Building Your North Shore Oasis – Why 425 Manawai is a Great Option
How to Get Started on Maui’s North Shore
The North Shore of Maui is one of the rawest and exposed stretches of land in the world. The trades cross 2,500 miles of open ocean and carry along with it all different types of weather. This is what makes it so beautiful and unique, watching the weather and water is an endless affair. With this environment, it’s important to know what the best practices are for starting your oasis. In this article, I want to use one of our listings as a platform, the owners of 425 Manawai truly understand what works when designing a coastal estate.
Location
Being close to the ocean is a dream of just about everyone, but too close and you better be ready for maintenance. Salt spray and wind can really take it to the materials on your house. This is the reason for one of my favorite aspects of 425, it has ocean front views, but it’s one lot back and has excellent wind blocks. You literally look right down the valley to the ocean.
Protected from extreme trades by Uaoa Bay and the downhill lots in front
View from the back lanai
Anything on the mountain side of Hana Highway (mauka) receives a bit more rain than lots ocean side of the Hana Highway (makai). Obviously, you don’t have rain clouds stop once they hit the highway, but I live up the hill about a mile from 425 Manawai and we get 85 inches annually compared to 425’s 61 inches (lcheck out University of Hawaii Rain Atlas). Access to the highway is also a large concern of North Shore residents, Manawai is fully paved from top to bottom and 425 is at the very end on a cul de sac. Manawai is one of the most pristine and maintained streets you can find in Haiku, and it’s only 25 minutes from the airport!
The Lot
425 Manawai is 4.95 acres situated at the top of a valley, the lot gently slopes from south to north making sure there is no standing water for mosquito breeding. As I mentioned, the lot is at the end of the road, on a cul de sac, on the uphill side, this is a huge advantage when it comes to exposure and views. On the windward side of the lot, the owners have plated ironwood and coconut trees as a wind block.
Aerial view of the lot, the driveway runs north to south
A must-have for many owners is the protection of views. Per Maui County code, you cannot build taller than 30ft in agricultural districts, this is where the uphill benefit comes into play, 425 looks over the lots in front of it and down the valley to the side.
View from the yard – the structure pictured is the cottage on the lot
Buildings
I always tell clients who are building to start with the cottage; this way you can build at a lower cost and feel out the area and the land. 425 Manawai placed the cottage on the northeast portion of the lot, leaving an excellent view corridor for the future building site of the main home. For agricultural lots on Maui, you can build a 1,000 sq. ft. cottage on lots that are larger than 2 acres.
1,000 sq.ft. cottage on the NE portion of the lot
Additionally, they placed the pool cabana and 3 car garage behind the building site for the main dwelling and the cottage.
View of the garage and pool cabana
Pool cabana interior with kitchenette/wet bar
Another huge benefit of 425 Manawai is the well. Being close to the ocean means lower elevation, which translates to a less expensive drill depth. Most water meters (usual source of water for developed lots) are 5/8 in and have a maximum fixture count of 31 fixtures, this includes hose spigots. As you can imagine 31 fixtures goes quickly when you have a garage, pool cabana, cottage and main home. Having a well means you do not have the restrictions of fixture counts from the county and your possibilities are much broader. Wastewater is also different on the North Shore. Cesspools are no longer allowed to be installed, leaving septics as the main option. You can either install two separate septic systems, one for the cottage and one for the main dwelling or you can install one larger (5 bedrooms) for both. 425 has a 5 bedroom septic making it perfect for the build out on a main dwelling.
Materials and Features of 425 Manawai
- Hardie Plank concrete siding, great for standing up to salt, water, and wind
- Concrete tile roof, again great durability
- Aluminum powder coated railing
- Composite decking
- Extended eaves
- Tongue and groove ceiling, great support for the tile roof
- Gated entrance
- Cork flooring
- Granite counters
You can start from square one, or you can start with a beautiful estate that is ready for your touch. Give us a call and we can discuss how 425 Manawai is the right choice for your North Shore oasis.
The sellers are also willing to entertain partial seller financing, call for details.
Tim Stice
808.268.8511
timastice@gmail.com
Tracy Stice, R(B) ABR, CRS, GRI, Green
October 9, 2017
Tim, you really put forward the best features of this property, especially the options a potential buyer has to construct a larger new home, or just enjoy what is already built which is more than enough for older people who are looking to downsize and just enjoy the privacy of this location.
Scott Conrad
October 11, 2017
Hey Tim, excellent posting, very informative.
Don & Val O'Connor
October 18, 2017
Thanks Tim, great job on presenting the facts about our property. We just
wanted to add something from the experience side. This is
something that not only we have felt but also so many friends
that have spent time here. Once you enter the property you can feel
your stress disappear. There is a feeling of remoteness without being
stranded or isolated, with all that nature provides us here from
the signing birds in the morning to the gliding frigates in the afternoon.
Or even our chance sightings of the Pueo (owl) at sunset. Of course, we can’t forget
about the weekly cruise ship or the whales frolicking off shore in season.
Sit back with a glass of wine on our spacious Lanai and enjoy a magical evening
“These are a few notes from our guests/friends through the years”
“We especially loved the well kept gardens and breathtaking view of the ocean. Best
of all it was peaceful. This is truly a special place, far away from the noise, crowds,
and condo’s found in the south part of the island”.
“This property in pure paradise in every sense. The entire place is gorgeous –
evident results of the hard work and love of the owners. They put so much care
and thought behind their place. The property is peaceful serene, with outstanding
views of the ocean. The birds will sing to you, the lawn will invite you to just sit
and relax and the various palm trees are like a museum for the eyes. The location
is great to experience the natural side of Maui.”
“While it’s not directly on the beach the landscape and the ocean views are breathtaking and the care that was out into the property really shows.”
“We fell in love with the property as first sight. The perfect little hide away on Maui’s
north shore, nestled between palm trees and beautiful flowers, it is away from all the
big resorts and offers you a great taste of the “real” Hawaii and its beautiful nature”
“I found I spent most of my time strolling around their beautiful property – or just sitting
outside and watching birds, whales and the palms sway in the breeze. I saw more
varieties of birds here than at any other place I’ve stayed in Hawaii.”