A fascinating and spectacular Poipu Beach property that just won the Wall Street Journal 2020 House of the Year award also sold for $10.5 million, a new record for Poipu Beach. It has a celebrated past associated with the rich and famous.
Not far from Beat of Hawaii headquarters, yet literally a world away, the home has been owned for over half a century by the same Los Angeles family. Originally listed for $18.5 million, the home sold this week to undisclosed buyers. The house, dubbed Ka Lae Kiki (the breathtaking point), is a unique oceanfront Kauai estate, which had not been sold in over 50 years.
The home won the WSJ award based on 293,000 ballots cast. In 2019 a modern Oahu home was named champion, and in 2018 another villa on Kauai took the prize.
“Ka Lae Kiki” has been a Kauai vacation rental property.
With listed rates from $12,550 to $17,000 weekly, we don’t know if it will continue to be rented by Jean and Abbott Properties.
The estate features a most humble street-side oddly juxtaposed with its majestic ocean-side and consists of 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. It has 3,324 interior square feet set on 37k square feet of land situated directly on the Pacific Ocean at Poipu Beach. The home is on land originally purchased before statehood by Judge Philip LaVergne Rice, Hawaii’s Territorial Chief Justice.
In 1957, the property was acquired by LA’s Lowry McCaslin, whose family later hired renowned architect Jim Morton to redesign the residence. The current home sits on 500 feet of ocean frontage, which is among the biggest such stretches at Poipu.
A unique feature is the incredible saltwater pool embedded in lava rock at the property’s ocean edge and is one of the only such pools in Hawaii. Prior guests of the home have included George C. Scott, John Wayne, and many other famous seclusion-seekers.
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Jim M. says
Kevin C.,
Even if something is true, doesn’t mean something needs to be said about. Now, the story is about this, and not this beautiful house with an incredible story.
Sharon U says
Amen to that!
Maybe the Administrator will remove the comment soon.
Aloha, BOH, thank you for the story.
BARBARA M says
Darn – we just waited a bit too long! If only our stimulus check had come in sooner, we would have bought it!
Roy H says
We too have walked by this home many times, it’s nice to understand the history.
Aloha Guys
Rob L. says
My wife and I have passed this place numerous times when driving/walking to Spouting Horn. Never knew it was there. Thanks BOH for pointing out yet another majestic place with a lot of history in Kauai.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Rob.
Thanks. Same here. Never gave it a thought until now.
Aloha.
Michael W says
Whoa – that pool could never be built today!
Bill says
That’s a very large carbon footprint!
Kevin C says
Was it fumigated after racist John Wayne left?
Nancy N says
Please explain your watered down meaning of racist. And why was his comment allowed?
PAM M says
NANCY N
I agree with you completely.
Kevin’s comment is completely clear and defys logic.
I’m sure Kevin’s just a sad sack that needs a hug.
James H says
You are right Pam. Comments like his have no value or place here. His comment should be removed. So should mine after his.
Make Beat of Hawaii better.
Kevin says
He was a racist. Try reading.
Warren D says
Kevin, You’re a ___!
Michael B says
This is a disgusting comment about a great American who contributed more to the U.S. in a month than this guy will in his entire life. Attacks such as this should not be tolerated in this forum. Comments should be targeted to the topic of a nice multi million dollar house and a parcel of land.
Kevin says
He was a racist. Try reading.
Kevin C says
He was an Admitted racist. Try reading.
PAM M says
Kevin C ,
Respectfully shut your __.
Kevin C says
aol.com/article/entertainment/2019/02/19/resurfaced-1971-playboy-interview-of-john-wayne-goes-viral-i-believe-in-white-supremacy-until-the-blacks-are-educated/23673228/
Roger says
I made a pro-life comment a couple of months ago in response to Kauai’s troubled COVID response. It was quickly removed from view. My wife and I love Hawaii for its God-given beauty and I appreciate Beat of Hawaii’s service but if Kevin’s comment toward John Wayne is not removed, then it can only lead one to speculate BoH’s political leanings. Sad.
Kevin says
Racism is Racism