The Estate

A Home Designed to Be Experienced

Hale ‘O Ka La is the kind of home that wants to be engaged. Conceived as a Kauhale-style compound, the estate is composed of three primary pavilion structures unified under one continuous roof. Traditional hallways are removed in favor of open-air breezeways that connect each section. Moving from one space to another becomes a sensory experience, where gardens and natural light are adopted into the architecture itself. Each transition encourages a slower pace, encouraging moments of pause as the surrounding landscape is taken in. The home is centered around an open air grandroom with deep blue ocean views, five strategically positioned bedrooms, five full baths, and two half baths.

An Architectural Legacy, Reimagined

Following its original 1992 design and recognition in Architectural Digest, the home was remodeled and renovated in 2025 and renamed Hale ‘O Ka La, meaning “House of the Sun.” The $8M renovation, completed by Diane Bobek Designs, Taleah Smith Design, and Pono Hana Builders, began by identifying what was essential to preserve. The obvious decision was the structure, the pavilion layout, and the open breezeways. Copper fragments salvaged from the original roof, now recast into the kitchen pendant lighting. Dark wood accents, sanded and refinished instead of replaced. These were not necessarily decisions driven by sentiment, but by architectural intent.

  • Original design: 1992, Dr. Raymond Lagger

  • AIA Hawaiʻi Design Award recipient

  • Featured in Architectural Digest, 1997

  • $8 million renovation completed 2024

  • Renovation team: Diane Bobek Designs, Taleah Smith Design, Pono Hana Builders

  • Materials preserved: original copper roof elements, dark wood millwork, open breezeway structure

  • New materials: Neolith, Taj Mahal quartzite, Vesuvio Green quartzite, Marmorino Venetian plaster with mother of pearl and mica

  • Plaster and wood finishing: Thompson Art Studios

  • Custom millwork: Pono Hana Builders

  • Appliances: Sub-Zero, Wolf Cove

  • Hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware, Sun Valley Bronze

  • Lighting: Lindsey Adelman, Roll and Hill, Konus Design

A Lighter, More Open Tone

What stands out most in the rebuild is the change in tone. The interior moved from a heavier, more enclosed feel to something open and more in tune with its surroundings. Lighter finishes, refined textures, custom millwork, and sculptural elements shape the atmosphere of the new design. Taj Mahal quartzite, Marmorino Venetian plaster, and other considered materials are used throughout the home. The kitchen is anchored by a large Neolith island, and in the bedrooms, custom white oak and walnut beds give off a natural warmth. Carefully curated lighting and contemporary art pieces come together to effectively round out the personality of the home.