No Place Like Noela (Drive)
There are some who say that it’s impossible to find tranquil seclusion less than a mile from Waikiki Beach. Others will tell you that the best panoramic views of city lights in Honolulu can only be seen from the likes of Tantalus Lookout, or from the upper floors of the tallest office buildings downtown. Or that the houses in Hawai‘i don’t allow for enough space to accommodate numerous expansive features—spa, garden, pond, pool, waterfall, fire pit, front foyer, barbecue deck and an interior courtyard.
These individuals have clearly never visited this particular home on Noela Drive.
If they had, it would be easy to understand that a luxurious homestead in central Honolulu is not only accessible, but also attainable, provided you possess the right mindset and budget. For one local family, which prefers to remain anonymous, this home has served as a place like no other, offering respite and retreat from the demands of Honolulu life.
“When you walk onto the property, you can feel that this is a warm and happy home,” says Anne Oliver, vice president at Coldwell Banker and a family friend of the homeowners. “From the open living spaces to the high ceilings and the poppy, colorful decor, you immediately get that sense of being welcomed in.”
Built relatively recently, in 2004, this property on Noela Drive originally contained only a main house with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a pool. Then, in 2014, the owners added an entirely new wing: a family room, guest room with two bedroom-and-bath suites, plus pool house. Today,
the estate can easily entertain close to 150 people across 5,873 square feet of liveable space. Altogether, the property spans over 31,000 square feet, just shy of three-quarters of an acre.
“It’s a private oasis,” Oliver says. “And the property was landscaped to include a lychee tree, a breadfruit tree, Tī, and a variety of Hawaiian plants, so it’s a florists’ delight.”
Native plants, including bright pink plumeria, are nearly never out of sight in this home, thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass walls that can slide and pocket away into the corners. This creates an open-air environment that bridges the great outdoors with the great indoors, allowing the expansive property to feel less like a gathering of assorted buildings and something closer in style to a spacious plaza.
There’s some theater to the place, as well. Dynamic lighting switches on at night and helps accentuate important elements throughout the property: the saltwater pool in the courtyard, the grill deck and outside dining room table.
It also illuminates the pond, which is encircled by a lava rock wall; colorful koi gather beneath lilypads to whisper secrets and take naps.
Sound tranquil? Wait until you’re inside, where there are nearly as many natural elements as there are outside. This includes stucco stone floors in the hallways as well as the living room, and a wooden panel bar that complements the light granite slab countertop on the island in the center of the kitchen.
The overall aesthetic is old-school meets New World, with sky-blue chiclet tile bathrooms providing an accent against white wood cabinets and marble basin sinks. Modern amenities include a spa and a walk-in, temperature-controlled wine closet with wooden racks that reach eight feet tall.
It’s easy to forget that you’re nestled above Kapi‘olani Park, in the foothills below Diamond Head, with complete access to all that modern Honolulu has to offer. To wit, the owners are active members of the community: the parents support neighborhood organizations, such as the Hawai‘i chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation, while the children attend local schools and play competitive volleyball. They’re able to do this, and then return home to a placid urban retreat, which might as well be a world away.
“This is a home that lends itself to both comfortable living as well as entertaining,” says Oliver. “There are sweeping views and dramatic features. It’s an absolute gem.”