Maui Mountaintop Estate with Privacy, Security, Pristine Views and a Garden

The first time Leona Wilson laid eyes on the six-acre parcel of vacant land perched high above Wailuku, she knew she’d found the property of her dreams. “It was love at first sight,” she says. “When I walked to the point and saw the view…I was sold.”

She likely raised some eyebrows: At the time, the steeply sloping lot was overgrown with dense foliage and junk trees. Even so, Leona could see its potential, and in 2012, she debuted Lona Ridge (“Lona” is her nickname), a five-bedroom, five-bath, 8,032-square-foot gated estate with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Haleakalā.

Wailuku-based Nishikawa Architects, Inc. masterminded the home’s design, which was inspired by early-twentieth-century Hawai‘i architect Charles W. Dickey and subsequently won the Building Industry Association of Hawaii’s 2016 Grand Award for design excellence. Perhaps best known for his signature split-pitched roofs (called the “Dickey roof”), Charles Dickey amassed an architectural repertoire that includes the Makawao Union Church, Wailuku Public Library, and the Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center.

From the roof to the arched windows to the porte-cochère, Lona Ridge takes many of its cues from the Hui No‘eau, a place that Leona has long admired.

The two-story residence has all of the trimmings: A four-car garage, gourmet kitchen, oversized walk-in pantry, ipe wood flooring, gas fireplace, custom-made chandeliers, outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and gardens galore.

But the outdoor areas are arguably the crown jewels of this hilltop estate. At 1,200 feet above sea level, the property looms large over the valley below. From these commanding heights, you can take relaxation or entertaining to the next level (literally) against the backdrop of a mountainscape, oceanscape, or Wailuku cityscape. And nature is everywhere: there are native plants, fruit trees (everything from lemon to lilikoi to grapefruit) and rare trees, including koai‘a, sandalwood, olulu, ohia lehua, mamaki, and hapu.

The ultra-private residence is secluded and retreat-like, yet it is only a short distance from Wailuku Town, Maui Memorial Medical Center, and the Kahului Airport. Inside and out, Lona Ridge offers a combination of rustic beauty and charm that is truly one of a kind.

To learn more about this property, here’s a link to the listing 588 Kulaiwi Drive or contact Josh Jerman, R(B) at Josh@HawaiiLife.com or 808.283.2222.