Olowalu Oceanfront: Six Senses & Fried Brussels Sprouts

I’m sitting at my computer, looking at this blank page, starting my writing engine:

“Lubricate the grey cells, crack open the biological thesaurus.”

I take another sip of my caffeine, breathe deeply as I begin readying the Real Estate Lexicon, rolling up my wordsleeves, determined. But the message I get is loud and clear:

“No wait. Drop it, Liam. Drop the Real Estate Schtick. Be still. Be silent. This property lies far beyond anything you will find in your alphabet soup.”

I acquiesce to that voice and in lieu of tapping out a mess of real estate nontent*, I offer some impossible instructions. Impossible because I am going to ask you to close your eyes, sit still, wherever you are. Turn your attention inward, despite any cacophony that surrounds you.

You: “How can I close my eyes and keep reading this blog post?”

Me: “Okay, well, don’t really close your eyes, just work with me here.”

Olowalu Oceanfront (MLS# 363283)

The Story

This is what happened to me at 11485 Honoapiilani Highway. I step down from the warm lanai and venture quietly out onto the lawn. Behind me I hear the muted murmuring and laughter of people grazing on food in the dining room. 

I’ve kicked off my sandals, my bare feet warmly pressing into the soft grass that yields with a pleasing tickle. My breathing deepens and my awareness turns to the six senses. The water spreads out before me, and clean long curls of greenish blue waves roll toward me, only to soften and collapse into foam in the distance.  

The clean morning air plays around me, and becomes a grandmotherly hug. The birds are chirping. “Are they fighting? How strange to think that this beautiful sound could be birds fighting!” – I get lost in that thought, then come back. 

Ocean salt and sea rocks announce themselves to my nose vaguely – like the ghost of faded perfume on your mother’s old winter coat. Oh, and something floral? I’m still savoring the piece of star fruit that I scavenged from the dining room table. The five of six senses are now delivering sweetly.

The Sixth Sense

The sixth sense, according to Buddhist tradition, is the mind, thoughts, and emotions. And this is where this property starts to become felt and loved. I feel stories and emotions standing here. Old Hawaii. Simpler times. I recall powerful life events, long summers, marriages, loves, and losses. I sense happiness.

I don’t know the owners, but I feel their joy, and see the kind intelligence in the architecture of this place. Glenn Mason, AIA, and Marianne Cooper, AIA, LEED AP, of Mason Architects have conjured an alchemy of past and future, and assembled its love-child in the here and now. There is a new-ness, a smartly executed design vision that incorporates sensible scale, each gathering area comfortably sized. A kitchen that beckons friends to intimate vegetable chopping and late night deliberating:

“Shall we watch the moon move another few inches across the sky, or shall we climb into bed and become drunk on the ocean’s song?”

What Just Happened Here?

I don’t know what happened to me exactly. But something happened and something rare. I’ve walked through hundreds and hundreds of Maui properties that were gorgeous, delightful. But something happened here. Something between the breaths, and between the thoughts.

More pictures and a beautiful video presentation are available

And the Brussels sprouts? How do they fit into the story?

When we write about real estate we are encouraged to touch on all the benefits that the property has. One of the unsung aspects of this property is its proximity to Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop where you can behold the world’s most amazing Fried Brussels Sprout Salad. If you lived here, you could walk down your driveway, across the street, and have some of the West Side’s most satisfying food. (Even if you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you ought to try this seasonal salad!)

So why am I not telling you about the workout gym, the pool, the beautifully appointed guest cottage, the bonus master suites, and on and on? In the arena of high-end Maui real estate, those things are a dime a dozen. But this property has something entirely different: six senses and fried Brussels sprouts.

If you are a qualified buyer who would like to see this property, please call me to schedule a visit. If you are not a qualified buyer for this property, but you can relate to this beauty, send me an email and say hello.

Liam S. Ball, R(B)
808.280.7809
liam@hawaiilife.com

11485 Honoapiilani Highway  
3 bed/3.5 bath
$12,489,000

This property is listed by Kathy Ross of Maui Home and Life.
Images and video © Travis Rowan / LivingMauiMedia.com.

*nontent: Winston Welborn’s fabulous word to describe empty real estate linguistic glorification.