In 1994, 280 craftsmen built a Balinese estate from Indonesian ironwood and teak; dismantled and shipped to Hawaii, it was rebuilt with more than 1 million shingles and is now asking $32.5 million
Imagine if a piece of Bali was carefully taken apart, shipped across the Pacific, and reassembled along one of Hawaii’s most dramatic coastlines. So the answer is a gorgeous oceanfront estate, where Indonesian craftsmanship meets the rugged beauty of Hawaii’s Big Island. A three-acre parcel on the Kohala Coast near Kiholo Bay is now listed at $32.5 million. According to Land Research, the compound, owned by billionaire entrepreneur John Paul DeJoriais less an elaborate architectural time capsule than a conventional luxury home. For the uninitiated, Indonesian temple architecture has long been a love of DeJoria’s, as old as the property itself. He employed 280 master craftsmen to construct an authentic Balinese estate in Bali, using traditional Indonesian ironwood and teak. It took 4 years to build and was finished in 1994. Instead of abandoning the structure in Indonesia, it was carefully disassembled and shipped across the Pacific to Hawaii. When it arrived, craftsmen painstakingly reconstructed the estate, piece by piece, using wooden pegs, not modern metal fasteners, preserving the methods and character of its original construction.
A million shingles on a roof
A spectacular feature of the estate is the vast roof, covered with more than a million wooden shingles arranged like dragon scales. Some of the roof is decorated with intricately carved dragon heads, which also serve a practical purpose, as when the tropical rains come, the dragon heads are decorative water spouts. The architecture adheres to traditional Balinese principles, with the residence divided into a number of independent pavilions linked by open-air decks and sheltered walkways.
Designed to thrive with nature
Inside, elaborate Indonesian carvings and traditional features make the property feel like a living museum, while the landscape around it anchors it firmly in Hawaii.
The compound’s design is based on Hawaii’s climate and dramatic setting. Sliding doors and walls can vanish, opening living spaces to ocean breezes and sweeping views. The kitchen is in its own circular pavilion which is designed to improve natural air flow and outdoor dining. The main pavilion is right on the ocean, with large openings looking out across the Pacific toward the Kohala Mountains. Inside, elaborate Indonesian carvings and traditional features make the property feel like a living museum, while the landscape around it anchors it firmly in Hawaii.
A luxury off-grid getaway
It is also designed to operate independently of conventional infrastructure. Property supported by private water systems and rainwater catchment with power from solar arrays. The location next to a protected nature preserve helps add another layer of privacy, shielding the compound from much of the development seen elsewhere along Hawaii’s coastline. The result is an unusual mix of luxury, sustainability and craftsmanship.
A unique architectural jewel
The house is approximately 3,413 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, but its value is much more than square footage. DeJoria is best known as the co-founder of Paul Mitchell and The Patrón Spirits Company. He commissioned a residence where he could transport the spirit of one culture into another landscape without sacrificing its original craftsmanship. The estate, priced at $32.5 million, is an amazing fusion of Bali and Hawaii — a home dismantled halfway across the world, reassembled by hand and topped with a roof that looks like the scales of a mythical dragon.Images Courtesy: Land Research
