HL1 - 8

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Matthew

owner , principal broker

co - owner , vice president

Anthony Arnold creative director

HL1 DIRECTORS

Carrie Nicholson RB

Neal Norman RB

Josh Jerman RB

Dave Richardson RB

Erik Hinshaw RB

Noel Shaw RB

HL1 MEMBERS

Steve Hurwitz RB

Tiffany Spencer RS

Beth Thoma Robinson RB

Julianna Garris RB

Robert Chancer RB

Ben Welborn RB

EDITORIAL PARTNERS

Jason Cutinella CEO & Publisher, NMG Network

Joe V. Bock Partner & General Manager, Hawai‘i

Lauren McNally Editorial Director

Taylor Niimoto Managing Designer

Eleazar Herradura Designer

Alejandro Moxey Senior Director, Sales

Sabrine Rivera Operations Director

Aloha and welcome to the eighth edition of HL1 Magazine.

We are pleased to present a curated selection of stories, insights, and inspirations that capture the essence of the islands. This issue is a continuation of our commitment to explore the unique intersections of luxury, culture, and community through the distinctive lens of Hawai‘i.

We begin with our HL1 Market Report , where I offer my perspective on the current real estate landscape to provide a clearer view of market trends. The influences of both global and hyperlocal dynamics are shaping Hawai‘i’s real estate market in real time. Our goal is to put those influences into context to help our clients make better-informed decisions.

Over in our Discover section, we pay a visit to Kona Village , an iconic resort along Kahuwai Bay. On the heels of its reopening under the stewardship of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, we explore its rich history and new offerings, including a diverse collection of art by local artists.

We then check in with Nalukai , an organization dedicated to fostering youth innovation and professional development on Hawai‘i Island and a powerful testament to the value of place-based learning and the capacity of our islands to breed innovative minds.

We hear from Halona Norton-Westbrook, director and CEO of the Honolulu Museum of Art , whose strategic initiatives have driven an impressive rise in museum attendance, particularly among local residents, as she and her team reshape the museum experience for modern audiences.

From there, make your way to our Craft section to meet a few of those driving the initiative to build a regenerative community around food at Common Ground and get a glimpse into the Dorow Collection, a private gallery of world-class mineral specimens housed at a discreet location on Kaua‘i.

Rounding out our Craft section, we introduce you to the down-to-earth private chef behind Chef Minded Farms in Hāna, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island estate management team Kailua Hurwitz and Hilary Denison share insight into the extraordinary dedication and creativity required to manage the finest properties in Hawai‘i.

Lastly, we spotlight select properties from the HL1 Collection , presenting some of the most stunning and unique homes available across the islands.

HL1 Magazine began as an endeavor to connect more deeply with our clients and understand their diverse interests, values, and lifestyles. Over the years, this journey has revealed powerful intersections that continue to inspire and guide our content. We hope this issue brings you inspiration, insight, and a deeper connection to the beauty and richness of Hawai‘i.

Enjoy,

HAWAI‘I LIFE ONE LUXURY MARKET REPORT

Sales and trends in Hawai‘i’s high-end real estate market.

INTRODUCTION

Hawai‘i’s luxury real estate market has experienced significant transformations over the past few years. Broader economic trends and the prolonged market recovery from the pandemic have led to a peculiarly slow market. Indeed, 2023 was the slowest market in the past 25 years for single-family home transactions in Hawai‘i.

Although values have held strong to their pandemic highs, we are seeing a few early signs of correction, depending on the local islands’ market. Understandably, the island of Maui is experiencing the most significant price reductions.

The Maui fires created a ripple effect in the housing market across the state, for both sales and rentals—and it came at a time when the market was already in a considerable lull. Maui’s recovery is likely to take longer than any of us would hope. Rebuilding the infrastructure alone will be a Herculean effort, to say nothing of the innumerable regulatory challenges, already strained and lethargic permitting times, and highly varied community interests.

Many out-of-state buyers and renters have shifted their interest to other islands in the wake of Maui’s recovery, even though Maui is already experiencing an uptick in transaction volume, reflected below.

The rest of this report is focused on Hawai‘i’s luxury market. While definitions of “luxury” are inherently subjective (trust me), the data and commentary here are referring to the market for properties valued at $3 million and above across the island chain.

In the interest of legibility, we’re foregoing the typical bar charts, heat maps, and other data-laden infographics. For those interested, however, rest assured that we maintain an eye-crossing level of data, at both macro levels and down to specific sections of individual islands—any and all of which is available to our clients at any time.

MARKET OVERVIEW

The market run during the pandemic broke every statistical record measurable: the total dollar volume of trades; the number of transactions; price per square foot; sales prices; and more. As a result, inventory across the island chain plummeted, beginning in the second half of 2022, and it has slowly been rebounding since.

Among others, two big factors contributed to the inventory shortage in the luxury market. First, many of the buyers who purchased during the pandemic moved into the homes they bought and set down roots in their communities. Remote work became a possibility for them, and they took advantage of it. They’ve now experienced living in Hawai‘i and are reluctant to return to their previous locations. Meanwhile, mortgage interest rates have more than doubled. While it’s true that most of the luxury purchases are cash as opposed to mortgage financing, the rate increases have led to extremely low inventory elsewhere in the country, especially on the West Coast. So even those who may have wanted to sell Hawai‘i to buy elsewhere are facing limited options. And, if they do plan to use mortgage financing, the costs of servicing those loans have gone up by orders of magnitude.

Of those who have elected to relocate back to the continent, many are putting their houses into rental programs. Our vacation rental and long-term property management inventory has increased dramatically as a result.

Despite the turbulence of recent years, the luxury market has shown remarkable resilience, especially compared to the market at large. That resilience is a testament to the inherent value and unique appeal of Hawai‘i, which continues to attract high-net-worth individuals seeking both sanctuary and investment opportunities.

Fifty percent of the workforce will work remotely or in a hybrid manner in the future.

THE “GREAT DECENTRALIZATION”

The widespread adoption of remote work and a shift toward more flexible living arrangements have fundamentally reshaped living preferences and further sustained demand for luxury properties in Hawai‘i. High-net-worth individuals are no longer tethered to urban centers, leading to increased inter- est in locations that offer both luxury and tranquility. Hawai‘i remains a prime desti - nation for those seeking unparalleled natural beauty and a more harmonious worklife balance. Many economists estimate that, as a legacy of the pandemic and decentralization, 50 percent of the workforce will work remotely or in a hybrid manner in the future. It’s no longer a trend—it’s now a reality that has fundamentally altered the real estate market in Hawai‘i for both sales and rentals.

The has shown remarkable luxury market

resilience.

That resilience is a testament to the inherent value and unique appeal of Hawai‘i.

SALES TRENDS AND PROPERTY VALUES

Overall, O‘ahu’s luxury market has maintained a relatively steady rhythm, with a consistent volume of high-value transactions. Since our last report, inventory levels have increased modestly, indicating a healthy balance between supply and demand. The average sold price per square foot has shown a slight increase, and the median sold price for luxury real estate has risen by over 20 percent, underscoring the enduring appeal and resilience of O‘ahu’s prime locations

Ultra-luxury listings, those listed at or above $10 million, are becoming more available as well (some public, some private), many of which represent new territory for asking prices on the island and/or in their respective neighborhoods. In contrast to the neighbor islands, O‘ahu’s luxury market is far more price-sensitive (for a host of reasons about which I could write a separate essay).

O‘ahu’s luxury condominium market continues to captivate buyers with its modern amenities and minimal maintenance requirements, although the condominium market has slowed considerably with the significant drop-off of buyers from Japan.

O‘ahu is a resilient market. Its relative stability is reflected in the balanced increase in inventory and steady price trends, suggesting continued buyer confidence and market health.

Navigating the aftermath of the wildfires on Maui remains a volatile and arduous process, all of which has influenced sales volumes. In our previous report, we shared the understandably unpopular opinion that one consequence (among others) of having Maui in the global news cycle for several months, albeit about a horrific disaster, would likely be an increase in sales volume. So far, that prediction has held true.

Year-to-date sales data on Maui shows significant increases in sales activity compared to the same period in 2023 (prior to the fires), with a 57.9 percent increase in the number of sold properties and a 45.5 percent increase in new listings over the period. It’s worth noting that Maui’s overall inventory of luxury listings bottomed out significantly immediately following the fires, so while the increase in inventory is a good sign, it remains historically low across the island and still has a long way to go to regain any semblance of normalcy.

Average sold prices have, however, decreased by 26.2 percent, even compared to a relatively soft 2023, reflecting market adjustments and buyer opportunities

There are also legislative challenges facing Maui’s market, with Maui’s mayor and some of its lawmakers looking to ban some 7,000 short-term rental units across the island. While that legislation is still being aggressively debated, the sentiment has already led to market volatility and radically increased condominium inventory.

Some property owners are also increasingly concerned about shortfalls to the County’s operating budget, and for potential increases in property taxes in the coming years. It’s worth noting that Hawai‘i’s property tax rates are among the lowest in the country, so while there’s understandable concern from existing owners, property tax increases are unlikely to radically impact the demand for Maui’s real estate.

DLong term, we remain bullish about Maui’s prime real estate. The market will likely see continued volatility for the rest of this year and into 2025—but you don’t have to look very far back in time to see remarkable levels of appreciation in Maui real estate. In fact, the longer the time horizon, the more obvious the value becomes.

The Big Island’s luxury market is characterized by and larger land parcels ...

newer housing stock

The Big Island of Hawai‘i has seen a notable surge in sales volume, driven by strong demand for luxury properties and a larger supply of resort communities and luxury inventory. The number of properties sold increased by 63.6 percent in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, and the average sold price has risen by 33.8 percent

The Big Island’s luxury market is characterized by newer housing stock and larger land parcels, making it attractive to buyers seeking retirement homes and second residences. The substantial increase in sales volume and price appreciation are somewhat unsurprising, given the island’s ongoing popularity.

We’re seeing more large land listings coming to market, in both the luxury and ultra-luxury segments—as well as a slow increase in ultra-luxury sales in the island’s private club communities.

Kaua‘i’s luxury market has remained steady in 2024, following a quiet 2023. We’ve seen more consistent sales activity and slowly climbing inventory levels. Year to date through April of 2024 compared to the same period last year, the number of luxury properties sold increased a dramatic 211.1 percent, and the median sold price has risen by 17.1 percent.

Despite the increase in activity, the average Days On Market for listings on Kaua‘i is also growing, indicative of less urgency and/or fear of loss among the buyers. Prices are holding relatively steady, however, if not continuing to increase. There’s been a rise in price per square foot of sold listings, especially in the resort communities of the north and south shores.

Similar to the other islands, we’re also seeing new ultra-luxury listings become available. We have an outsized and growing number of off-market listings on Kauai, as well, but other offerings are being marketed publicly.

ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR HAWAI‘I

As reported by UHERO, the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai‘i, in their first-quarter forecast for 2024, Hawai‘i’s economy has been somewhat buoyed by a resilient U.S. market and the gradual return of international visitors. The post-pandemic recovery has largely stabilized, leading to a tempered growth outlook for 2024. Key factors include still-robust visitor spending across the state, even despite the Maui wildfires. Rebuilding efforts on Maui are expected to add 2,500 workers over the next three years in conjunction with other projects, driving economic activity

There’s a common assumption that real estate markets tend to stall in the months prior to the presidential election. That’s partially true, but anyone who doesn’t think we’re in entirely new territory with respect to American politics is arguably grossly misinformed. In decades past, the drama and hyperbole in the media surrounding the election cycles started much closer to the elections. Now they seem to span almost an entire presidential term. Even the presidential debates are happening much sooner than usual. More partisan drama and election-related surprises are highly probable. Some of it will be warranted. A lot of it will be perversely sensationalized.

Bizarrely, all of that may lead to increased activity in Hawai‘i real estate.

Y2K; 9/11; Covid; and even Season 1 of Trump vs. Biden all had similar impacts on Hawai‘i’s luxury market. These events lead to buyers and sellers on both sides of the political spectrum either fast-tracking their pre-existing life plans or making a rash decision to buy or sell, influenced in part by their foretelling of the future.

Whether or not that happens prior to the election remains to be seen, but given the intensity (and market consequences) of the run up to the election in 2016, we wouldn’t be at all surprised.

FINANCIAL MARKET INFLUENCES

The financial markets have likely already priced in their assumptions about the presidential elections, along with the expectation that, historically, the fourth year of nearly every administration’s term is particularly bullish. If the stock market performs well leading up to the election, that might bode well for Hawai‘i’s luxury market in Q4 of this year and leading into 2025.

Congress, however, may present slightly more volatility in the markets, which seem to have an outsized appreciation for

congressional gridlock. If either the House or Senate were to significantly flip in November, there may be a corresponding dip in the financial markets.

Since 2022, which was a bear market in both stocks and real estate, global stocks have rebounded by 43 percent, propelled by both political tailwinds and a resilient global economy. Many economists and pundits believe there’s more potential for continued growth, even amid relatively skeptical investor sentiment

Corporate earnings have rebounded and are projected to grow further for the rest of 2024. This may further bolster investor confidence, facilitating the financing of high-value real estate transactions

Even global GDP growth has stabilized, providing a more stable environment for investments. Its resilience, despite various headwinds, supports ongoing demand for luxury real estate as high-net-worth individuals continue to seek lifestyle upgrades and investment opportunities

Our strong expectation is that buyers and sellers of luxury real estate are likely to have even more financial power and increased motivation for the rest of 2024 and into 2025.

CONCLUSION / FORECAST

The post-pandemic recovery has largely stabilized, leading to a tempered growth outlook for 2024.

Hawaii’s luxury real estate market is set for continued growth, driven by limited inventory and sustained interest from high-net-worth individuals. The ultra-luxury market segment has been particularly quiet since the beginning of 2023, but it is showing signs of rebounding as new inventory becomes available. While each island presents unique trends, the overall market remains resilient with strong potential for further appreciation. There may be localized corrections in list prices along the way, but as we move into the latter half of 2024 and into 2025, we anticipate stable-to-rising property values, especially in prime, high-demand locations.

I’m no billionaire apologist ...

Indeed, I could name a few whom I’d love to politely invite to “succeed elsewhere,” but few subjects generate as much kaleidoscopic media fervor as famous billionaires purchasing property in Hawai‘i, and what they do, or don’t do, with it. These stories apparently captivate the public imagination—or, at least, the media’s—despite their often incredible banality.

The obsessive focus on even the most trivial details speaks volumes about the collective fascination with wealth and celebrity, and the less obvious downsides to fame.

Consider the recent coverage of a tech billionaire’s purchase of several parcels of land in and around a town in Hawai‘i. The story questioned the motives behind the acquisitions, hinting at unknown ulterior motives. The most riveting detail was the lack of actual details.

Meanwhile, there have been countless other buyers who’ve purchased multiple contiguous parcels of land in Hawai‘i, and for higher aggregate prices and in arguably more sensitive locations, without any fanfare or attention, and certainly without any public announcements about their intentions for the property.

One billionaire’s new lava rock wall along their property line received more media attention than even the most newsworthy stories in Hawai‘i at the time. Truly gripping journalism.

The latest media roundup was about billionaires building “bunkers” on their properties (ostensibly for some impending Armageddon that surely only they know about). It was a true media zeitgeist moment, just around the time that Netflix aired Leave The World Behind, an apocalyptic thriller involving an underground bunker.

Now, “billionaire bunkers” has a nice ring to it, and I’ll admit, I took the clickbait.

But here again, most of the articles were about construction workers who were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements and what amounted to gossip from community members about what was being built. No images of bunkers or anything that really satisfied my most voyeuristic urges—just loosely collated and corroborated information about billionaires building a lot of stuff on property they own.

Of course, that story was then immediately followed by one about a billionaire who’s feeding macadamia nuts to cattle to make a version of Wagyu beef, just in case you were starting to get bored with the other seemingly ubiquitous “content” about famous tech-billionaires.

As it happens, these stories have a bizarre cascading effect in the media. Once published, they then get picked up and recirculated by countless other outlets. While each iteration may slightly alter the focus or add speculative commentary, the core of the story remains the same—unremarkable and devoid of deeper context. This wash-rinse-repeat cycle may feed some insatiable curiosities, but it also radically skews perceptions about the real estate market and the actual significance of these transactions and the parties involved.

In short, they’re not actually that significant from a market perspective. They’re outliers. And the parties involved—perhaps more so than others, given the intense spotlight on their every action—usually don’t violate zoning ordinances or building codes or anything that should warrant undue attention.

THE REALITY OF LARGE TRANSACTIONS

There have certainly been large transactions in Hawai‘i’s real estate market that weren’t drenched in media attention. Plenty of significant transactions have been conducted by individuals who managed to stay out of the limelight (often with our help).

But of course, the main reason these transactions don’t draw the same level of scrutiny is simple: They’re not conducted by famous, high-profile billionaires.

It’s also worth stating the obvious: Celebrity sells. It’s no wonder that service providers are asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, especially when even the most seemingly obscure detail is worth so many eyeballs to a media outlet.

Cleverly, of course, we can sometimes use this to our advantage when marketing properties for sale. Knowing full well that a given listing is likely to garner media attention, and with our clients’ permission, we can actively solicit media outlets for stories and even help to control the narrative. It’s interesting what relevant details a reporter will gladly omit in exchange for an “exclusive” story.

THE SHIFT TO PRIVATE LISTINGS

Relentless media scrutiny may, in part, be further motivating sellers to opt for private or “off-market” listings. Understandably, some sellers prefer their properties to be marketed through more discreet channels. These listings are not included in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and are not publicly advertised. Our current off-market inventory continues to grow and is still larger than any time in this firm’s history, spanning from $2.5 million to more than $120 million across the islands.

While private listings offer benefits to sellers, they also present challenges. Without the broad exposure of public marketing, finding the right buyer can be more difficult and time consuming. But even within these constraints, our experience shows that we can achieve remarkable results. We have client references and case studies available for any interested sellers.

NAVIGATING “CLEAR COOPERATION”

The National Association of Realtors’ Clear Cooperation policy creates a few obstacles for private listings. The policy mandates that listings must be submitted to the MLS within one business day of being publicly marketed. While ostensibly designed to ensure fairness and broad exposure, it imposes considerable challenges for those seeking discretion.

The policy does, however, allow for some flexibility. While “public” marketing is prohibited, brokers can still market these properties within their own firm. We can share listings with our existing clients without breaching the policy. Given our outsized market-share in Hawai‘i, we’ve been able to navigate this policy with a blend of compliance and innovation, leveraging our extensive network to market properties quietly yet effectively. Since HL1 is not available to the public, we’ll feature some of those offerings in the pages to follow. But there are more, and they’re worth inquiring about.

As the media continues to focus on the real estate dealings of the ultra-wealthy, more sellers (even those who are arguably less “newsworthy”) are increasingly favoring privacy, leading to a rise in off-market transactions and creating a more exclusive market environment.

We remain committed to serving our clients’ diverse needs, whether through public listings or private agreements. We’re navigating these market shifts with integrity and expertise, ensuring that every transaction is handled with the utmost discretion and professionalism.

Our challenge—and opportunity—is to manage this interest in ways that respect our clients’ privacy while still achieving outstanding market outcomes. In the end, whether public or private,

every property

tells a story,

and we’re here to help tell it right. (Or, in some cases, not tell it at all.)

THE ART OF PLACEMAKING

TEXT BY JEANNE COOPER

IMAGES BY JOHN HOOK , CHRIS ROHRER , MEGAN SPELMAN , AND COURTESY OF KONA VILLAGE

The natural and cultural landscape of the iconic Kona Village provides a distinctive palette for the revived resort’s exceptional collection of art, both old and new.

It took millennia to create the first artwork at Kona Village, the iconic resort of thatchedroof hale (houses) dotting the ebony shoreline of North Kona’s Kahuwai Bay. After eons of volcanic eruptions gradually raised Hawai‘i Island out of the sea, a slow-moving flow of pāhoehoe lava produced a canvas of smooth rock for petroglyph carvers, descendants of the Polynesian voyagers who arrived in the islands more than a thousand years ago and eventually founded a small fishing village there. Beginning in the late 1700s, they painstakingly chiseled and scratched hundreds of depictions of billowing sails, canoes, chiefly figures, and other facets of their culture and society across 15 acres, resulting in the most concentrated collection of petroglyphs in Hawai‘i.

The original Kona Village, opened in 1965 and closed in 2011 due to tsunami damage, helped preserve the petroglyphs, constructing a boardwalk to protect them from damage and offering guided tours to increase awareness of their significance. The developers of its new incarnation as a luxurious Rosewood resort, debuted in 2023, have taken the same care of this cultural treasure while assembling a new one: a collection of contemporary artworks similarly unrivaled in their reflection of the topography, culture, and history of their surroundings.

Unlike the petroglyphs, this collection did not take centuries to assemble, but it’s nearly as vast, with some 1,200 objects exhibited throughout the resort’s 81 acres and 150 bungalows. Honolulu art consultant Kelly Sueda worked with developers Kennedy Wilson and the team of San Francisco interior designer Nicole Hollis to showcase the works of more than 60 artists, most of whom are Native Hawaiian or longtime residents of Hawai‘i. The artworks include vintage pieces curated from the original Kona Village, new acquisitions, and numerous commissions. In an unusual move, Kennedy Wilson enabled Sueda to bring some 30 artists together for a site visit a year before the new Kona Village opened. “They really wanted to pay homage to the host culture, and they wanted the artists to feel a connection to the land and the property and have that inspire them,” Sueda says.

Their time visiting the petroglyphs, anchialine ponds, and coral-strewn coast and meeting with cultural advisor Ku‘ulei Keakealani, whose family has deep roots in the area, undeniably inspired many of the artists. Among them was Abigail Romanchak, a Native Hawaiian visual artist who lives on Maui. “I grew up going to Kona and that coastline my whole childhood, and I knew it well, but as I was there and was taking it all in, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting to capture the sound of this place?’” Romanchak recalls.

She layered a digital recording of the sound of the surf over a recording of an oli (chant) that Keakealani had composed for Kona Village, then employed a spectrogram (“a 3D visualization marking sound and time frequency,” Romanchak explains) of that blended recording to create images for a collagraph plate, a kind of collage used for printmaking. She then inked the plate to produce a work entitled ‘Ae Kai, meaning “where the land meets the sea.” The 3-foot-by-5-foot print on etching paper now hangs in the resort’s Asaya Spa. “It’s by far my favorite piece of the project,” says Romanchak, who also has other prints in various guest hale.

Roen Hufford, a Native Hawaiian textile artist renowned for making kapa (a traditional cloth pounded from bark) on her farm about 40 miles away in Waimea, says Nicole Hollis’ design team wanted her two large works for the spa to be undyed. The joint site visit and a solo follow-up, when Hufford spotted huge limpets known as ‘opihi and rivulets in the black sand beach, provided inspiration for “how to make a visual statement without color,” Hufford says. “One of the pieces has sail-like forms because there are all the sail petroglyphs, and a lot of sailing went on there, and the other has circular and pleated forms that reminded me of the shoreline and the ‘opihi.” Her indigo-dyed kapa in the resort’s arrival area also evokes ‘opihi on a black sand beach.

Sculptor John Koga, Hufford’s friend and neighbor in Waimea, found inspiration in Kona Village’s springs of wai, or fresh water, and the craggy ‘a‘ā lava found between the spa and the treatment rooms. That expanse of lava is now home to his abstract,

sinuous sculpture, comprising multiple pieces. “There are these amorphic forms and shiny things on the black lava, and I wanted people to go, ‘What in the world is that?’ They’re representing a source of water, the water-drop feel. You’re going across this path and [asking yourself] what are these weird things, and then you come out to this water form in the back,” he explains. “Conceptually, for me it’s always remembering the value of water, especially there, because the spring and water flowing beneath the lava is why we’re there.”

Honolulu-based ceramic artist Christopher Edwards contributed the very first artwork guests see when they arrive at the reception lanai. Aptly called Mauka Makai (“from the mountain to the sea”), the nearly 20-foot-wide wall-mounted installation features a dark, patterned mountain superimposed with a constellation of gold discs, set above fluted white spheres reminiscent of clumps of coral.

Edwards says he had thought about the design before the site visit, but his ideas didn’t coalesce until he was there. He observed “the black-black lava coming down to the surf, these nubbly bits of white coral washed up on the shoreline,” and the mirage-like view of Maui floating above the clouds. “On the flight home from Kona that day, I was like, ‘Yup, now I know what to do.’”

Edwards considers the art collection at Kona Village like “no other in the world,” at least when it comes to commercial projects. “Most hotels will have beautiful things, but they’re all purchased and sourced separately,” he notes. “The entire artistic expression of Kona Village is this unified piece of artwork made up a lot of different artists’ impressions of that place. The actual work of art is the entire site, and each individual artwork is a component of that larger artwork.”

Above, Christopher Edwards was among the local artists brought in for a site visit prior to contributing work to Kona Village for its reopening. At right, a work by artist Kaili Chun pays homage to the ‘ōpelu, a staple of the South Kona fishing community for generations.

INDIGENOUS INNOVATION

TEXT BY NATALIE SCHACK
IMAGES BY MIRANDA CANNIFF AND SHYLA ORQUIA

A Hawai‘i Island nonprofit is combining Indigenous values and design thinking to empower local youth and build community resilience.

Traversing the massive Pacific by traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe is no easy or quick feat, requiring months of teamwork, fortitude, and patience. But Hawaiian navigators know that the true journey begins long before even an inch of canoe hull grazes the water. This exercise in preparation, problem solving, and creative thinking is exactly the type of lesson that Nalukai, a tech, entrepreneurship, and design camp, hopes to impart on its cohorts of Hawai‘i Island students. And it’s in a similar vehicle—hands-on experiences rooted in culture and community—that it hopes to impart them.

According to Nalukai Foundation President Auston Stewart, that means focusing on cultural or social entrepreneurship, a way of applying proven models of problem-solving that focus on experimentation and adaptability, and that are typically utilized in the entrepreneurial and tech worlds, to hyperlocal community issues. As an example of cultural entrepreneurship in action, Stewart describes a “problem” that navigators from the voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a—brought in by Nalukai as visiting speakers—had once tackled: how to provision the wa‘a (canoe) using food grown on Hawai‘i Island instead of buying pre-canned food from Costco.

“Their prototype is: Can we provision a single wa‘a? What would it take to do that?” Stewart

Nalukai’s Summer Startup Camp is a free, 10-day boarding program that provides immersive training in social, cultural, and commercial entrepreneurship.

explains. The navigators learned how different storage and processing technologies, like freeze-drying, enabled them to create shelf-stable, transportable alternatives to what they were buying before. Then, they learned what they would need from the land, and what skillsets they would need to find in the community, to grow the food that was necessary.

“Essentially, build a food system—build a network from scratch,” Stewart says. “It’s a cultural motivation for the solution, and the methodology this follows is applicable to any of the work that a young person could do. Bringing in models of entrepreneurship from the community that people wouldn’t necessarily point [to as] modern entrepreneurship practice ... It’s amazing.”

When Honoka‘a-born tech entrepreneur Darius Monsef founded Nalukai as a STEM-focused

summer camp in 2016, it was with the aim of turning Hawai‘i Island youths into skilled coders. Nalukai has since evolved into a pioneering semester-long program that brings design thinking into a cultural and community context. Its flagship offering is a 10-day summer boarding program in Waimea, but it now includes regional programs that occur during the school year and are designed to be accessible to underserved communities on the island. With 277 alumni, including notable successes that have gone on to work in tech and advocacy, Nalukai’s place-based initiatives in East and West Hawai‘i address critical local issues, such as food security and water rights, empowering young people to develop and implement solutions to the unique challenges in their communities.

While the program has evolved beyond any single technical focus, the core intention—to empower

Hawai‘i students with the skills and confidence to be nationally and globally competitive—has remained unchanged. Having worked in the tech industry remotely from Hawai‘i since 2010, Stewart knew firsthand how possible it is to work—and succeed—at the national and global level from here in the islands. He had joined the video game streaming service Twitch early on and built up its mobile development team from his home in Hilo before the company was sold to Amazon for nearly a billion dollars in 2014.

“Looking out my window, I remember thinking, these opportunities exist for young people in our community,” he says. “You can build something that’s worth a billion dollars, like an Internet startup, from Hawai‘i Island, but I don’t see other people doing that.”

In 2017, Stewart volunteered to conduct a Nalukai workshop on project management. His enthusiasm for the program grew, leading him to become the curriculum director in 2018 and join the board. It’s this enthusiasm from community leaders like Stewart that has fueled Nalukai’s evolution into the dynamic program it is today.

David Clarke, head of the upper school at Parker School in Waimea, played a crucial role in that evolution. As Nalukai’s executive director, Clarke has been a driving force in orienting the curriculum to serve the community’s unique set of challenges, needs, and cultural perspectives.

“Because he saw huge value in Native Hawaiian culture and values and in an understanding of this place that would enable these young people to be successful, he brought in incredible cultural practitioners,” Stewart says.

NALUKAI / DISCOVER

Nalukai’s blend of cultural immersion and entrepreneurial training engages high school students—referred to as “founders” upon joining the program—in a collaborative learning process during its startup camp and semester-adjacent programs. Founders form teams to identify and address community-specific problems using design thinking. They conduct research, develop prototypes, and pitch their innovations to community members and venture capitalists. This approach imparts essential business skills while connecting students with their cultural heritage and local challenges.

Hawaiian culture and cultural practitioners are central to the learning process. “We’re bringing in mainland software industry, venture capital, language, which is foreign to them, and the relationship between the continent and Hawai‘i has been exploitative. So they feel like, ‘Oh, if I become an entrepreneur in this way, am I betraying my own values and my people?’ We want to give them a credible skill set so that whatever they value and whatever they want to make happen, they can do that.”

Cultural facilitators start each day of camp by grounding students in the stories, history, flora, and fauna of their place of learning: Waimea during the summer boarding camp; East Hawai‘i during the regional school year program. “Ultimately, we want to make sure that everything we’re doing is with respect to where we are and the needs of that place,” Stewart says. By equipping young people with the skills to navigate their careers and lives with a strong community connection, Nalukai ensures that their work will have a meaningful impact.

Because after all, the goal is not only to prepare students for future success. It’s also to build stronger, more resilient Big Island communities in the process—for individual students and for the island as a whole. “Ninety percent of the voyage is in preparation,” says Chadd Paishon, a longtime navigator on the Polynesian voyaging canoes Hōkūle‘a and Makali‘i, in a video produced by two Nalukai program alumni in 2023. “Making sure that we’re all ready, making sure that we all understand the value that we hold—that we’re a part of.”

At Nalukai, high school students learn to apply design thinking to hyperlocal community issues.

STATE OF THE ARTS

IMAGES COURTESY OF NOAH HARDERS AND HONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART

Shortly after assuming her post as director and CEO of the Honolulu Museum of Art, Halona Norton-Westbrook was tasked with reimagining the museum experience in a postpandemic world.

Like many museum directors, Honolulu Museum of Art Director and CEO Halona Norton-Westbrook had been grappling with how to attract a wider audience in changing times when, suddenly in 2020, the world changed beyond all recognition. “The pandemic was, for us, a time of deeply rethinking the entire model of the museum—what we were offering, how we could engage our local community even further,” she says. “[We were] really driven by this idea of wanting to use the art experiences in the museum to bring the world to Hawai‘i, and bring Hawai‘i to the world, with exhibitions and programming that speak specifically to local interests.”

The immediate upheaval and crisis ultimately informed the museum’s long-term strategy, resulting in attendance that is now up 88 percent from pre-pandemic years and a membership comprised of more locals than visitors, a reversal from years before. Part of the increase in local attendance can be attributed to extended evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays, making the museum more accessible for working people, and part of it to the strength of recent exhibits. Take Rebecca Louise Law’s Awakening , an immersive installation of more than a million preserved

flowers and other botanicals (some sourced locally) and marine debris from a North Shore beach cleanup, all strung like floor-to-ceiling lei. It was breathtaking in scope, monumental while also highlighting the flowers’ fragility.

It also helped that the show was immensely Instagrammable—during its run, museum attendance almost doubled from previous years, even those before the pandemic. “How do museums make the argument to an audience, to the public, that they’re worth coming to, that they’re places that are fun and engaging and exciting, now that we have so much competition for our engagement with new technology?” Norton-Westbrook says. “I think it comes back to the approach we’ve had … this real renaissance of creativity and doubling down on what we think people would be delighted by, and what would engage them.”

To coincide with the yearlong exhibit, HoMA spotlighted Maui artist Noah Harders for his first solo museum show of fantastical masks and wearable sculptures made of flowers, shells, and other organic materials. Simultaneously, tapping into the near-universal appeal of flowers, the exhibition “Cross Pollination: Flowers Across

the Collection” pulled together prints of Franco Salmoriaghi’s intimate black-and-white photos of calla lilies and other flora, alongside Japanese paintings and Native American beadwork, all curated from the museum’s collection spanning centuries and countries.

And with that floral-focused programming alone, HoMA seems to be employing some of the strategies that museums around the country are experimenting with—featuring newer and often lesser-known artists, catering to more local audiences, meeting people where they are in their interests— as they wrestle with changing demographics and the role of a museum in the modern day.

As an undergraduate at Mills College in Oakland, California, Norton-Westbrook worked at the college’s art museum, where she recognized museums as “a place where the community can gather and connect,” she says. “I saw the way that a museum

can become a partner to the community. I just really loved that energy and that possibility, and I wanted to be a part of it.” That ambition took her from Oakland to London to Ohio, where she served as the director of curatorial affairs and curator of modern and contemporary art at the Toledo Museum of Art, and then to Hawai‘i, where her parents and grandmother lived in the ’70s.

“Hawai‘i is a very complex place with many social and cultural nuances, and this is reflected in the arts landscape here,” she says. “Watching the national press coverage of Maui’s tragic fires, it has been clear that people outside Hawai‘i don’t always have the information required to have a full appreciation of the cultural complexities here.

I am excited by the possibilities of HoMA helping to contribute to greater understanding of Hawai‘i, locally and nationally, through art and programs. I firmly believe that museums have the power to positively change our society. As the world faces

Above, actor James Duval visits HoMA’s galleries during a retrospective of cult films by filmmaker Greg Araki at Doris Duke Theatre. At right, Maui artist Noah Harders showcases one of his otherworldy creations in “Moemoeā,” his debut solo exhibition at HoMA in 2023.
Artist Rebecca Louise Law combined dried botanicals, including tens of thousands sourced locally with help from the Hawai‘i community, in her installation Awakening at the Honolulu Museum of Art in 2022.

mounting issues, more than ever people need a connection to art to be able to think in a more empathetic, critical, holistic way.”

Sometimes that means not shying away from provocative subject matters. Kapulani Landgraf’s ‘Au‘a, which opened in 2024 on January 17, the anniversary of the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and was subsequently acquired as part of the museum’s permanent collection, features 108 photographic portraits of Kānaka ‘Ōiwi (Native Hawaiians) overlaid with the words, “We Are Not American He Hawai‘i Mau a Mau.” Paired with panel discussions and documentary screenings, the programming stands as a testament to the museum’s evolving sense of how art is displayed and engaged with: to not simply show art as a time capsule of what was, but what is—a history retold, a story being written, a struggle that continues.

As head of the largest museum of its kind in the state, Norton-Westbrook faces the formidable challenge of not just engaging an audience, but also financing it all. The traditional financial model of museums relies on its endowment; revenue through admissions and the museum café and shop; and fundraising. “Most museums are under pressure because the expenses have grown faster than any of those singular elements,” NortonWestbrook says. But her strategy for stewarding donors dovetails with her philosophy on community engagement: “People want to support institutions or projects where they can see a real community impact, and it’s something that really connects with them, emotionally and meaningfully,” she says. “So many people here on staff, myself included, are working here because they’ve had deep and meaningful experiences with art in their life. Part of what we’re trying to do is find new and creative ways to connect more and more people with the power of art.”

FINDING COMMON GROUND

TEXT BY IJFKE RIDGLEY AND COURTESY OF COMMON GROUND KAUA‘I

IMAGES BY JOHN HOOK , TIM HENNESSY , AND TARA ROCK

Harnessing the power of food to bring people together, a collective of changemakers are engaging with land and place to build a more regenerative future.

Located on the north shore of Kaua‘i, Common Ground’s 60-acre campus is steeped in agricultural history, one that continues to unfold as the organization works to cultivate a cooperative ecosystem grounded in the well-being of people and place. Once part of Kīlauea sugar plantation, then a guava farm for Guava Kai Ocean Spray, the land is now home to Common Ground’s tropical agroforest, both a model for regenerative farming and a metaphor and roadmap for building regenerative community.

Bringing people together from all over the world, Common Ground’s year-round programming and offerings include a farm and food experience featuring a menu crafted entirely from local ingredients; private events that bring members of the community closer to the land that feeds them; lei-making workshops that foster a connection to culture; farm-to-table pop-up dinners; and a forthcoming restaurant, scheduled to open in late 2026; with future plans to include a coworking space, distillery, and farm homes.

Common Ground’s annual summit, In Community with Place, seeds meaningful collaborations around the future of food in the islands, gathering entrepreneurs, community members, business leaders, changemakers, investors, chefs, creatives, and cultural practitioners from Hawai‘i and beyond for three days of programming, activities, and communal meals. “For us, place is the element that anchors connection in a deep, impactful way. It is a mindset that considers the culture, community, environment, and future generations in everything we do,” says Jen Luck, CEO of Common Ground Hospitality. “We strive to immerse visitors in the true essence of a place, creating experiences that reflect its beauty, complexity, and history and leaving them with a sense of reverence.”

Meet a few members of the Common Ground community who embody this mindset of honoring culture, community, the environment, and future generations, and learn their motivations and methods for carrying those values forward.

Born and raised on O‘ahu, Kealoha Domingo is part of a long lineage of Hawaiian practitioners with a deep love for food. Mentored by family members in the food industry and inspired by generations of ancestors who carried the cultural responsibility of cooking and healing, he is driven by a commitment to continue his family’s legacy of fulfilling these duties in service to their community. As chef and founder of Nui Kealoha, a family-run company that offers food and education grounded in the traditional values and cultural practices of his heritage, Domingo’s craft honors the spiritual connection between the ‘āina (land), kānaka (humankind), and mea‘ai (food).

The meals that Nui Kealoha prepares and serves are rooted in respect for traditional foodways as well as the innovation fostered in a contemporary professional kitchen, an approach that earned Domingo a grant from the James Beard Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic, awarded to Black and Indigenous business owners for their contributions to the modern American foodscape. Serving as a chef at Common Ground’s annual summit, Domingo brings a wealth of knowledge of Hawaiian food systems and wisdom about living in harmony with the land.

John Parziale has practiced organic, ecological agriculture on Kaua‘i for over 25 years, founding Kaua‘i Authentic Farms in 2001, where he established the Center for Regenerative Agriculture. As Common Ground’s director of agroecology, he’s demonstrating what it can look like in practice to design farms as self-sustaining ecosystems. His approach focuses on “successional agroforestry,” integrating crops, animals, and trees to replicate the intricate and interconnected structures of a thriving forest environment. At Common Ground, this involves multi-species grazing and growing annual vegetables alongside perennial shrubs and trees to achieve a dynamic balance of abundant harvests and long-term ecological health.

While Parziale’s work is inspired by the tropical rainforest’s natural processes, he doesn’t aim to replicate forest conditions pre-human contact. Rather, he takes inspiration from traditional subsistence agriculture and patterns found in nature to develop a productive and resilient agroforestry system in alignment with Common Ground’s dedication to place. “Agroforestry creates syntropy in a world of entropy,” Parziale says. “Our agroforest is designed using the process of ecological succession as a guide—where a community of plants, animals, and fungi support and replace each other over time, evolving together as one larger system. This process allows for symbiotic relationships to unfold and strengthen over time. In turn, this leads to more resilient, biodiverse, productive, and climate-friendly agricultural ecosystems.”

MELEANA ESTES

Whenever Meleana Estes makes one of her vibrant and intricately crafted flower lei, she thinks of her tūtū (grandmother), master lei maker Amelia Ana Kā‘opua Bailey. Crafting countless lei for her ‘ohana (family) and community, Bailey was renowned throughout the islands for making celebrations more memorable, more colorful, more filled with warmth and aloha. After Bailey’s passing in 2012, Estes moved into her tūtū’s stately home in Mānoa Valley, inheriting the lush garden where Bailey sourced her florals and, with it, her passion for lei-making.

Unlike Estes, Bailey did not learn lei-making from her elders. Prior to the Hawaiian Renaissance of the early 1970s, which brought a resurgence of interest and pride in Hawaiian identity, many aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture were banned and suppressed in the islands during colonization. As a result, Bailey only learned to make lei po‘o (head lei) in her 50s, when she was asked to judge Honolulu’s annual May Day lei competition. It was then that she threw herself into learning everything she could about the craft, going on to become one of the most respected lei makers on the island.

Needless to say, making and giving lei was an important part of Estes’ upbringing. “I was blessed to learn the art at a really young age, and my family made lei for so many occasions,” she says. It is this tradition—a true embodiment of the aloha spirit—that Estes feels is her kuleana (responsibility) to carry on.

Today, Estes continues this legacy through lei-making workshops and crafting works of floral artistry for clients, photoshoots, fashion shows, and special events, including leading workshops and creating botanical tablescapes and décor as Common Ground’s stylist-in-residence. Estes can often be seen clad in one of her tūtū’s brightly colored mu‘umu‘u, a grin on her face as she deftly weaves together florals grown, bought, and foraged, overflowing with her grandmother’s passion and aloha spirit.

“Lei are how we haku, or weave, our memories— strings of scent and color that weave our lives together,” Estes writes in the introduction to her 2023 book, Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai‘i, a tribute to Hawai‘i’s lei culture. “Every lei holds different meanings and memories for both the giver and the one who wears it; here in Hawai‘i, lei are more than a gift, a cultural practice, or the flowers; they bring people together, they hold relationships, community, gratitude, and protection.”

RARE

WONDERS

TEXT AND IMAGES BY IJFKE RIDGLEY

A crystal enthusiast turns her newfound passion into a worldclass collection of exquisite specimens from around the globe.

On a large estate just outside of Kapa‘a, overlooking the windy eastern shoreline of Kaua‘i, Tatiana Dorow greets me at the door of her spacious, elegant home. The Brazilian designer and architect smiles warmly and welcomes me into her airy living room, where her interest in crystals is immediately evident. Large minerals are displayed like sculptures around the space, their organic, geometric forms as entrancing as works of art. A cabinet showcases an assortment of minerals in a kaleidoscope of hues, their smooth facets catching the light. A geode of amethyst as tall as her teenage daughter anchors the bedroom; another oversized hunk of quartz makes a statement by the pool.

Striking as they are, these specimens are merely a preview of what’s to come. I’ve arrived here for a private tour of the Dorow Collection, Dorow’s gallery of over 1,000 rare and exquisite crystals and minerals housed in a dedicated structure set among the coconut trees on her property.

Word of Dorow’s collection has spread throughout the island and beyond. Upon request, she hosts private tours for individuals or groups interested in seeing the pieces, which have included celebrities, politicians, private institutions, and discerning collectors. She accepts no payment for these tours—sometimes hosting up to three tours a day— because sharing the display is what brings her joy.

Though crystals have been the subject of human fascination for millennia, it’s clear they’re having a moment in the cultural zeitgeist. A dizzying array of information awaits anyone curious about their purported functions: citrine for confidence, amethyst for protection. When I admit my skepticism to Dorow, she is quick to submit that claims about the metaphysical benefits of crystals are frequently inconsistent and, to her, beside the point. “My interaction with them is not transactional,” she says. “I think that giving a title and a job for each one of them is a disrespect—they are much more than that.”

Nevertheless, she does believe in the power of crystals beyond their physical beauty. Dorow claims that the vast majority of visitors report a strong emotional release upon experiencing the gallery. Some, she says, have subsequently undergone remarkable transformations, from deep spiritual revelations to borderline miraculous instances of physical healing. “I feel like I’m the guardian of a space,” Dorow says. “I get to facilitate this experience for other people and watch and admire and learn from it.”

The gallery’s nondescript exterior belies the stunning array inside. Entering feels much like stepping through the wardrobe into the magic of Narnia. At the doorway, Dorow instructs me to clear my mind and “think about something I want to remove

Proponents of the metaphysical properties of crystals believe a crystal’s energy emanates from where it terminates into a point. Spherical crystals were thus favored by fortune-tellers throughout history because it is believed that the energy from spheres radiates from all 360 degrees.

from my life.” She slips inside first to prepare the space, giving me a few minutes to set my intention and follow in a few minutes later. I step out of the bright daylight and into a cool, dark space, where hundreds of individually lit crystals and minerals glow on rough-hewn tables and metal bases. My eye jumps around the room, from giant clusters of quartz to cubed pyrite to bulbous malachite, each piece more unique than the last. The sight is awe-inspiring, made more so by the Sanskrit chanting reverberating throughout the building from a sound system. As I carefully tiptoe between displays, Dorow sits perched on a sofa in the corner, eyes closed and meditating.

While some crystals are as clear as artisanal ice cubes, others seem to hold entire universes of color and texture, reminiscent of the faraway galaxies captured by NASA telescopes. “When I look at them, I can’t deny how little I know and how

little I have seen in comparison to them,” Dorow says, explaining that crystals are the oldest known materials on Earth, formed over millions or even billions of years. “I think that what fascinates me about them is this idea of how small we are and the short period that we are on this planet.”

Dorow has admired crystals since she was a child— her mother, a healer, always had them around—but although Brazil is one of the world’s top producers of minerals, she says Brazilians generally aren’t as interested in collecting crystals compared to Americans, Europeans, and those in many Asian countries. Dorow never considered purchasing crystals until a friend convinced her to attend the Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show in 2019. There she felt immediately drawn to certain pieces, and she left the show with six enormous crystals, each between 100 and 500 pounds, and the contacts of several Brazilian miners.

My interaction with crystals is not transactional. I think that giving a title and a job for each one of them is a disrespect—they are much more than that.

Shortly thereafter, she moved from California to Kaua‘i and found a community of people who shared her interest. In California, “It was almost like a language they didn’t understand,” Dorow says. “When I got here, everybody understood.” People started asking her to source and curate crystals for them, and soon she was reaching out to her new mining contacts. When the 2020 gem shows were canceled due to the pandemic, the miners sold that year’s production to her. Dorow bought about 800 rare crystals over seven months and soon needed a structure to house them. Today, miners from all over the world approach Dorow to present their pieces. The gallery now houses specimens from Brazil, Morocco, Madagascar, Colombia, Congo, Turkey, and the Himalayas.

All of the crystals in the Dorow Collection are 100 percent natural, though some have been polished to showcase their unique characteristics, an aesthetic choice Dorow often makes together with the miners who excavate them. Many pieces are extremely rare, museum-grade crystals that would never be found in stores. Once shipped to the island, Dorow decides how best to display them, collaborating with Princeville resident Norbert Roessler, a former gate-maker in his 80s who custom-makes their lighted metal bases.

Though a crystal’s brilliance is brought out best in the sun, Dorow says that if she were to open all 21 of the gallery’s windows, the specimens would, like

a magnifying glass, channel enough sunlight to set the building ablaze. “If I had no budget, I would display them very differently,” Dorow says. “I think each one of these pieces deserves to be on a pedestal in the corner of a beautifully decorated room.”

At the center of the display sits the collection’s pièce de résistance, a 5,170-pound mass of quartz she calls “The Heart.” The piece is laced with silvery mica, cleavelandite, albite, and large sections of smoky citrine, a rare formation of minerals. “Nature produces something like this every 60 to 200 years,” Dorow says. The Kristall Galerie in Namibia has the world’s largest known cluster of quartz, “a crystal that’s bigger than this one, but not at this quality, with this transparency.”

Though it is the most impressive in scale, it is not Dorow’s favorite in the collection. That distinction is reserved for the rarest of the crystalline spheres she owns: a globe of quartz the size of a beach ball, with a near-perfect clarity that Dorow says is unprecedented. Spheres are not formed naturally; they are carved out of free-form quartz—crystals that haven’t fully finished into a point. The process of producing one is very labor intensive and costly, and the customer pays for it based on the crystal’s weight before it is cut. Dorow equates it to pricing a premium cut of meat with the bones included.

Dorow frequents the gallery regardless of whether or not she has a tour scheduled, and she will sometimes spend up to eight hours a day, for weeks at a time, among the crystals, even watching them on camera when she travels. It is her place of respite and creation. “Every crystal that would arrive to me [when I started collecting] was like giving birth to a child,” she says. “I don’t create any of this for the purpose of selling. I create this for them—for what I think they deserve.”

FLAVORS OF THE FARM

TEXT BY VIOLA GASKELL

IMAGES BY LIBOR VANC , JANA DILLON , VIOLA GASKELL , AND  JOHN HOOK

A chef trades in his life at sea for a life closer to the earth.

After cooking in high-stress situations for years as executive chef aboard a 257-foot yacht, Ryan O’Connor was ready for a change of pace. He’d been coming to Hāna—his wife’s hometown—for years, and he was mesmerized by the abundance he encountered in the gardens of the friends they visited there. So, in 2015, he and his wife, Christie, made the decision to slow down, start a family, and grow their own food on the east side of Maui.

However, O’Connor had overlooked the unfortunate reality of living in a tropical place where crops thrive: So do the plentiful weeds and bugs. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be to farm,” he says, recalling the ongoing learning experience of reigning in his five jungly acres not far from Wai‘ānapanapa State Park off the infamously twisted Hāna Highway. After years of hard work, he is grateful to be gleaning the fruits of his labor. “It is one thing to source a really nice ingredient,” he says, “but when you take care of it throughout its life cycle, and you’re putting in that time—all the way up to [preparing] the dish— it’s just love.”

O’Connor now tends a sizable flock—80 laying hens and 40 meat birds—and a small herd—eight sheep and three lambs. At Chef Minded Farms, his farm and private chef business, he also grows an array of organic fruits and vegetables, including corn, cherry tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, papayas, bananas, citrus, and herbs.

O’Connor may have been new to farming, but it wasn’t his first time working with fresh ingredients. In his 20s, he worked on a sport-fishing boat in San Diego. The job granted him access to an abundance of fresh fish, so he started hosting dinner parties. “I’d kind of do it up. I was single, and so I was probably trying to impress girls,” he admits. When a friend suggested he go to culinary school, something clicked, and a week later, he enrolled at San Diego Culinary Institute. After graduation and an internship, he was hired at The Oceanaire, a distinguished San Diego seafood restaurant where he trained under celebrity chef Brian Malarkey. He put in a year at The Oceanaire, then packed his bags for Fort Lauderdale— America’s mecca of luxury yachts—in pursuit of a more international lifestyle as part of a seafaring kitchen crew.

At sea, he orchestrated three meals a day for a rotating cast of the ultra-rich: tech billionaires, casino tycoons, Arab royalty. Four years in, he made executive chef and invited two of his close friends from Maui, Benel Eleogram and Kale Boerner, to run the kitchen with him. Despite the wealth of his clientele and the opulence of the environment, O’Connor kept his food down to earth. Influenced by his mom’s cooking and Nourishing Traditions, a cookbook his grandmother gave him, O’Connor aspired to make food that was both healthy and delicious. Attracted to the ethos of Italian home

cooking, he prioritized high-quality ingredients, prepared simply but precisely, over gastronomical flair. One of his signature dishes is roast chicken, brined for 24 hours and roasted with salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme. The crucial part, he says, “is cooking it just right—getting the breast to 152 degrees, taking it out of the oven, letting it rest to 165 degrees. Slicing it, [you get] this incredibly juicy breast, which you almost never have.”

Many of the yacht chefs O’Connor came to know tried to replicate the three-Michelin Star experiences their clients were accustomed to on land. But he suspected that most people, like him, would appreciate something simpler. Rather than spending his time following fine-dining trends, O’Connor made rich bone broth for his risotto and marinated lamb chops for days in a blend of mustard, rosemary, thyme, and lemon zest. “When you take your training as a professional chef and apply it to a simple home-cooked meal, you can really knock it out of the park,” he says. “It was one of my biggest successes on the boat. It worked, so I stuck with it.”

Not that there weren’t the occasional moments of indulgence. On one trip to Tahiti, the owner of the yacht flew in from New York with a bounty of outrageously expensive Iranian caviar, supposedly smuggled out of Iran to France, then flown to New York City. Up until that point, O’Connor never espoused the thrill of caviar—it smelled just a bit too similar to fish bait—but then he tried the contraband delicacy and was blown away. “In that moment, I totally understood caviar,” he recalls. He and his Maui friends gorged themselves on it in the galley. “Our spoonfuls were probably $500 a piece,” he says.

“When you take your training as a professional chef and apply it to a simple home-cooked meal, you can really knock it out of the park.”

Still, O’Connor is much more likely to splurge on simple, local ingredients. His lambs and chickens eat premium feed and black oil sunflower seeds in addition to foraging the property. He buys fish from Maui fishermen, venison from Maui Nui Venison, and produce from nearby Mahele Farms and Laulima Farm in Kipahulu. Down the road, Olamana Organics grows the avocados, citrus, and wide variety of tropical fruits that O’Connor uses in the kitchen.

Along with cooking for locals and visitors alike at private events, vacation homes, and retreats, O’Connor sometimes sells his meat, eggs, and greens at the Hāna Farmers Market. On occasion, he takes pre-orders for “family meals,” ranging from his spin on Hawaiian food to omakase sushi sets to fusion cuisine (think miso-glazed pork chops with shrimp fried rice and Balinese green salad). Now that he has an outdoor venue on his property, O’Connor is looking to turn the family meal model into a supper club.

For O’Connor, life moves seamlessly between the farm and the kitchen. And despite the challenges of running a business in a remote location, he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love the ratio of trees to people here,” he says.

Dinner Party Pointers

“Prep it out two days before. Get ahead of it so that you aren’t stressed on the day. If you eat meat, make a braised meat dish the day before—it gets better overnight—then reheat it day of. It will be so tender, everyone will love it.”

“Kick it off with something fresh. I like to start with a raw appetizer like sashimi or venison tartare. Use more salt than you think you should. Always add a bit of acid, whether it’s lemon juice or a nice sherry vinegar or Champagne vinegar. A little bit of acid goes a long way.”

Premium Proteins

“I think it’s nice to just go with what’s in season and work with what is available, particularly with proteins, which tend to be overlooked. The difference between your average store-bought proteins and farm-raised meats is huge. Expect to pay more, but the levels of nourishment are so much higher.”

Look for Local

“If you’re on Maui, Simple Roots’ organic, pastureraised chicken is phenomenal. Maui Cattle has amazing marbling for grass-fed beef, and it’s available just about everywhere on island. If you’re looking to feature vegetables, ‘Oko‘a Farms in Kulamalu is great.” (His non-local kryptonite? Cold-water shellfish. “Scallops from Maine in January—those are to die for. Santa Barbara uni in February is just out of this world.”)

“I love using lū‘au (taro leaf). It’s Hawaiian, it tastes amazing, and that dark green color looks great on the plate. I’ll usually do a pan-roasted fish with creamed lū‘au. It’s different from your typical squid lū‘au, where the protein is cooked in the sauce. I make the sauce and then cook the fish medium to medium-rare, so I get that lū‘au flavor with a little more elevated technique.”

STEWARDING SANCTUARIES

TEXT BY LINDSEY KESEL

IMAGES BY JAMIE CADIENTE

Kailua Hurwitz and Hilary

Denison reveal some of the wide range of property management services available to the owners of Hawai‘i’s finest homes.

As grade-schoolers at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy in Waimea, Kailua Hurwitz and Hilary Denison bonded over a game of four square and became fast friends, remaining close through their formative years. Both went on to work for their fathers’ real estate businesses after college, later earning their real estate licenses before realizing the realtor path wasn’t for them. They’ve since parlayed their lifelong friendship into a successful business caretaking homes along Hawai‘i Island’s Kohala Coast, bringing a unique team dynamic that allows them to consistently exceed expectations to keep their clients’ highend homes finely tuned with aloha.

Hilary: Kailua and I were doing property management with separate companies and figured it would be a great marriage of the minds to join forces. In July of 2023, we took on our first client together, a legacy homeowner at Mauna Kea Resort.

Kailua: My dad had sold her and her husband their first house here on the Big Island, so it very much felt like family—a perfect first client. But we also knew that she has really high standards.

Hilary: Her home overlooks the ocean, with a gorgeous view from Kawaihae to Kona. The whole property is adorned with the most exquisite art

and sculptures. As an artist, she’s very visual and has a lot of specific requests, which really helped us hone in on the elite level of service our luxury property owners require.

Kailua: Her late husband would often talk about a mantra he applied in his business—communication, coordination, and cooperation. These three C’s fit with our rhythm perfectly, so we integrated them into our approach. If communication is off, the other two will fall out of step, too. They all flow into each other.

Communication

Hilary: Some property managers might assume their homeowner understands what work is taking place. We, on the other hand, really lean into the concept of overcommunicating. Everything is spelled out on paper so that the owner feels like we’re in lockstep. We’re flooding them with succinct status updates and creating vendor spreadsheets of information to be clear about who is on their team.

Coordination

Hilary: Beyond getting vendors on board with all the specifics and timing, coordination extends to translating the owner’s needs to them in a way that feels like we’re all working toward the same goal. We’re paying attention, taking rigorous notes, and sending the client a recap so they see that we’re listening. It’s like a dance; we are constantly trying to cultivate trust and nurture it.

Kailua: Ultimately, when an owner visits the home, our goal is to make sure they don’t feel anxious because something isn’t working or a task is sitting in limbo. They should be able to relax knowing that we’re paying attention to all the little details.

Hilary: Maybe it’s a necklace hanging from a doorknob, or setting knick-knacks out a certain way. If it’s keeping the trees at exactly 15 feet high, we’re planning tree-trimming year round and coordinating with vendors so that the trees are canopying just enough. When our artist client returns from traveling, she loves to hear her favorite music playing throughout the property— easy-listening melodies like classical music or Nat King Cole. We work with an audiovisual vendor to make sure it’s functioning correctly for every single arrival so that beautiful ambiance is in place when she walks in the door.

Ultimately, when an owner visits the home, our goal is to make sure they don’t feel anxious because something isn’t working or a task is sitting in limbo.

Cooperation

Kailua: Cooperation is about maintaining great relationships with clients as well as our vendors. When a vendor comes in to do a repair, we’re in the home asking questions and actively learning what the problem is. This allows us to relay it perfectly to our owners and have that knowledge in our back pocket. Not every property manager does that.

Hilary: We’re thinking ahead about how all the smaller home-related decisions will play out and guiding owners to adopt this mindset. We had one client who installed a set of fancy, high-end washer-dryers that looked really nice. But when it came time to replace something, the part would be back-ordered for eight months. It was a rental unit, so waiting wasn’t an option. We said, let’s get those things out of here and buy a new set that won’t pose a problem to fix.

Kailua: Educating homeowners about preventative maintenance and safeguarding their investment is another element of earning their trust. Our artist’s home requires around-the-clock air-conditioning to protect her extensive art collection, so we recommended solar as an efficient power source. After we followed up on a recommendation from someone she trusted, her family came together on the project. An idea to bring down her energy bill turned into this amazing opportunity to take the house to another level and increase its value.

Hilary: I think our homeowners really appreciate having two people at the helm. We wear different hats when it comes to keeping a luxury home in good shape and checking all the boxes for the three C’s. I’m super action-oriented, whereas Kailua is a lot more conscientious and calculating. She’s pointing out things I might be missing and making sure that we not only accomplish a task, but that we’ve done it thoughtfully.

Kailua: I’m more boots on the ground. I love organizing and the hard labor aspects of the business. We’ve been very blessed to have tripled our client list since partnering with Hawai‘i Life, and I think part of that is the way we complement each other so well.

Hilary: It’s also pretty unusual to have two luxury property managers who are Native Hawaiian and female. You’ll see us wearing Hawaiian attire from a local designer and sporting local jewelry—carrying our culture with us, in a sense.

Kailua: We infuse Hawaiian words and phrases into our marketing to educate clients on our culture. We also love to involve other Hawaiians and Hawaiian-owned businesses whenever possible. From hiring vendors to inviting Native Hawaiian practitioners in for home blessings and events, instilling the Hawaiian culture is a huge part of how we do business.

Hilary: In Hawaiian tradition, you don’t visit a home without bringing an offering. So when an owner is in town, we’ll put together a beautifully tailored welcome gift—maybe a vase of anthuriums and a handwritten card. We want to show our clients that we understand the huge responsibility they’ve entrusted us with. Every time a client comes home to Hawai‘i, they should feel that sentiment of aloha.

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HL1 Collection: a Subjective Compilation...

Location, architecture, and emotion are the pillars of our curated HL1 Collection. Each property is meticulously chosen for its merit, style, and substance. While our selection is subjective and confined by this magazine’s pages, the HL1 Collection presents a sampling of Hawai‘i’s most exceptional and diverse living experiences.

Of course, this collection does not encompass all the properties we represent. Our portfolio spans many residences and land offerings across Hawai‘i, many of which are private and not publicly listed.

Chances are, this publication was given to you by an HL1 director, member, or contributor. HL1 is not available for purchase or subscription.

As HL1, a private division of Hawai‘i Life, we embody discretion and local expertise. HL1 is not just about refined real estate; it’s also about fostering community, celebrating arts and culture, and showcasing refined living through the unique lens of Hawai‘i. We invite you to reach out and explore these facets of Hawai‘i living, accessing both private and public real estate along with invaluable market insights.

The Height of Island Living

Set on the ocean-facing end of Ala Moana Center, this penthouse-sized residence combines the indoor-outdoor lifestyle of a coastal estate with the best of city living, providing sweeping ocean views and access to luxury shopping and gourmet dining in the vibrant heart of urban Honolulu.

$12.9M | Listed by Noel Shaw

As part of the esteemed Park Lane community, this residence offers all the resort-like services and amenities of an upscale condominium with the expansive living spaces of an estate home. The 732-square-foot covered lanai transitions

seamlessly into the interior, where warm wooden touches abound, including custom built-in cabinetry, a dining table made of Hawaiian koa, and an elegant slatted screen that conceals an entertainment wall outfitted with a world-class audio-visual system.

$10.25M | Listed by Noel Shaw

Luxurious Living in Mokulē‘ia

Cross the lush lawn of this extensively remodeled beach home for direct access to the secluded sands of Mokule‘ia, head up the coast for all the action of O‘ahu’s fabled north shore, or bask in 4,730 square feet of living space, featuring vaulted plantation-style ceilings, luxury finishes, high-end fixtures, and state-of-the-art lighting and technology.

Ossipoff on the Beach

Just a short and scenic drive from the heart of Waik k , this unique residence is the largest beachfront property available for sale on O‘ahu’s prestigious Kahala Avenue. Its centerpiece is a mid-century modern gem: a five-bedroom, fivebathroom main house designed by legendary architect Vladimir Ossipoff that opens to a pool on one side and a beachfront yard on the other.

$17M

| Listed by Cedric Choi and Julianna Garris

KAUA‘I

KAUA‘I

Sanctuary Up North

Positioned along the private Waiakalua Reservoir, this sprawling waterfront property is an oasis of tranquility on Kaua‘i’s scenic north shore. The jewel in the crown of its 13.45 acres is the elegant residence featuring interior designs and furnishings by Peggy North, who oversaw construction to expand the estate to seamlessly blend with the original architectural design by local architect Gary Tobey. Open, airy layouts allow for an abundance of natural light and panoramic views of the reservoir and natural splendor beyond. The property is nestled among additional land parcels, offering an abundance of opportunities for agricultural endeavors or further development into a personal enclave with bespoke amenities.

$9.7M

| Listed by Amy Frazier

Primed Canvas in Princeville

This 1.57-acre parcel in Kaua‘i’s renowned Princeville area is a blank canvas for dynamic development, zoned to allow for the construction of two residences, whether as a private retreat, family compound, or separate fee-simple parcels. Positioned on a breathtaking bluff overlooking Hanalei Bay, its gentle typography is at an elevation safe from floodplain and tsunami risks. Building setbacks, CC&Rs, and height restrictions of the neighboring parcels ensure privacy and unimpeded views of the ocean, Halele‘a Forest Reserve, and surrounding terrain.

$8.5M | Listed by Ben Welborn

Privacy and Potential

The size, location, and infrastructure of this gated compound between Kalihiwai and Hanalei comes with vast potential for customization and expansion, catering to those seeking exclusivity and value. The primary residence is a Spanish-modern indulgence of wood, stone, and tile, with multiple lanais, an outdoor kitchen, steam shower, pool, and hot tub.

Situated within its 50 acres of lush gardens, pathways, streams, hardwood trees, and fruit orchards are two additional residences and other infrastructure, including equestrian stables and a yoga studio. The property is comprised of two lots, each with five units, making it equally suitable for investment as a legacy estate or luxury homesites.

| Listed by

$30M
Matt Beall
KAUA‘I

Made for Memories

$8.75M | Listed

Spanning nearly an acre of Kaua‘i’s south shore in the private resort community of Kukui‘ula, this thoughtfully crafted residence features exceptional build quality and artisan finishes, along with access to a members-only clubhouse, 18-hole golf course, fishing charter, pools, spa, and 10-acre farm.

The home was made for entertaining, with pass-through windows, an outdoor kitchen, and a generous covered lanai that promises countless days of whale watching and sunset views. Its ‘ohana suite is a peaceful retreat for family and friends, featuring guest bedrooms, a large office, and private lanai.

by Lori Decker and Matt Beall

Sophistication and Surf

Located steps from the home break of surf legends Andy and Bruce Irons and outfitted with surfboard storage, outdoor showers, and a foot-washing station, this newly constructed residence is a haven for surfers, envisioned as a sophisticated sanctuary with an elegance epitomized by the striking charcoal tones of its shou sugi ban walls. Like the town of Hanalei itself, it’s also a gateway to Kaua‘i’s north shore, tucked among culturally rich communities and the wild expanse of the Napali Coast.

$23M | Listed by Neal Norman

$13.95M | Listed by Neal Norman

Beauty and the Bluffs

Sitting on 1.25 acres atop Hanalei Ridge, the panoramic views from this masterfully crafted estate allow for basking in the captivating setting of Kaua‘i’s north shore from the comfort and privacy of home. Providing unobstructed views from multiple vantage points in the residence, the home offers an enviable perspective of the staggering beauty of Hanalei, where many find their heaven on Earth along its crescent-shaped bay.

MAUI

MAUI

A Rich Agricultural Heritage

Hana Ranch is the largest offering on Maui and one of the few remaining private holdings of its size in the islands. Established as a working cattle ranch in 1944, it remains an abundant agricultural landholding composed of ranch and farm infrastructure; a two-bedroom farmhouse; equestrian features, including a rodeo arena and miles of scenic riding trails; and a variety of dynamic natural landscapes with soil fertile for commercial vegetable farming, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

$75M | Listed by Matt Beall, Josh Jerman, and Beth Thoma Robinson

Managed by a dedicated ranch manager using sustainable, diversified agricultural methods and silviculture practices, the operation is currently home to approximately 400 cows, expandable pastures, and includes partial ownership of Maui Cattle Company.

Creativity in Kula

This landmark property—the first Marmol Radziner house in Hawai‘i—was envisioned by celebrated modernist architect Ron Radziner and built by acclaimed Maui builder John Cahill. The property’s main house, guest house, and cottage are spread across more

than two acres, featuring office and loft space, professional art and music studios, a custom media room, and a 4,000-squarefoot wraparound lanai with bi-coastal views from its perch above a hundred-foot ravine in Kula.

With features such as a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system and automated lighting and blinds, the property is also a beacon of modern comfort and energy efficiency, blending seamlessly into the surrounding environment with its materials palette of cedar, glass, and honed lava.

|

$8.8M
Listed by Josh Jerman and Matt Beall

$13.5M | Listed by Diane Pool

A Modern Masterpiece

With its dramatic lines and sculptural shapes, this spectacular new build is an ultra-contemporary oasis in a highly sought-after setting at The Ridge at Wailea. Enter through its gated garden courtyard and you’ll be greeted by an expansive lanai; venture further into the expansive interior and you’ll find it filled with natural light and aweinspiring views thanks to a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows and doors overlooking Molokini and the West Maui mountains.

Manifesting Makena

On 200 feet of rare west-facing beachfront, this parcel on Maui’s pristine Po‘olenalena Beach brings endless recreational opportunities and sunset views of Molokini, Kaho‘olawe, and Lana‘i. Located within minutes of the championship golf courses and renowned five-star hotels of Wailea, it also comes with the opportunity to grow alongside a thriving enclave of multimilliondollar beachfront homes, luxurious condos, and upscale resorts.

$10.995M

| Listed by Brad MacArthur

Place of Prestige

Spanning more than 4,800 square feet of living space with two master suites—perfect for guests or multigenerational living—this turn-key residence offers the warmth of a family home and rare positioning in the only oceanfront residential complex in all of Wailea. The 20,000-square-foot lot is surrounded by lush landscaping within Wailea’s exclusive Maluhia community, with easy access to worldclass dining and five-star hotels on the Wailea boardwalk.

$16M | Listed by Dave Richardson

HAWAI‘I

HAWAI‘I

Coffee Country

At the heart of Hawai‘i’s world-renowned Kona coffee belt, this distinguished coffee farm is equipped with all the essential infrastructure to steward its nearly 51 acres of coffee trees in Holualoa, including meticulously cultivated premium coffee varieties. With its stunning backdrop, the estate not only offers the chance to be part of Hawai‘i Island’s rich coffee tradition but also the potential for diversification into luxury homesites, sustainable tourism initiatives, and more.

$8.1M | Listed by Carrie Nicholson

Luxury and Legacy

Following a recent multimillion-dollar renovation, the main home, ‘ohana home, carriage house, and covered and open lanais of this lush and secluded retreat are well appointed for entertaining, hosting, leisure, and more within the privacy of its five acres of tropical foliage on the slopes of Hualalai. With commanding views of the Kona coastline, this fully furnished property presents a rare opportunity to own a crown-jewel legacy estate in Holualoa, a charming, artistic community known for its galleries, studios, and historic buildings.

$5.45M

| Listed by Carrie Nicholson

A Rejuvenating Retreat

This oceanfront eco-lodge is a sustainable sanctuary, where an off-grid photovoltaic system sustains a variety of wellness activities throughout its 14.5 acres, which include organic gardens, a main lodge with a commercial kitchen, a yoga and dance studio, guest hale, yurts, a saltwater swimming pool, and more. With five acres of designated space for hotel and spa facilities, the boutique property is primed for further development, offering a home base from which to explore the unique character and charms of North Kohala.

$19.95M

| Listed by Beth Thoma Robinson and Matt Beall

Community and Calm

This front-row compound within the esteemed Mauna Lani Resort is situated steps from 49 Black Sand Beach and an array of private member amenities, including sports facilities, a lap pool, fitness pavilion, and tennis court.

$32M | Listed by Steve Hurwitz

With a layout thoughtfully designed to offer a fluid mix of privacy and community, including a lavish grand lanai and outdoor area, the home is equally suited to lively gatherings and quiet  relaxation. The main living area and kitchen serves as a central hub for gathering, connecting the home’s two guest suites, each with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and its spacious primary suite, featuring an office, dual bathrooms, and an ocean view.

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