Living off the grid: Marin couple moves to Maui

By Aanika Sawhney

“It’s hard to live on the planet right now and not be concerned about the state of the world, the climate, the overuse of fossil fuels, plastics and the devastation that humans have created. I feel like we’re doing our tiny little part,” Lauren Vanett said.

Couple Vanett and Rod Windle met in Marin County and later traveled across the Pacific to Maui to start building their off-the-grid home together in February 2020. Windle grew up in the Bay Area and Vannet also spent most of her professional career locally. They crossed paths in Marin and their journey together has continued to the islands of Hawaii. They started construction on their new home just as the COVID-19 pandemic spread globally. As a result, the two decided to stay in Maui for the remainder of the pandemic. They then continued work on the second structure on their acre property, where they now live.

After being inspired by the idea of a hurricane-proof roundhouse, the couple researched previously developed designs. They visited an existing house on the Big Island and met with the original creator of a specific style house called the “Dodeca Don,” named after the 12-sided structure. They laid out a skeleton of the house to scale with PVC pipes in order to configure the shape and placement of each room. Vannett spent time organizing the space’s interior design and format while Windle focused on the mechanics of the structure and its sustainable integration with the land.

“We were creating something so unusual and unique and [it was] something neither of us had ever done before,” Vanett said.

There are three structures on the property: an original house, “The Ohana,” the “Dodeca Don” and a pool. All are off the grid, meaning their systems are entirely independent of utility companies. Vanett and Windle rely on solar power, a rainwater catchment off the roofs and a septic system. The water they use is stored in a 12,000 -gallon underground tank. Additionally, they have 36 solar panels with a generating capacity of 9000 watts, which doubles as their surfboard storage. Vanett and Windle reduce their carbon footprint and conserve water through multiple systems in their home.

“Living here, because our power comes from the sun and our water comes from the rain, we have to go back to being in touch with the cycles of the natural world. That feels really good,” Windle said.

Vanett and Windle have made Maui their home in different ways. Vanett uses art to connect to the island and highlights her new home in landscape pieces. Windle continues the watersports he started in California and appreciates the warmer water temperatures on the island.

“I always knew I wanted to be on Maui ever since I landed here as a college student when I was 20 years old. I landed on the islands in Honolulu and got off the plane and just felt the air and I burst into tears. It was like ‘Oh my god, I’m home,’” Windle said.

Windle and Vanett were able to make the transition to Maui with their environmental impact in mind. Living on the island allows them to disconnect from the many unsustainable habits often perpetuated on the mainland.

“Our privilege has afforded us a certain amount of consciousness that we’re lucky to have and we should be responsible because we can be,” Vanett said.