The pool deck provides an extensive view of Mid Pacific Country Club golf course.

The owners of this spacious Kailua home had an outdoor pool area that was, to put it mildly, uninspiring.

 “It was your basic kidney-shaped concrete pool with a concrete deck around it,” says designer/contractor Steve DeBiasi of DeBiasi Pacific. “It looked old and very sterile. The entire backyard was pretty antiquated.”

Because the homeowners hosted a lot of gatherings, including business-related functions, they knew that needed to change.

They also knew whom to call.

For more than 25 years, DeBiasi has specialized in transforming plain outdoor spaces into miniaturized boutique resorts. The vision was to build a beautiful lagoon-style pool with a sand bottom, a spa and water features.

The homeowners had the right company for the job. Creating natural-looking rock surrounds for pools and water features is a calling card for many of DeBiasi’s projects. The synthetic rocks are hand-carved and -colored by DeBiasi’s talented crew of artisans, who create the work on-site. “From boulders to coral, our crew of artists can duplicate any natural rock,” says DeBiasi.

A variety of tropical plants and foliage, including palms, orchids, hibiscus, gingers and gardenias adorn the outdoor space.

Also constructed was an outdoor shower that is both private and luxurious. Imagine taking a dip in the pool, then rinsing off in the evening, peering upward to view the moon and stars.

A covered lanai was built to add both form and function. The family can now enjoy the shade, host a barbecue or simply enjoy the sweeping view of their new surroundings. Above, a sun deck overlooks a neighboring golf course.

Across the pool stands another eye-catching addition: a raised lava-rock deck. “It’s basically a pool deck, but, because the homeowners often host parties, they also use it as a stage for live music and entertainment,” says DeBiasi.

The rest of the yard was also given the royal treatment. The DeBiasi team installed lighting and a variety of tropical plants and foliage, including colorful palms, hibiscus, gingers, heliconias, orchids and more. Tahitian gardenias provide both beauty and fragrance to the surroundings.
If this all sounds incredibly expensive, you might be surprised.

“At one time, a marble floor or granite countertop was only found in castles or palaces,” says DeBiasi, “but these things became more affordable, and now you see [marble and granite] in almost every remodeled home. The rock pools have really become popular in the last 20 years or so, and cost-wise, they’ve become more affordable as well.”

This rock whirlpool provides an ideal setting for the homeowners to relax and unwind after a long day.

The end result is a resort-style, tropical wonderland that the family can use to entertain guests as well as enjoy as a family.

“They were very happy,” says DeBiasi, who credits noted landscape architect Steve Mechler for designing the project. “Clients are delighted with the final results. In the end, we get the best compliments. For me, it doesn’t get any better than that. My satisfaction simply comes from creating beautiful environments and elements for people to enjoy.” 

DeBiasi built this luxurious outdoor shower to resemble a private cave.