A Haven in the Heights – Waialae Nui Ridge

Waialae Nui, located between Maunalani Heights to the west and Waialae Iki to the east, extends from the 1430 block of Halekoa Drive just above Kalanianaole Highway to 1,350 feet at the top of the development on Aha Aina Place. At 1,350 feet above sea level, Waialae Nui reaches one of the highest altitudes of any Honolulu neighborhood.

Only sparsely developed at the lower levels before the 1950s, Waialae Nui began its transformation into one of East Honolulu’s most extensively developed ridgeline neighborhoods in the 1960s. With the supply of available buildable land diminishing in East Oahu coastal neighborhoods, home-builders turned their attention to the ridges for potential residential development.

The abundance of vacant land on Waialae Nui and Waialae Iki ridges attracted major developers, among them Herbert Horita, one of Oahu’s most successful builders of quality subdivisions, as well as the creator of Ko Olina. Contoured access roads into new neighborhoods, a Horita trademark, made it possible to design homes with views of the ocean and neighboring valleys.

With oceanfront property from Diamond Head to Hawaii Kai essentially built out, buyers recognized that the next best thing to being on the ocean was a view of the ocean…and that was the feature promised by the new hillside neighborhoods. Convenience to shopping and dining just down the hill at Kahala Mall and close proximity of Kahala beaches were additional attractions that made the new developments successful.

Near the summit of Waialae Nui Ridge is Aha Maka Way, where an award-winning home designed by Hawaii architect Geoff Lewis is currently available through Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage Realty for $4.5 million.

Built 10 years ago on 16,596 square feet of fee simple land as part of the Waialae Pinnacle development, the three bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home is a spacious 4,126 square feet augmented by 1,670 square feet of covered and uncovered lanais.

Designed to achieve “Poetic Balance,” in the words of the architect, the three story home includes an expansive main living area with vaulted ceilings that flows out to the lanai and gardens, a chef’s kitchen with multiple islands and counters, hardwood cabinetry, and Thermador appliances, luxurious bathrooms, and a bedroom and bath on the first floor. An abundance of large windows and sliding glass doors capture the panoramic views. Among its many features are hardwood, marble, and granite flooring, central and split air conditioning as well as ceiling fans, an in-ceiling sound system, and a hot tub on the deck looking out across the landscaped property to the ocean.

“Our client had been looking for the right lot to build a new home for at least five years and finally found it in Waialae Nui,” said Francis Van Rafelghem, Realtor and listing agent with his wife, Michelle. “His goal was to build a home with spectacular views. Once he found the right lot, he hired architect Geoff Lewis to design his dream home. This home has a 270-degree view from Port-lock all the way to the Waianae mountains, as well as a bird’s eye view of Diamond Head. The neighbor islands are visible across the channel on clear days. Only a few homes on Oahu offer these views, which are absolutely spectacular.

“Waialae Nui Ridge is not a new development, but surprisingly it’s still being discovered by prospective buyers,” Van Rafelghem added. “Some of its choice properties are in enclaves and cul de sacs off winding Halekoa Drive. Since we bought our own home here, we have put six other clients in homes on the ridge and they absolutely love living in Waialae Nui.”

For more information or to arrange a showing, contact the Van Rafelghems at FrancisV@Better-Hawaii.com or 256-4414 (Francis) or MichelleV@BetterHawaii.com or 223-4719 (Michelle).