Have you ever spotted a celebrity in Hawaii? We have seen Charo at Long’s Drugs in Lihue and Pierce Brosnan at the Macy’s Store on Kauai. When swimming at Hanalei in summer, we pass the former estate owned by Julia Roberts and another by the late author Michael Crichton. While many celebrities vacation here, others make it their home. Here’s a partial list that came to mind. Please add others. The most recent celebrity to move here is Paul Simon, who chose Maui.
Roseanne Barr (Big Island).
TV star Barr purchased a 46-acre macadamia farm with ranch style house sight-unseen back in 2007. Located in Honokaa, it was known as Hidden Hamakua Farm. Several years later, it was the location of the reality show, Roseanne’s Nuts.
Pierce Brosnan (Kauai).
The 67-year old former James Bond star, originally from Ireland, is frequently seen in and about north shore Kauai. We’ve run into him in passing. He’s lived here for some 15 years. Recently he said in an interview that his “Home is very much here in the islands.”
The iconic former James Bond star, age 67, is often spotted around Kauai’s north shore. Speaking of life and times, he said of this disease, “No matter where you are and how beautiful it may be, you still have this awful threat to life looming. You have to keep pushing the rock uphill, and you have to keep involved in life. We are at war. People are dying.” He recently lamented two friends’ death to C0VID, who were friends of 45 years, and one to whom he is godfather to his son.
Pierce returned to Kauai before the shutdown of normal travel in March. “I was on a plane the next day. I was told I might not get out, and I wanted to be with my family.”
Clint Eastwood (Maui).
Eastwood’s home is set in highly desirable Wailea, South Maui, which he terms his adopted second home. It sits on secluded Palauea (White Rocks) beach.
Mick Fleetwood (Maui).
Fleetwood Mac legend Mick purchased his Lahaina property in 2017. It is a modest 2,500+ square foot home consisting of four bedrooms, two baths, and a swimming pool. It sits behind massive security gates.
Woody Harrelson (Maui).
Actor Harrelson’s home is located at one of our Maui favorites, Hamoa Beach, pictured above. It sits on 8.5 secluded acres with spectacular views. He has owned the prior ranch-land property for twenty years, and he later bought an adjacent piece to add to it.
Kris Kristofferson (Maui).
Singer/actor Kris Kristofferson’s home is at, like Woody Harrelson’s, set at iconic Hana, Maui.
Michael McDonald (Maui).
The Doobie Brothers singer purchased his Lahaina home in 2011, but we understand it is now on the market. It is a relatively modest sub-3,000 square foot, three-bedroom house. The property was listed at $3.85m.
Willie Nelson (Maui).
Willie and his wife Joy live in Kihei, while he is frequently seen hanging out in Paia.
Chuck Norris (Kauai).
Martial arts and acting famed Norris owns a 4k+ square foot home on Kauai’s north shore. He paid $7m for the plantation styled home when he purchased it about five years ago.
Carlos Santana (Kauai).
Santana’s Anaho0la, east-shore plantation-style property is perched on a coral reef that offers great oceanfront access year around. It sits on a bank with spectacular ocean views. It too is said to be on the market at this time.
Paul Simon (Maui).
One of the most recent transplants to arrive on Maui is also one of its most famous. Last year, Simon performed two benefit concerts on the island. Before last year, Simon hadn’t done a concert in Hawaii since Simon and Garfunkel’s time. Simon shares his Maui home with his singer-wife, Edie Brickell.
Steven Tyler (Maui).
The Aerosmith famed musician’s small but exotic 2,500 square foot home sits in Kihei, on sun-drenched South Maui. It was purchased for $5m in 2012.
Owen Wilson (Maui).
Famed actor Owen Wilson has a more modest bungalow-style home (at least compared with Oprah and Zuckerberg), at about 4,000 square feet in quant Paia. He purchased the property in 2007, remodeled the home, and later acquired an adjoining lot for additional space and privacy. He is seen in town.
Oprah Winfrey (Maui).
When you are identified by only a first name, what more is there to say about fame and fortune. She has even been called the island’s queen, and she is perhaps the largest landowner on Maui. Her farmhouse estate has fabulous views of the Pacific that we can attest to from a recent drive-by. Oprah’s up-country, Kula-Maui Thompson Ranch home is set on approximately 1,000 acres. It sits on the slopes of Mount Haleakala. Oprah also purchased 63 acres at Hana to prevent the development of the property.
Mark Zuckerberg (Kauai).
The Facebook co-founder purchased approximately 750 acres of pristine north shore Kauai land in 2014, and since expanded it further with massive fencing to boot. He is frequently seen on the island, mostly in the water, including on his jet surfboard. Zuckerberg’s Pilaa Beach estate has thousands of feet of beachfront. The spread comprises two large parcels: Kahuaina Plantation, a 357-acre former sugarcane plantation that now functions as an organic farm, and Pilaa Beach, a 393-acre property with beachfront access. The property was designated for nearly 100 homes.
Other interesting and related articles we’ve written that feature the rich and famous:
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Kaipo says
Saw Bethany Hamilton at Koloa Landing… not a very nice person.
Joe P says
Pretty sure Kirk Hammett (Metallica) lives on Oahu.
Scott W says
I’ve flown and seen on Kaua’i David Crosby and Graham Nash, Ben Stiller, the late Walter Matthau and of course seen Laird and Gabriel Hamilton, Cecilio and kapono. My brother ran into Harrison Ford at the Coconut Market Place. On Maui, Kenny Loggins…. In santa Barbara we live and let live especially at Costco when Dennis Miller is at the SB Bowl or Costco.
Jeff says
My neighbor on Oahu has been an extra in several episodes of the new Magnum PI. Don’t be jealous!
David B says
Anthony Kiedis has a home two driveways down from us (on Kauai). I’ve seen him maybe(?!) 3 times in the last 12 years. And only once in a situation (passing each other walking/biking on our quiet dirt road) in which 99% of people would at least acknowledge you. He did not.
Brosnan is just a bit further down. They are here a lot. He seems friendly, and unfailingly smiles and acknowledges you when you pass him by on the beach or elsewhere. I feel bad for him because of the way the press treats his wife. He clearly dotes on her in public. Makes other husbands (me) look bad.
Cj M. says
A couple of years ago our 11 year old granddaughter had just seen the movie about Bethany Hamilton. She was sure we’d see her when my husband and I were going to be on Kauai for a week. Sure enough, we were in a residential area of Princeville and saw her playing with her child. Also have seen Alice Cooper at the Wailea golf course on Maui.
Shelley L says
In the 1980s I met Tom Selleck and the Magnum PI cast in Matteos in Waikiki. On Maui, I have met Steven Tyler three times! He has always been great and let us take pictures with him.
Dan M says
I hear that Jim Carrey has a home on Keawakapu, Wailea, Maui
Barbara M says
My favorite cocktail party comment is “I’ve slept under Johnny Depp”! While filming the last of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the cast and crew stayed at the Marriott Kaui Beach Club which is 1/3 hotel, 2/3 timeshares. We were assigned a “villa” at the end of the 9th floor under the Presidential Suite where Johnny Depp was staying. So I indeed “slept under Johnny Depp”. Never laid eyes on him but he was there.
Jerry L says
I heard on the local news that Ed O’neil, Al Bundy from married with children bought a place on the Kona side of the big island. I keep hoping to see him in town, but no luck so far.
Don says
We spotted Dano from Hawaii 50 well walking up to Lighthouse Park — he was walking his dog and waved to us!
Tom K says
Is there public beach access to Zuckerberg’s estate as required by state law?
Laura B says
I saw Pierce Brosnan in Hanalei sitting on a bench outside of my favorite store Sand People. We had a moment of eye contact and I thought hey I know you as if he was a friend I was recognizing! Then I realized who I was staring at and turned away quickly laughing at myself. It’s a favorite story to tell!!
David B says
Based on our credit card statement, my wife really likes the Sand People store in Hanalei.
Ed L says
I met Dick Van Dyke in the 1980s at the Outrigger Canoe Club on O`ahu.
Chris says
Jack Johnson Oahu. Passed him walking his kids to school one morning.
Scott R says
Aloha!
I met Craig T Nelson “Coach” At the Makai golf course up in Princeville about 3 years ago. I’ve never met a bigger celebrity douchebag than him!
There were no smoking signs all over the clubhouse pro shop there and he comes in there with his holier than thou attitude with a huge cigar in his mouth puffing away. I told him he must not of been a good reader when he was younger and a bunch of people laughed in there. My buddy and I walked out and then had a great day golfing up there!
Stay safe Kauai!!!
Mahalo!
Barbara M says
Pierce drives around the island in a car with the ubiquitous license plate “PIERCE” just so he won’t be noticed! Actually it’s said he’s quite friendly.
Scott says
WOW….all the Green New Deal/Global Warming Hollywood types certainly have enormous carbon footprints in Hawaii…not to mention the CO2 belching air travel it generates. Anyone for a little hypocrisy?
Jared X says
Meh. Give me a break. There’s always at least one in the crowd that’s trying to make something out of nothing.
But let’s break down your goofy statements.
First of all, not EVERY “celebrity” is a “Green New Deal/Global Warming Hollywood type”–whatever that even means. So, that’s just an unintelligent thing to say from the start.
Second, how could possibly know what these people mentioned here have in terms of their net carbon footprints–vs, say, some other dumb schmo? Maybe they fly commercial… or jet-pool to save money and carbon. And maybe they just ride around on mopeds and bicycles the whole time they are on the islands… which is pretty carbon neutral. And maybe they’re vegetarians or vegans… which is also very carbon neutral. Etc. I mean, there are plenty of soccer moms out there driving around big gas-guzzling SUV’s in the suburbs that burn plenty more carbon than movie star.
Claudia S says
Wow, Scott. What a buzzkill. It was fun until you came in with your negative Nancy/political comments! Say something nice. Mahalo.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Claudia.
Thanks. We appreciate that and your many comments.
Aloha.
Tj says
You hit the nail on the head!
“Good for thee but not for me”
Mahalo,
TJ
Scott L says
Last year (2019) I was standing next to Alice Cooper at the Grand Wailea waiting for our cars to arrive. He was staying there as he had given up his house to his daughter for the week. She was getting married and he wanted to give her some space. He was on his way to play golf and I was on my way to church. Wish I had my clubs with me as he had an opening in the round. My wife said later that she would have let me go with him. Now she tells me.