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In the gallery above, see photos of a beachfront home on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai’s sunny South Shore listed for $7.75 million.
Jinee Tao and Charlie Baxter first got to know 5142 Hoona Rd. on Kauai’s Poipu Beach when they rented it from a friend. When that friend put the beachfront home — one of only a handful located directly on Kauai’s south shore — on the market in 2012, the Bay Area couple jumped on the chance to buy it.
“It imbues a sense of place and soulfulness from the moment you walk in,” said Tao. “The sunrises and sunsets are truly Instagram-worthy, and a local monk seal calls our beach home.”
The $4.8-million purchase is far from the only Hawaiian investment for the Tao-Baxters. The equity investors own a significant stake in the iconic island-inspired clothing line Reyn Spooner. (They also own a big piece of Napa wine supply chain company Wineshipping, among other investments.)
In fact, the clothing company’s signature reverse-printed fabrics feature prominently in the home’s 2018 interior remodel. Tao describes the revamped aesthetic as “island and Asian influences with Mid-Century Modern sensibilities.”
Ceramic flooring was replaced with large format limestone-like porcelain tiles. All windows were converted from dark wood louvers to glass louvers and fixed glass walls. The kitchen and three bathrooms in the main three-bedroom house, dubbed Hale Luana, were completely updated. There’s also a one-bedroom, one-bath pool house.
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But the Tao-Baxters left intact the major architectural elements of the home, which was designed by renowned architect Ralph Anderson in 1993. Anderson was known for revitalizing Seattle’s Pioneer Square and for embracing natural elements both inside and out.
“Hale Luana maintains the the exposed wood vaulted ceilings that typify a Ralph Anderson home, as well as prominent windows and sliding glass doors built to showcase Hale Luana’s breathtaking views and create seamless indoor-outdoor living,” said press agent Liz Foley. “One of the favorite spots in the house — there are many — is the covered dining lanai featuring stunning ocean views and extendable table for 12. Another is the second-floor patio with two beautiful, large hanging basket chairs for relaxing in the warm off shore breezes and taking in the beach sunsets.”
The Tao-Baxters have been too busy to make it out to their beach home more than a few times a year, according to Foley. (When they aren’t using it, it makes for a popular vacation rental.) As their kids have gotten older, she added, they have become more committed to year-round sports at home. At the same time, the couple’s investments have demanded more of their time.
“They see themselves spending less time in Kauai for the foreseeable future,” she said.
So the family decided to say “Aloha” to the home, putting it on the market for $7.75 million.
Emily Landes is a writer and editor who is obsessed with all things real estate.
Article source: https://www.sfgate.com/ontheblock/article/5142-Hoona-Rd-Kauai-real-estate-for-sale-14414557.php