HAWAI'I LIFERanch at Puakea – California or Hawaii?
Driving up the Kohala Coast yesterday about an hour before sunset, I was drinking in the surrounding beauty and appreciating my Hawaii Life. One of the most amazing things about the drive from Puako to Hawi is that there are acres and acres and acres of amazing oceanfront and mauka land that is untouched—completely undeveloped.
Hawaii’s Kohala Coast – or California’s Coast?
Driving past the Ranch at Puakea, I contemplated the reasons this oceanfront development captured my affection so deeply. The sheer beauty reminds me of hiking the hills behind my home growing up in Los Gatos, CA. Rolling with windswept trees (oaks in CA, kiawe in HI), a gritty dusty taste on my lips watching the golden glow of the evening sun. In Hawaii, of course, there is also the ocean, and sunset over the ocean… Eventually those large parcels of Los Gatos real estate gave way to some developments – most of which are large acreage with amazing luxury homes.
The Ranch at Puakea is an example of a development that is “done right.” They dug two wells – one for “ag” water and one for drinking water. All utilities are underground. The gates are reminiscent of the Hawaiian Paniolo history of this land, and are on solar power, to boot. I have no doubt the lucky owners who eventually build in here will be conscious of their environmental impact and carbon footprint – the land here simply inspires it.
Hawaii Life, of course, represents the developer in the sale of one of their lots back from the ocean. #3A, Mauna Pili is a choice lot waiting for the akamai (savvy) buyer who is ready to step beyond the resorts to build a luxurious, yet rural home and lifestyle reflecting the spirit of Old Hawaii and the Big Island’s special blend of mountain and ocean. When was the last time a 21-acre lot in Los Gatos was listed for $1.2M? Are there even any large parcels like this left to buy in CA?
Ranch at Puakea (MLS# 230339) asking $1,190,000
Imagine buying in a subdivision with this infrastructure ready!
Luxury Ranch lifestyle
Looks very pristine and awesome to me! For a little over $50k per acre of the priceless Hawaii Life, why not?
Thanks for the blog post, Katie. Should clarify one fine point: they have county water which is the current potable source, plus a well system for irrigation. Down the road as homes are built, it will make sense to activate the filtration system so that the well water can be a redundant source of drinking water.
The infrastructure at the Ranch was definitely done right, and for such a small number of lots. This is a development that is exclusive in the most genuine sense of the word.
Aloha
Beth