is on a grand scale,” says Hickox. “We have large-scale tile, ceilings and doors.”
The decor, like the home itself, is a mixture of island-style sophistication and casual comfort.
“Our style is always the same: not stuffy, no worries,” explains the homeowner. “All the chairs, sofa and banquette are covered in Sunbrella fabric,” to ensure durability.

Many of the couple’s furniture accents carry unique stories as well (“We buy fun pieces,” says the homeowner), such as the end tables in their master bedroom. “We were staying in the Diamond Head Beach Hotel when I saw a man coming out of the elevator pushing a valet cart. He had two rice barrels with glass tops. He was taking them to a swap meet. I bought them right on the spot,” she says.

The creative homeowners are responsible for much of the home’s look, in addition to their interior designer (who is also the sister of one of the homeowners). “The pale-green walls throughout the house were her idea,” the homeowner says.

Large-weave sisal carpet provides a surprisingly comfortable feel underfoot and is also an
adventurous choice. To add to layers of texture, woven fabric wallpaper creates an informal island feel. On both levels, subtle light colors, such as Whisper White and Minced Ginger, grace the walls “without chopping the rooms up,” says the homeowner. She credits Homeworks’ Heather Hickox for helping to select and apply the tasteful and effective paint and trim colors.

During the entire building and design process, Hickox was grateful for the homeowners’ creativity and involvement. “They just had great vision throughout,” he says. “It was so easy to hop on board with them and see which direction they wanted to go. That house has a lot of everybody’s ideas in it.”

All in all, the homeowners, who spend time both in Hawaii and on the Mainland, are incredibly pleased with their home and with their experience with Homeworks. “Easy: that’s the four-letter word that perfectly describes them,” says the homeowner. “They were very accommodating, always on time and took pictures weekly and e-mailed them to us during the progress of the house. My husband’s brilliant mind and the Homeworks team created something special. Boy, did we get lucky!”